Lockdown 66

Lockdown Day 66 - 31 May 2020

Pentecostal Sunday. The day the disciples were waiting in the upper room for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They were empowered with boldness to witness as they were instructed to do. They endured unimaginable hardship but kept their faith and persevered. 

This morning, while enjoying my green room therapy in the sun, I thought maybe Lockdown has opened our perception somewhat to what the disciples were experiencing in those times. They knew what it felt like to change jobs and leave their families for a faith to follow Jesus, who they believed in, but who was now in heaven. They were probably ridiculed for this and maybe even scorned and rejected. Times were hard and people were desperate for the Truth. The Truth the disciples were offering was met with unbelief. 

In Lockdown there have been many speculations over the spiritual aspects of why this virus is with us and if God is sending us a message. Irrespective of opinions, one thing is clear:  to stick to what and Who we believe in is our saving grace. To keep looking up when others are looking down and elsewhere, is what gives us a vision, a peek into the future. It's what empowers us to find a way through the rubble of rules and laws. 

Sharing is caring. And sharing what matters brings redemption. It picks us up and makes us shine. To listen to someone who has no one to talk to or to just sit with someone who has no one to sit with are things that cannot be measured by worldly standards. 

To give whatever is possible as opposed to getting, and to love in a way the world does not understand. These are the things the disciples kept on doing in spite of everything around them. 

I believe in the human spirit and the boundaries it can overcome. Our design is such that our spirit comes pre-loaded with everything we need to live life with and to handle anything that is thrown our way.  This is our 'fail-safe'  in life. 

If we spend five minutes daily in the presence of God to listen to His instruction, we will do something good (that is just over 30 hours a year). If we can keep following those instructions we will do something great. 

So why don't we make the words of Philippians 4:4 our one little joy for tomorrow:

"Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One ! "

Lockdown 65

Lockdown Day 65 - 30 May 2020

The little joys in life are often the ones that have the most power to affect our lives at any given moment. Today I had a few: 

One of my little joys are seeing Roxy, my miniature Schnauzie, do a little jiggle of delight when we leave the house every morning for our walk. Another is that first cup of tea or coffee, every sip a bit of liquid joy. One of my winter joys are putting on a squishy jersey or my favourite boots. 

When one of those little joys turn into a loss, one's life can literally come to a standstill. On a serious note, I recently spoke to someone who lost their family pet to cancer. Albeit part of life, this is something I would never wish on anyone, having gone throught it myself I know the memory never fades. 

On a lighter note, when my favourite coffee or tea is finished and I can't find any stock anywhere it can miraculously change me into Medusa. Or when that squishy jersy is irreversibly damaged the only squishy I want to do is made from chocolate. These may be irrelevant life luxuries to others, but to me their joys turn a dark day into a joyful occasion, or bring life into a weary brain after a long day and lift a heart out of a doldrum of angst. 

Speaking of which, there is nothing that brings a soul to find peace and comfort as a new pet, especially when your loved ones have left. Research has shown this little joy causes great long term fulfilment in such a way that science falls short in its accolades for acquiring a new pet. It is known that lives are saved and souls are healed by the deep spiritual effect a house pet has on the human psyche. 

My Roxy has this way of greeting me when I walk into the house after I've been out. She has this little growl 'howl' to say hello (apparently a Schnauzer thing) and then lifts the one paw to 'high five' me. And then she instinctively knows when schnauzie-therapy is needed and reports for "duty" right on cue. 

So tonight I wish you a million little joys, and if you struggle to see any, start with a cuppa in the sun. Take the time to feel the warmth from the outside and in. And look up and grab hold of the righteous right hand of God who's got you firmly in His grasp. 

I leave you with words if Isaiah 41:10, 

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Lockdown 64

Lockdown Day 64 - 29 May 2020

Friday. Yay! Fridays always feel different. No matter the rest of the week's stuff, good or challenging, it somehow goes on the back burner for Friday. 

I sometimes wonder if other cultures and countries experience the Friday vibe as intensely lekker as us boertjies, looking forward to a braai. A friendly crackling fire with the smell of a good old tjoppie and a glass of whatever you normally enjoy. 

Even in the winter, outside is where it's best, listening to the city go quiet, letting your soul wind down. These are one of the 5 star moments lockdown couldn't take away. 

The familiar feeling of friends coming over, is however on ice. To have people in your life who know you as well as do you them, who know where you come from and what you stand for is priceless. 

These are the people you don't need to explain yourself to, who accept you unconditionally and who never judge you or keep tally of how many times you call or didn't call. People who you know will walk to the Sahara for you. Such people are the 5 star people no lockdown can take from you. These are your "go-to" people and you know exactly who they are. I call them my "person". 

