“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”---John 12:24

(Seifu Gebremeskel, The Sheba Post). I was following most of ETV’s live coverage of the arrival of Prime Minister Meles’s body to Addis Ababa. The death of PM Meles couldn’t have come at a worst time to the nation still mourning the passing of His Holiness Abune Paulos, Partriach of EOC few days ago. As one would expect under such circumstances, I made myself ready for a dispirited country and disarray political leadership. I prepared myself for subdued mood and demoralized nation welcoming the body of its leader.  But to my surprise and contrary to my expectation, on the street of Addis Ababa I saw brave, spirited and determined nation: a nation ready to look far and beyond the current crisis. I saw sign of a nation which is committed to move on and never look back. Above all, I was amazed by the bravery of my people and how they took in this difficult news of the last few day.

Today I have witnessed the best of my people and my country. And what a transforming moment it was for me! What a re-assuring experience! What a magnificent sight to watch. Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians from all walks of life poured into the street of Addis Ababa to express their love and respect to PM Meles Zenawi. I saw thousands weeping and shading tears, I saw thousands of Ethiopians chanting ‘hero never dies’ in reference to PM Meles’s lasting legacy; thousands other were holding candle vigil. What a sight and what an experience: I felt as if I were in the middle of my people. I wept with my people and wept with Haile Gebreselassie. My tears washed my fears, worries and I felt better about my country and people. From far and away I felt close and united with my people. At that very moment, I was in Addis Ababa grieving and mourning with my people.

I saw the best of my country and people and what I had witnessed from the street of Addis Ababa assured me that Ethiopia is and will be okay. I wish PM Meles could see, at least for a second, how his people and country loved and revered him. But his soul now gets a well deserved and long coming rest, him knowing that he had left behind, strong and unified Ethiopia in the hands of its people. He had fulfilled his dreams, of creating stable and peaceful nation. This reason alone gives him an eternal peace with his heavenly father.

We often wrongly generalize the mood and the state of our country based on how few uncultured people behave. We say that Ethiopia has lost its core values and culture that sustain her for millennia because of the madness of handful yet vocal individuals. As a result we quickly lose hope in the future of our country. People base conclusions on what they see in the actions of some disgruntled individuals. But if today’s experience is anything but a lesson, I came to learn that my country and people are better than the madness that dominates the cyberspace. What I saw from the street of Addis Ababa re-assured me that the values and character of most of my people and country are still intact. Madness doesn’t represent us and doesn’t constitute part our cultural values. People who capitalize and thrive on such qualities are out of touch, out of reality and live in a little delusional world of their own. I don’t know what they were thinking and what they would say after having watched the mood from the streets of Addis. But as to me I felt proud of my people and my country.

PM Meles was a great leader who has transformed Ethiopia from being a poster child of famine and conflict into the hope of African. He turned Ethiopia into regional and global powerhouse and into one of fastest growing economies in the world. And it seems his contribution to growth and development of Ethiopia haven’t passed unnoticed by the Almighty Himself. I could be wrong but no other Ethiopian leader had ever received such outpour of public love and appreciation after his death. PM Meles has become the first Ethiopia leader to be accorded an open and public love and appreciation by his people and government. God gave him the rare chance to be buried in his own country with full honour, dignity and respect he earned from his people. This alone is a testament to his life time commitment, hard work and dedication to Ethiopia and its people. Moses led his people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. But God didn’t allow him to get into that land He promised to the Israelites. So was PM Meles, who led his people out of poverty into peace and prosperity but gone too soon. But God showed PM Meles his promise for Ethiopia and its people. The glimpse of that promise was in full demonstration on the street of Addis Ababa. It was promise of strong, unified and propsperous nation.

Joshua took over the helm of leadership from Moses and led his people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Now the new leadership in Ethiopia must continue in the path of peace and development and take our nation to its eternal promise that says 'Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God'.  We are closer to our promise than we have ever been, and that promise is just a cross ' the Jordan river'. Let us cross the river and claim our destination. Let us make Ethiopia peaceful and prosperous country. We have never been this closer to our best days than today. The foundation is in place, the vision is laid out. We just need to persevere and cross into the Promised Land.

Proud people, proud country and I felt very proud to call myself as one of you. God bless Ethiopia!