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Survival for the Fittest

The story is told of a jungle law that survival is for the fittest. Recently while driving through Queen Elizabeth National Park enroute to the West Nile region in Northern Uganda, I watched how the antelopes and other smaller animals kept their distance away from the thickets, with ears and eyes open all through. If a lion was sensed within its vicinity, they would run for their lives. Unfortunately, the animals who were vulnerable due to sickness, hunger and disability and couldn’t outrun the Lion succumbed to be food for the mighty king of the jungle.

Amidst the COVID 19 pandemic this reality of the mighty ones taking advantage of the vulnerable section of society has stood out right in our faces. Those classified in this category are those that survive and depend on meagre sources of incomes to meet their daily hands to mouth status. This has become a justified right for the mighty ones to trample upon the weak, meek and helpless ones. They are rendered vulnerable and exploited.  Stories are told of abuse of funds meant to support the most vulnerable members of the society who earn less than a dollar a day during the COVID19 lockdowns. 

Too often, those who are endowed with mighty powers, ability and access to resources dominate and overshadow the needs of others

While wildlife survives this way, it is absurd and pathetic that due to the fallen nature of man, we are reduced to behave like animals that do not have a soul, mind, brain and above all losing the identity of being created in God’s image. So much in humanity has gone wild in terms of thinking and relating with God, fellow man, and of course with nature through environmental degradation. This is experienced in every aspect of life socially, economically and politically. Too often, those who are endowed with mighty powers, ability and access to resources dominate and overshadow the needs of others in decision making and directing the future as if it were all in their utmost control without a creator. 

But we know the battle and future belong to God, in whom the believers in God dwell and put their trust and hope for redemption. There is a ray of hope as John reckons in the Book of Revelations 21:3-6.   3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

What do all these disparities mean and reveal to the body of Christ at such a time?

The COVID 19 pandemic has further exacerbated the inequality in all aspects of life especially in the educational sector in Africa. For instance, access to technological gadgets is limited for students who can have online learning or use of social media platforms. The education sector is the foundation for the next levels of development and growth of any nation. Unfortunately, only 20% of the current 15 million school going students in Uganda. can afford access to online studies. This further affirms the notion that the few who are in power control the majority of the  resources.This results in land grabbing, scramble for power, rampant insecurity and inequality in service delivery that should benefit the bigger population.

What future are the developing countries destined to experience in the next 3-4 decades and generations post the COVID 19 pandemic? There is increased Gender Based Violence (GBV) at household levels, unintended pregnancies among girls, increased high school dropout due to economic pressure and early child marriages. While at governance levels, there is political intolerance, leadership with impunity and corruption that hinder service delivery as should be expected. This has led to great disparity of access to essential services such as economic opportunities, health, education services and others in the public sector.

What do all these disparities mean and reveal to the body of Christ at such a time? Are you experiencing the mighty king of the jungle (Satan)? Though we can experience the terrors of the jungle we know we can bring our concerns to God, who listens to us.  I am reminded by the scripture in  2 Chronicles 7:14: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”


Photos provided by the author.

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