Meekly wait and murmur not

Have you ever spoken to someone, or anyone running out ah patience, dey bitching and come-plain-in, dey can’t wait foh dis long overdue something to happen, and all dat you, wid yuh consoling self could say is: “ Keep heart de Bible say to ‘meekly wait and murmur not’!” Well trust me, or better still trust Google, dat statement is not in de Bible. Yuh will see lots ah verses of encouragement matching dat quotation like “he dat wait upon de Lord and so on; but not dis short five worded line or verse: “ Meekly wait and murmur not!” Ask yuh Sunday school teacher.

Whether it dey in de Bible or not, ah know foh certain, dat statement is true, and one man ah know who will attest to dat, is Pastor Oswald ”Uncle Ossie” Burks, newly appointed Pastor to de Mesopotamia Gospel Hall Assembly. Pastor Burke has been deputy to Pastor Adolphus Isaacs foh over twenty-five years. But last Sunday, April 26th de outgoing Pastor Isaacs, after having shepherded de flock foh 46 years, officially handed over his “Rod and Staff” to Bro (uncle Ossie) Burke, ah farmer now officially ah Shepherd, and promoted to ah full time pastor.

And Pastor Burke in his acceptance speech did not falter in outlining his conditions of service as Shepherd of de flock. Ah was truly inspired by de energizing appeal Uncle Ossie made to his flock: “ My sheep need to be fed and led, are you wid me? I need more Shepherds!” And his members all said, “Yes!” He continued: “Dey’s lots of work to be done, I need workers, are you willing to work wid me?”. Again de response was “Yes”. De packed Assembly Hall was all hyped up when he said. “Dey’s ah serious war to be won, and I need warriors, will yuh be warriors wid me?” Of course it was another: “ Yes.” Finally he asked: “What about worship, are you ready to join de worshippers?” And more resounding dan ever de congregation gave Pastor Burke de answer he was waiting foh: “ Yesss!”

Eighteen years ago ah was not comfortable way ah was worshipping so ah accompanied my wife and two kids (Akeel and Chelsea, now Senator, who was baptised by Uncle Ossie) to her church in Mespo. Everything was ‘copasetic’ good lively singing and vibrant Praise ‘n’ Worshippers, not to men-shun de communion wine, real wine dey served. Bro Ossie was de real pastor-in-waiting. He administered water baptism, christened babies, buried de dead, he knows how to counsel youths and conduct a wedding, but he is unlicensed. Ah remember back den he and his dear wife Rhona, were in full charge of de young people. De Assembly was small but de youth group, over thirty members, was Vibrant. Dey were into everything positive: Sunday School, drama, music, hikes and picnic etc. Dey was an annual Summer Camp. And de camp officers in charge was Uncle Ossie, now Pastor Burke, and his wife Rhona. Dey were other faithful Shepherds of course. But Pastor Burke is ah “Meekly wait and murmur not” person who does not want to be singled out. He knows way his strength lies. Apart from his dear wife and daughter he has been involved in his Assembly and in particular a team of faithful female church members, “de Sisters Group” I call dem Deaconesses, who continue to get things done. My humble experience tells me men are ah waste ah time in these organ-I-say-shun way dey are in high demand.

But men or no men, we thank God foh de few faithfuls like Uncle Ossie, oops! Pastor Burke. May he continue to be meek as de Lord renew his strength. And wid dat is gone ah gone again

One Love Bassy

• Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.