Hi folks, i hope you are doing ok… the weather is helping me stay sane!! We will meet on zoom on sunday night at 8.00pm, i look forward to seeing you.
If you would like the link then let me know. For those of you in the BFX messenger group I will also post the link in there sometime on Sunday early evening.
This weeks blog is written by Glenn, we continue with our theme of ‘Influencers and Prophets’ today looking at Che Guevara.
Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, known as “Che” to his friends, is most famously known for his role as a commander in the Cuban Revolution, helping Fidel Castro depose the US-backed dictator Batista in 1959, and being the subject of possibly the most iconic photo of all time.
What is less known about him is that his full title is Dr Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, having qualified as a medical Doctor in 1953.
Part way through his studies he embarked on a tour of South America with a friend on a 1939 Norton 500cc motorbike – all the cool kids ride motorbikes. The trip took them through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and to Miami, before returning home to Buenos Aires. While in Peru they volunteered at a leper colony. Their constant companions on the road trip were poverty, oppression and sickness. This view of South America was a wakeup call for the privileged Guevara and started the radicalisation process of his politics. This is told in the fantastic film The Motorcycle Diaries – borrow it off me, watch it.
In addition to the Cuban Revolution, Guevara got involved in the struggle in Guatemala between the democratically elected left-leaning President and a US-backed future dictator. He then fought in the Democratic Republic of Congo and finally in the unsuccessful attempt to start a revolution in Bolivia.
You could say he was an evangelical revolutionary.
His desire to change the lives of the poor and oppressed, for the better, stemmed from his motorcycle trip where he recognised the commonality of all people and the injustices caused by capitalism. He is quoted as saying “At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.”
That desire to change things, inspired by love, is why I admire Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
Guevara’s death in the mountains of Bolivia was lonely, shambolic and ultimately futile. He wanted to inspire the people to rise up and improve the lot of the common person. What he failed to do was ask if they wanted that. There was no preparation, no sowing of the seed, no changing of hearts and minds before he rocked up with a few mates and a couple of machine guns. He was hunted down and executed.
Questions:
For what principle or cause would you metaphorically die for? (try not to be serious – more along the lines of being willing to die for the cause of custard creams being declared the best all-round biscuit)
Is love the best weapon we have?
If we want to make followers of Christ, should we employ a tactic of winning hearts and minds or all out revolution of the soul in a Damascus road type conversion?
Guevara is known to have ordered and carried out a number of executions during and after the Cuban Revolution, to protect the people and the gains made. In general, can the ends justify the means?
As you may tell I’m a bit of a Che Guevara fanboy, so if anyone wants to borrow any books or dvd’s let me know.
Cheers – Glenn.
Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team. He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held. He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.
