The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth: A Guest Post by Julian Clarke | Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Tune in tomorrow for a wonderful guest post from the remarkable Virginia Woodward, who worked as a relief and development worker with World Vision in Jerusalem and the West Bank, Kosovo and Tanzania

On Saturday, we’ll hear from her remarkable father, Dick Woodward, author of the brilliant Mini Bible College, and pastor emeritus of Williamsburg Community Chapel..

Julian Clarke

Jules’ Meek Speak

The first time I heard “The meek shall inherit theearth” it was sung, spliced between power-chords and drum fills, the likeof which I’d never heard before (for those who’re familiar with the Canadian band Rush, you’ll know what I mean).
As I was swung left and right in a coach climbing through the Alps (on a school skiing trip) the red Walkman introduced me to music that on reflection seemedto alter the trajectory of my adolescence. The ensuing period of my life, ironically, could be described more as care-less than care-free.
I went there, did that, bought the T-shirt and thankfully buried it with Christ just over a decade later. This was not however before being threshed by the words of 2 Timothy 3: 1-9. After I read the list it was safe to assumeI had a distinct lack of meekness.

As Luke Tarassenko expressedexpertly in a previous pondering, the Greek word “meek” does noteasily translate into English and does not mean “weak” as our culture would deem. Moreover it embodies a regard to the inner life, the attitudes ofthe heart, in a way that suggests strength in gentleness.

Jesus explains of Himself in Matthew 11v29 “Take my yoke upon you andlearn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest foryour souls.” That “gentle” is the same Greek word translated”meek” in Matthew 5. In the same measure that Jesus was gentle, Hewas also strong and powerful. He rebuked men, demons and the elements with authority;and finally endured the cross (over which he was so troubled he sweated blood) without faltering or being discouraged. (Isaiah 42: 4).
He pushed through fear. Now does that sound like our take on “meek”to you?

Thatstrength is difficult to comprehend but is present and grows in all who suffer and persevere, all who are oppressed and remain steadfast, all who cleave to Him who is close to the broken-hearted.
Forgive me, I can’t remember who said (when considering ministers regretfullycaught in sin that so easily entangles) “We can only go as far as our character runs deep.” For me meekness encompasses that quiet quality ofcharacter that embraces perseverance – sheer bull-headed single-minded perseverance that doesn’t shout about it or perform to the camera.

Brendan, from the Viva Project, Kampala, Uganda

This quality is exhibited by someone who madea great impression on me last month in Kampala, Uganda. As Brendan approaches his 21st birthday the orphanage he started (with one boy called Juan* rescued from the gutter, washed by a recent downpour’s run-off,shrivelling and showing a fever) now houses and cares for 70 children all withstories to tell of trauma and suffering like Juan (who incidentally is now one of the brightest in the local school).

Brendan explained that when people see abandoned children in Kampala they feararrest whilst the police corroborate the child’s background – so the children are left for the authorities or NGOs to identify and rescue – if they’re not too late.
Brenden did it anyway. Not only that but every morning he opens the compound doors to another 120 children from the nearby community to share breakfast.

Some of the 120 children rescued by Brendan, aged 21. Kampala, Uganda

Stories from all over the world in projects like Brendan’s, part of the Viva Network, point to that elusive kingdom where suffering andlack seem to be doorways to beauty and abundant life.
I often say that in Uganda life seems more “alive” and I wonder why that is – the extremes of life there maybe. Or perhaps it’s because amongst the desperate ashes there is true beauty manifested by the hearts and actions of young men and women like Brendan giving up their lives to help the poor, marginalised and suffering (can you see the parallel with our Lord?)
Is that the nub of it? That meekness emanates from the cross of Christ and that the fruits and evidence of heaven can be glimpsed (inherited from his last will and testament) in the here and now. That inwardly we should aspire to meekness defined by the cross and the pull of that which we all struggle against with futility – to die to ourselves and to our preferred ways of doing life.
In summary – “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will beadded to you” Matthew 6v33
How will you seek it?


*The names of children and adults mentioned in this blog have been changed in accordance with Viva’s confidentiality and safety policies.