Patrick Essobo
Reprinted from the January 16, 2006 issue of the CS Sentinel.
In Cameroon, where there are more than 200 tribes, this prayerful man is learning to live in harmony with his neighbors by applying ideas he finds in the Bible and Science and Health…
A study of the Bible and Science and Health has shown me a way to live in harmony with my fellow man.
This passage from Paul’s epistle to the Galatians helps me a lot: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” To me, this means that in order to live in peace with others, I have to see everyone as God created them, and not in terms of culture, race, and religion.
Here in Cameroon, where there are more than 200 tribes, national integration is essential for maintaining peace. I’ve been learning to appreciate these tribes for their true valuet—hat is to say, concentrating on the Godlike qualities each one of them has nurtured and developed, instead of limiting them by appearances and preconceptions.
By appreciating another’s culture—their individual way of seeing things and living—we are supporting national and international integration.
We are all united as ideas of God.
This “diversity in unity” reminds me that I have all the good qualities I see in others, within myself, because we are all ideas of God. This is what unites us. Appreciating one another’s true value, as God’s children, is how I live in peace with the other tribes.
One year ago, a girl from another tribe expressed hatred toward me. When I prayed about this, I understood that we are all perfect ideas of God, and that since hatred was not from God, it couldn’t be what she truly felt.
So I focused on certain good qualities she had, in spite of what she was doing. Now she has changed toward me, and we have become good friends.
I think peaceful relations like this are possible for the whole world.
Patrick Essobo lives in Douala, Cameroon
July 10th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
Thanks for sharing–The article reminds me of an experience I had when I left my country to go to school in another country…I was quick to point out our physical differences–accents, racial features, food, …and this didn’t really make my experience any easier. However, when I began to focus on our similarities–(which were more spiritual) rather than our physical differences I began to enjoy my experience and was able to make friends and get to know people for who they really were. It also helped me open up and me more outgoing.