And then you get those very special people who have a piece of your heart. For us girls we talk about 'sisters' and boys have their 'bro's'. These people are just like real family, even though they aren't. If you catch my drift. 

And tonight I give a shout out to you guys as well as my two sisters and Mom, who I dearly miss spending time with: I lift my  Glühwein on the times to come when we'll once again will be able to see each other in person. For those closeby whom I've ran into at the shops and regularly talk to, you know who you are and the coffee calls! 

At the end of this Friday with level 3 of lockdown looming, I retire with gratitude for every person who gets me, even if my blonde brain is dilly sometimes. Gratitude for my family's love that is greater than the walls that's locked us in, who are always forgiving even on my 'bipolar' days. 

And gratitude for God without whom life would not be worthwhile, and who, in spite of my unbelief in those faltering moments, has got this!

Lockdown 63

Lockdown Day 63 - 28 May 2020

Just as I predicted, the icy morning of the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner finally arrived. In 6.5 kilometres I only encountered one runner, one cyclist and two carers at the end of my walk at 07:30. As far as I walked, the frost in every garden twinkled under the glow of the street lights. I just LOVED it! 

The sky painted a rainbow-like hue as dawn announced a new day. Day sixty-three. Another day in Lockdown. And as it looks also one of the last of level 4. And for me this day signals the end of my first ever 'bipolar' week. Earlier today I saw a quote which said, " Life's beauty is inseparable from its fragility." So being fragile (tantrums included) isn't wrong, but for it to have value, it needs to point to the beauty and resilience of life (we are survivors!). 

One thing about living here is the clear distinction between the four seasons. You don't wonder which season it is, because it is in your face. 28 Years ago I used to work for a chicken farm's laboratory with Izabeth, who managed the lab. Every Monday we would go to the farm which was out of town. And especially during winter Izabeth always said, "This is why I love the Free State. You can see and feel the seasons." Her words were imprinted in my memory forever. And they are truer than true. 

The seasons all look like the pictures in a children's book. Winter is freezing, with leafless trees, yellow grass, frost and snow on the Lesotho mountains and in some towns too. Summer is hot and dry, autumn is cool and orange with the last of the rain and bottle green foliage and spring is fresh and ultra green, with remnants of winter's temperatures. 

In many ways our bodies actually need to breathe with the seasons, embracing rest and restoration in winter, new life in spring, growth in summer and storing up resources in autumn. So tonight I shall allow myself to be restored in the perfect peace of God that removes all fear. A peace He gives freely and unconditionally because He's got this.

Lockdown 62

Lockdown Day 62 - 27 May 2020

Today the winter got hold of the free state, and from what I understand pretty much the rest of the country too. Wednesdays I usually have coffee@10 with the girls while in a whatsapp group call. Before lockdown we actually met at 07h00 for half an hour to download and recharge for the day. These were power moments I hope we can soon resume. The call works very well and is an excellent second best,  but I miss the human contact factor of the four of us just sitting at a table talking all at once, breathing in the aroma of espresso. And hearing the hissing of the steam and the familiar tapping of the portafilter as the Barista compresses the beans. 

Even though I miss the contact, I am simultaneously and painfully aware of strangers and the things they do, disregarding their own health and of course putting those around them at risk too. As with the coffee with friends, there are little things about life in general we just don’t seem to be allowed to do anymore, such as going from one shop to another with a trolley from the first shop which already has a bag in it (with the slip as proof) without any problems. I experienced this first hand today. First I was virtually forced to inhale sanitizer spray even before I could say I had my own. Then I was told that bag needs to be closed. It was too full to close so I wasn’t allowed into the shop. Really? Strike one.

In spite of lockdown, you still get the people who don’t give a damn about others. Like the couple behind me in the first shop. On the floor of the queue aisle the social distancing dots were hard to miss, being very clear and bright. The couple were literally breathing down my neck. And when I moved to the next dot, they moved with me, sharing my queue space. I turned around to ask them to please move away and was met with a “what’s-wrong-with-you“ look and a death defying stance. For my own sanity and to avoid an out of body cataclysm, I decided they are probably Martians who have learnt my language and dropped in to see what’s happening. Strike two.

But the best (or worst?) was when I had to use the lift to get to my car. I was in a queue, waiting my turn. I watched the shoppers get into the lift two at a time. When it was my turn I entered the lift and as I turned, three other people ran in as well. And just as the doors closed another stopped the door and also squeezed in. Really? I was in the far corner and couldn’t escape. Thankful for my space mask I faced the other people, only to find them avoiding my contemptuous gaze. Strike three. 

