Give me a reason to praise

The Psalmist writes:
‘By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?’ (Psalm 137:1-4)
When Verity and I first met the 4 men (musicians) from the Congo, we lovingly came to know as ‘the Congo boys’ in 2002, this was the lament we heard from them almost word for word. Being an asylum seeker in Australia on bridging visa type E is one of the most difficult and oppressive processes any foreigner to our shores will face. Australian policies and attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers are atrocious and embarrassing. As I (and my church at the time) have journeyed with them providing housing, food, medical assistance, financial assistance and advocacy (they have no rights or access to any of these through our government) there have been times where I have been angry and ashamed to be an Australian. While my frustration at the system spurred me on to fight harder for the Congo boys they were quietly in their own way teaching me much about the presence of God in adversity and the meaning of faith.
One day Verity and I had Etienne and Adolphe over for a meal and they shared some of their struggle with us as they often would. They had broken through the language and cultural barriers settling in Australia, had learnt to accept that sleepless nights due to the memories of what they had endured would now become a way of life and learnt how to handle the depression of missing home & family. Through all of this they were still able to look us in the eye, bring a grin to their faces and say, ‘but God is good’. That statement just about knocked me off my chair.
In 2006 Verity and I helped the ‘Congo boys’ now calling themselves ‘Vox Congo’ (the voice of the Congo) release their first CD – ‘Kinanga’ meaning ‘stand up people and hear the good news’. Vox Congo had found their song in a strange land. Their testimony is that they do not feel abandoned by God during this difficult time of displacement. One of their songs, ‘Captivity’ written by Etienne while in Australia is based on Psalm 137. It turns a lament into appreciation by saying, ‘You (God) are the source of human dignity and it’s in your image we are created. Give us the spirit of love and compassion, enable us to love every single person, and to appreciate those who differ from us and share the resources of our nation. And to receive the gifts offered by other people from other cultures, may we all respond to justice as God creates peace and harmony.’
Vox Congo have an infectious faith and positive outlook on life which is enlightening coming from a group of guys who truly understand persecution and oppression. Last time Vox Congo visited Adelaide, Papy was waiting to hear about his residency application. When he returned to Melbourne he found us his application had been accepted. Vox Congo are here again this weekend and Martinse awaits a reply on his application. Let us hope the same answer is waiting for him when he returns home. Etienne and Adolphe are still hanging in the balance seeking asylum.
I chose Psalm 136 for this mornings service because Vox Congo have given me cause for everyday praise.
Shalom
Mark Riessen