Statistics is a strange subject. Its purpose is to provide insights into many subjects. Yet, it provides only confusion. From classical statistics to Bayesian methods, the constant contrasts confuse so many. But, it shows just how beautiful our world is. It illustrates the world as part deterministic and part random. We model our finances, behaviour and simple tasks according to a set of statistical principles. Any event occurs with a probability and this probability is assumed to stem from some distribution. With many years of data the true data distribution reveals itself, but even with less observations we are able to assume this distribution and run many experiments.

But, it is also very frightening. Government policies are often made based on these statistical outcomes. Various surveys inform policy makers how much expenditure should be allocated to various population groups or to various states. Thus, not surprisingly, these surveys should conform to the strictest scientific rigour. This is unfortunately not always the case. The South African Statistics authority (Statistics South Africa or StatsSA) recently fired two of its Census statisticians on the basis of gross incompetence. This is based on results from a post census survey which measure how many people were not surveyed. The original results suggested something like 18% of the population (that is a massive number) which was changed to something like 14% after the Statistician General (SG) contended the original results. He said that he applied his logic and saw that the algebra did not make sense. Yet news papers only published the views of the Statistician General without getting the comments from the fired employees. There is seriously something fishy here:

• Jairo Arrow (the statistician originally in charge of the post census) has received many awards for outstanding service by the SG, but is now suddenly deemed incompetent
• The SG should be embarrassed for making premature statements regarding a single digit under-count
• The SG does not show how he applied his "logic" and "algebra" to the results   
• Experts at UCT also question the survey results, but this is met with laughter and a dismissal from the SG
• A 14% under-count is not very reliable to make informed policy decisions
• The SG handled the matter very poorly by quickly going to the press and blaming others for mistakes

Statistics in the hands of bullies is dangerous. To clear this mess up the Census methods and data should be made available for proper and professional scrutiny. The SG is quick to say that the Census results are good and a true reflection. I have my doubts however given the way things unraveled post Census. 

Perspective found in quiet evenings

We don't stand still. Our minds are beehives that are distracted by functions. The busy toil of everyday living impedes our ability to understand life. As a consequence we become mere drones whose sole purpose is to maximise over a grid of decisions. If only this grid was a vast field of endless possibility, then perhaps we would have expressed our desires in a way that is more soothing to the soul. This two dimensional constraint in which we operate allows us limited movement. We can only maximise over a set of combinations, which for some might seem infinite. It is strange that we cannot construct something truly unique and original. The best that we can do is combine existing elements into a form that serves a particular function. Yet, by being able to move above, or below the two dimensional space we might find something extraordinary.

Life becomes boring. We experience both failure and success in various degrees. And since we seem to enjoy success so much, and are even more averse towards failure, we do everything to succeed. How futile our existence to strive for success when we don't even really benefit from it. If you want to make a success out of work you sacrifice peace and family. If you want to be a great writer you must work hard at writing well and be able to sell a story only to worry whether you are a good writer. We toil and spin and learn nothing from the wise men. We get excellent examples of how to live life. The Bible tells us to observe the lilies in the field and the birds in the air. They neither toil nor spin. They do what comes naturally to them and cannot worry about the future. Yet we continuously define our success, or failure, in terms of human dictates.

What I miss most in life is quiet evenings outdoors where the sky is dark yet filled by little lights. I miss those evenings because it is quiet and my mind finds rest. My prayer becomes silence and all that remains is me waiting upon God. I feel Him walk beside me and I feel His presence calming my soul. Only then do I get perspective about life, only then do I focus on things that really matter.

Seek first the Kingdom of God

Despite our best intentions, we continue to be betrayed by our desires. We preach the gospel, and make ourselves the subject instead of the gospel. By criticising hypocrites we implicate ourselves. How often do we really get a message across that is pure and innocent of hidden motives? You see we work hard to make progress, we argue to win, we earn to own, we cry to feel sorry and we complain because we lack. Nowhere is God the constant object of our everyday lives.

We are to seek first the Kingdom of God. Then only will everything else follow. Adam and Eve's behaviour was only a precursor to that which was to come. In absolute disbelief did they deny God by trying to obtain wisdom and knowledge through their own effort. Unable and unwilling to let God rule their lives, they wished rather to be masters. No one is free from this. Even Abraham who many  see as the symbol of the expression of faith failed by conceiving a child with a woman other than his wife. We want to be masters of our own lives when we take the glory for things that happened by our hands but were given by God. Moses made this mistake when taking the glory for the flowing water from rock. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God, and only then will everything else follow. Kierkegaard puts this phrase into action by pointing out that we have the choice to do this. It is such a delicate decision, one that is not forced upon is, but one that will set in motion the accent to righteousness. In Matthew we learn that the Kingdom of God  is like a man stumbling upon a great treasure. He sells everything to buy the land in which the treasure was found. If man is open to receiving the good news God might have mercy on Him and give him life. In this discovery he is willing to forgo everything to have everything - God. The Kingdom of heaven can also be expressed  as a fisherman searching his whole life for a specific pearl, and upon finding it he is willing to let go of everything, because he has found what his heart desires. Man will find God if he really wants to find God. And finally, the Kingdom of God is like a net cast into the ocean sweeping up all sorts of fish. The fisherman than takes with him the good fish and returns the bad fish to the ocean. Here believers will be separated from unbelievers. Those who are open to God, and those who seek Him will find Him. But those who do not wish to know God will never know Him, since the Holy Spirit does not work in someone who actively denies Him.

While the details of everyday life are important, they add to many unnecessary complexities to living life. Once again, by focusing on the details we subtract from the main objective, which is to seek the Kingdom of God first. We naturally, but wrongly, assume that we exercise control over outcomes. Outcomes are not always proportional to our inputs. If we used this logic we put faith into our own hands, instead of simply relying on God. Adam and Eve failed to see that they had God right there beside them. That the source of everything was walking with them and that any question they might pose be answered in perfect harmony. They had everything, but they lost it to gain everything for themselves. And in doing so they divorced themselves from everything only to gain nothing.

So, the only logical conclusion to make when going through life, is to make God the centre of everything. Everything else loses purpose when we change this equation. 

Along this path you will most likely venture off in a different direction. But that is ok since you know what it is to follow the right path. Hopefully you won't be too stubborn to turn around and continue on the path that is intended for us all.

To live out your salvation means to live like Christ. It means to choose humility over praise, to  sacrifice over being lifted, to be last so that others will be first. It is by lifting Christ that we are lifted up to heaven. If God is the centre of your world, then the world and all its worries are inconsequential. For to gain Christ is to truly gain life.