I was out. Literally and figuratively bombed. And completely done with this whole virus madness. Does anyone really know what is the truth about this virus? And why the world is the way it is, when  millions are still dying of other diseases there aren’t any cures for either? I found myself just sitting in the car trying to feel the way I felt when I parked in the first place. Desperately wanting to feel normal again. 

I object today against this new normal, because nothing of this is normal. Working from home isn’t normal. Wearing a space mask isn’t normal. Having to take off your wedding rings because your skin cannot take one spray of sanitizer any more, isn’t normal. And the list goes on. 

We are broken in a broken world. That is why God’s wholeness is the only thing that can bring back normal. So tonight I run into His strong tower and hear Him whisper, “at last, normal”. And tomorrow I shall get up and show up because I know I am in the hands of God who's got this.

Lockdown 61

Lockdown Day 61 - 26 May 2020

I have been waiting for the icy weather to turn up ever since those feathery clouds cut through the sky on day 43. And now, 18 days later we hear of snow in many places. 

During my walk I had many thoughts and questions about all the world's different stages of lockdown/virus protocols.  During the past months we have seen footage and pictures of many places where nature has been restored because of less human invasion and traffic, with less global carbon emission recorded worldwide. 

Places such as Venice is shown to have crystal clear canals, with dolphins coming to see what all this quiet is about. In Queensland Australia the dolphins are seen bringing 'gifts' such as coral from the sea  to a closed interactive site where they used to interact with humans. 

In South Africa, the penguins in the Two Oceans Aquarium had the place to themselves, some of them encountering sea animals from the 'other side' for the first time! Watch this: (more links at the end of this day's blog) 

https://youtu.be/_nB68eAYr4I 

The Kruger National Park also told about the animals enjoying their roaming freedom. And in Texas State Aquarium, the dolphins Liko and Schooner were introduced to Chico the sloth!

After comparing March 2020 air pollution with the last 5 years, NASA atmospheric Scientist Barry Lefer said a significant drop in air pollution measurements was recorded as follows: Paris-46%, Bengaluru India-35%,  Sydney-38%, Los Angeles-29%, Rio de Janeiro-26% and Durban-9%. Cleaner air was most noticeable in India and China. It is said that people living in the North Indian city of Jalandhar haven't seen the snow-capped Himalayan peaks (over 100 miles away) in decades. And on 3 April they actually woke up to this wondrous sight! 

With all this happening in Nature, the question arises what about the human race? How will we change our interaction with the environment when all this has passed? Will the parks, aquariums, zoos and holiday spots change the way people view nature and its inhabitants? Will Venice protect "their" dolphins and clean canals? What will we do individually to make nature better? 

Without human intervention, nature started healing itself. Maybe that's what we need to do. Tap into the Creator's plan, his intent when He designed us. After all, He's the only One who's got this. 

Once again, the wise words of Corrie ten Boom applies, "His will is our hiding place. Lord Jesus, keep me in your will! Don't let me go mad by poking about outside of it!"

PS to see the full Two oceans article, tap on this link (there are many short videos to watch) :

https://www.businessinsider.co.za/two-oceans-penguins-2020-5

You can also follow Ayrton King on instagram:

https://instagram.com/aquarist_ayrton?igshid=qi5f5rj893ee

Lockdown 60

Lockdown Day 60 - 25 May 2020

The Prez has spoken. And lockdown life goes on. But....a little better and brighter. For people like me it was so great that Mr Prez gave us a speech with lots of info, being very clear where his loyalties lie. No puppet Prez present. Just a man who wants to beat a virus. I can live with that. Even accept a few strict rules for a Prez with a genuine heart. And I confirm I am glad that it’s not my job. 

So next week my yearning to go walking any time during the day is granted and I shall be thankful for every minute of green. The thought of Lockdown level 3 made me wonder if we are still just surviving, or can we actually thrive? Thriving means to flourish or grow vigorously in the right environment. Question is, is Lockdown a growth inducing environment? 

Let’s look at our smoker population. They never skipped a cig. No matter which rules were dished out and what the cost was, not to mention venturing into black market retail. I suppose it is safe to say their addiction has thrived. And did they grow? Well I suppose the use of the cig escalated in an effort to curb stress. The real growth happened in the black market. And they will go on exploiting as long as this cig ban is enforced. Brownie points for growth, zero for long term health. Survivors. 

Also, the curfew at night will be lifted. I wonder what for. Not that I am complaining, but it's just a little peculiar. Where would I go after 20h00 hours that doesn't require a permit? Window shopping? Scenic drive? I thought the whole point of level 3 was to get the economy going but keeping the people home as far as possible. Well, maybe I shall go pick up a Big Mac after midnight. Just because. And on the way home stop for a bull of a shake at you know who. Brownie points for fast food, zero for my long term health. Survivors. 

