Owl – Courage

This is the fifth (5th) of the ELECTION SERIES – articles published by White Butterfly in anticipation of the forthcoming elections in May 2022.

This chapter, Owl – Courage, was taken from Sr. Janice’s book, OSTRICHES, DUNG BEETLES, AND OTHER SPIRITUAL MASTERS, A Book of Wisdom from the Wild, published with permission from Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York.

SR. JANICE MCLAUGHLIN

Nocturnal birds of prey, owls fly noiselessly through the darkness, using their superior night vision and hearing to locate food.  Of 132 species worldwide, 38 live on the African continent.  The owl may locate a tree hole in which to lay its eggs or may take over the nests of other birds.  Some owls perch on tree branches, remaining immobile during the day.  An owl can twist its head almost 360 degrees, enabling it to spot prey in any direction.  Rodents, birds, snakes, lizards, toads, fish, and insects are all part of the owl’s diet.  

The owl is generally viewed as an omen of bad luck throughout Africa.  Sometimes associated with witchcraft, which is still prevalent in many parts of the continent, the owl is feared and avoided.  Its hooting cry, sounding eerily through the darkness, and its silent approach make it a source of much folklore and myth.

When I first arrived in Africa, I had a tendency to equate such unscientific beliefs with superstition.  Although I refuted the claims of earlier explorers and missioners that the African worldview was “primitive” or inferior, I soon realized that I shared some of these assumptions and prejudices myself.

Much later, when I was confronted with the experience of war, rape, torture, disappearance, and other forms of violence, I came in touch with my own insecurity and fear.  As chair of a courageous team of doctors, nurses, counselors, and human rights activists who treated the victims of violence in Zimbabwe, I often feared the knock on the door in the middle of the night, signaling arrest, disappearance, beating, or death.Some of my co-workers and friends had survived such trauma, returning to continue their heroic and dangerous work.  Lovemore Madhuku, who heads the National Constitutional Assemby (NCA), an independent civic group that seeks constitutional change in Zimbabwe, was arrested, beaten, and tortured more than twenty times. Once he was kidnapped, badly beaten, and left by the side of the road for dead.  If a passing motorist had not seen him and taken him to a hospital, he would surely have perished.

“I soon found that I had crossed the threshold of fear in the sense that I became strong through resisting,” he explained in an interview. “You cannot theorize about these things and say I can face the police.  No, you just get involved and then you face the situation at the time…My conviction that I am doing the right thing is my strongest weapon against fear…There could be 99 against me.  But then God always ensures that there is one person who will come and whisper that he believes that what I am doing is right.”

I personally experienced the truth of Madhuku”s words when I was imprisoned in colonial Rhodesia for supporting majority rule and exposing the war crimes of Ian Smith’s security forces.  As I was being taken to court, another prisoner bent over as if to tie her shoelaces and whispered to me, “Not only the church supports you; the whole country supports you.” These words of encouragement enabled me to face the judge and speak the truth with confidence.

As I stood in the packed courtroom, uncertain what fate awaited me, the words of the gospel flashed before me: “You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me and you will witness to them.  But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say.  For it is not you who will speak; but it will be the Spirit of your Father in you” (Matthew 10:18-20).

Without fear, I testified that I viewed the colonial system as unjust and that, indeed, I supported the cause of freedom.  Accusing me of being “a self-confessed supporter of communism and a terrorist,” the judge refused me bail and sent me back to prison.  To my surprise, the prison guards applauded me, saying, “We almost clapped when you wouldn’t call them (the freedom fighters) “terrorists.” They told me that they only took this job because they had to feed their children but they also supported majority rule.

From that time onward, they would communicate with me and bring me small treats such as a piece of fruit or a plate of sadza, a stiff maize meal porridge that is the staple food of Zimbabweans.  The day that I was deported the other prisoners knew about it before I did.  Mostly young women who were accused of feeding the “terrorists” or trying to cross the border to join them, they smuggled letters to me to give to Amnesty International.  Their letters told of the harsh conditions they were undergoing in prison and the beating and torture that they had suffered when they were captured.  The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace took these letters and made sure that they reached Amnesty and were widely publicized.

Never again have I experienced such as sense of solidarity and support.  The memory alone continues to give me courage, helping to cast out fear.

May the owl remind us that our fears may be baseless and that our worst nightmares may turn out to be our best friends.  What we don’t understand and fear may teach us that we are stronger than we thought.  If we unite with others for a just cause, we can gain strength from each other.  As Lovemore Madhuku teaches, “We will not have success in one day.  There will be setbacks.  But we want to build a broad foundation of convinced people who take a conscious decision to take risks and overcome their fear.”

SCRIPTURE

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but not the person. Rather be afraid of those who can destroy both body and soul in hell. For only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:28-31)

Then a storm gathered and it began to blow a gale. The waves spilled over into the boat so that it was soon filled with water. And Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. They woke him up and said, ‘Master, don’t you care if we sink?’ As Jesus awoke, he rebuked the wind and ordered the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be still!’ The wind dropped and there was a great calm. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? Do you still have no faith?’ (Mark 4:37-40)

The angel came to her and said, ‘Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.’ Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean. But the angel said, ‘Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you.’” (Luke 1:28-30)

PRAYER FOR THE 2022 PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

We implore you, Lord Jesus, to give our Filipino nation a chance to rise up from our misery and suffering and to cope with the pandemic crisis.  Give us, through the coming election, a leader who will take care not of one’s self but of the poor and the needy, one who is God-fearing, who cannot be undermined by greedy, corrupt, and hypocritical politicians. 

Save our nation, which is thirsty for your love and justice.  Through the help of Mother Mary, our mother, and yours.  Amen.