10 concerts, 100 artists, a million spectators, 2 billion viewers, and 1 message... To get 8 men, in 1 room, to stop 30,000 children dying every single day of extreme poverty. Live 8 truly was an historic event...
I, like millions of others, texted to join the lottery to be at Hyde Park on the 2nd of July and tried to put on a brave face when I came up dissapointed. I was denied the live experience but did crash out in front of my TV Saturday night with Smiles and Steve to watch Jonathon Ross compare a night of incredible performances and moving appeals. We truly were participating in History, who can ignore the sheer size of it?
I have vague memories as a very young child of Live Aid, mainly the impact and support it had from my parents and the people around me, the pictures of kids my age dieing in a strange far off country and the expectation that enough people get together we really can change the world.
Two decades later, a little older and more jaded, I'm not as certain as I once was that we really can stand against exploitive political and financial powers and see them take notice. I hope they will, I pray they will but until Satruday I wasn't entirely convinced.
As the BBC's coverage flicked between the UK, the USA, The Russian Federation, France, Germany, Japan, Canada and South Africa, and I watched famous faces sporting white bands and determined expressions strutt their stuff before millions of viewers it began to dawn on me... who could ignore this? Millions of viewers = millions of voters, millions of citizens asking the leaders of 8 of the wealthiest nations on earth to make a difference, to make an easy decision to forego a little profit and give to those who need it.
Every now and then you get a glimpse of God's reflection in creation, the Father's desire to see justice not exploitation, sacrifice not selfishness, life not death. As enjoyed an evening of great live music something inside me was stirring, a growing cry of 'YES!' was calling for my attention. 'Pray, this all needs to be supported in prayer'. When I woke up early this morning and started to pray I began to beg God, 'Please, this has to stop, you have to do something, you have to use these 8 world leaders to transform Africa, start there, please God.'
I haven't felt this moved to pray in a reall long time, I guess I'm nervous that if I don't we'll only see a job half done. As people we can influence leaders, we can campaign for aid and fair trade but without a move of God will not change hearts and minds and solve the problem at it's root. The G8 meeting is on Wednesday, fancy praying?