Plenary, 17 Jan 2007

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Official Report 518KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. The first item of business is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is Maureen McIntyre from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We read in Isaiah, chapter 32, verse 3:

"And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken."

Nine years ago, I established a charity to help educate underprivileged children in Mombasa, Kenya. Three months ago, we brought 25 of the 645 children we have in our schools to the United Kingdom on a singing tour. The tour was very successful, raising money for a much-needed orphanage. The people of Scotland took these little ones not only into their homes but into their hearts. In turn, they learned many values that we have perhaps lost as a nation. I will mention but a few of them.

One is integrity. Those children have very little in their lives. Some have parents, but some are orphans and are cared for by whoever will take the responsibility. Living in mud huts, they all know hunger. Walking many miles to start school at 7 am and finishing at 5 pm, every child dreams of owning a bicycle. However, when one family offered to purchase a particular boy a bike, his reply was, "Thank you, Madam. Could I perhaps have a goat instead, as a goat will benefit all of my family?"

A further value is respect. Another child, the youngest on the tour, aged eight, was asked which he preferred: Scotland or Kenya. With all the home comforts that he was experiencing and a full stomach, one would have thought that he would naturally have chosen the UK. Yet without hesitation, he answered, "Kenya". The reason given was that children in Scotland do not obey their parents.

Another value is unselfishness. On checking passports, we noticed that one child had had a birthday the previous week. On inquiring with the boy why he had not told us of it, he replied, "Madam, I did not want to bother you as you were very busy that day."

At the beginning of this year, let us look towards ourselves and be grateful that we live in such a wonderful country. However, let us not allow the affluent society in which we live to blind us to the values that are essential in our lives and the lives of the children of Scotland.

Oh that heads of Governments would always have eyes that see, ears that hear and hearts that feel, teaching integrity, respect and unselfishness. That is my prayer this day, in the sacred name of the master and redeemer of the world, even Jesus Christ.

Amen.