So maybe we should stop to think how we could thrive instead. How we could make it better. For our housemates. For ourselves. For others in need of someone who will just listen for a minute. For those around us struggling to stand. In doing this, we will stand taller, see further and run a good race. 

And to pray for us all to become giants and warriors in our trades. Mindful of Who the conductor of this symphony is. In the end, the rhythm of heaven should be proof of a thriving people who march to the tune of a God who's got this.

Lockdown 59

Lockdown Day 59 - 24 May 2020

Still on the topic of love, I have a story to tell. A love story.  

Who would have thought it possible for a single person to meet the love they have been praying for for years, in a time like this. I believe when something like this happens it is an act of God when two people find each other through compassion and trauma, not realising they are being set up for the greatest experience Godly love can bring about. This is how it began for two people in Lockdown. For the purpose of anonymity I shall call them PT and EH. 

PT works in essential services in a country on North American soil, regularly commuting between there and a coastal town in SA. EH works in essential services (not the same as PT) in Gauteng, SA. Both have lost their marriage partners within the last couple of years due to completely different traumatic events.  Once, long ago, they lived in the same town, hardly ever saw each other, lived their separate lives. 

Fast forward to SA 2020, a couple of weeks prior to lockdown, a whatsapp conversation started up between them when they learned of each other's trauma and wanted to express compassion about their respective losses. Then Lockdown happened and PT was 'trapped' in SA. Their casual once in a while whatsapp texts became a daily event, with both finding themselves strangely excited. 

The excitement grew into an attraction both could not deny. It was like this show on tv called "Hear me, Love me, See me".  In this show a man or woman looking for a partner, gets to have 3 virtual dates with three hopefuls wearing a body cam. The person at home gets to see what the hopefuls do and where they are. They get to know each other without seeing each other on camera or in person. 

And this is exactly how PT and EH got to know each other’s likes and dislikes, pet hates and loves and found they share the same spiritual beliefs, believing God is the author of their destiny. Little did they know how God was putting together their “See me” moment. PT had to travel across provincial borders to see his father after which he would have flown back to his job abroad for the next commuting cycle. But the airline could not fill the flight on time and his flight was postponed. 

And yes, you guessed it, he was stuck in Gauteng! EH could not contain her excitement. The time was right to meet each other after months of talking, sharing, laughing and praying. The moment of truth revealed a deep connection they were not prepared for. And for now, that is enough. Hopefully after his next commuter cycle, PT will be back in SA in no time. In the meantime whatsapp will have to do. 

Lockdown eat your heart out! Godly love transcends all boundaries. Faith and trust in God has proved as much. I feel inspired and encouraged that neither life nor love can be dictated by circumstance, however bleak the future may appear to be. I carry the story of PT and EH in my spirit as a reminder of the transcending hope and faith in God that can bring about the impossible. And that no boundary is insurmountable for a God who's got this.

Lockdown 58

Lockdown Day 58 - 23 May 2020

Today was sooooo close to how I remember my Saturdays were, I could almost smell it!  Now, I know 'they' say life will never be the same after this, but to be able to feel I can go and do where and what I want on my own time schedule is priceless. The mind shift includes stick to the rules, find a way and ditch the paranoia. 

So today we were out at 6. It was dark with a slight hue on the horizon hinting dawn was on its way. The cool 9°C air sent the hot flushes packing and my brain felt revived and spoilt. Changing the route slightly we saw some antelope just as the red sun bounced onto the horizon. With every kilometre passing, I felt myself relax into our familiar weekend rhythm, loving the fact that there was no shopping list for groceries, except an impromptu trip to a local butcher renownd for good steak. 

Later, driving through the quiet streets, we parked in front of the butcher. I waited in the car and suddenly noticed the butcher had openend their own coffee bar and great was my surprise to find my favourite barista standing outside! Schweeeet. Two flat whites later no mask or sanitizer could wipe my smile off my face. A morning in town with the love of my life, unexpected stops and surprises, the best flat white ever made by the best barista ever and the warm winter free state sun on my skin. Could it get any better?! Oh yes, we arrive at home after a scenic drive to find Starbucks coffee pods and 'koeksisters' 

at my front door! Thank you H! 🤩 Those koeksisters' outside were as crunchy as you like with a slightly sweet syrupy inside. You made my day. 

I decided to pay it forward and put a little gift in front of an elderly friend's door. I mention this, not because I did it, but to tell of a feeling of love that was planted inside all of us when we were created. And to be able to share it in the smallest of ways, blesses our hearts in bigger ways than we could imagine. I am reminded of another thing Corrie ten Boom said, "and so I learned that love is larger than the walls that shut it in." 

Wow. Love is larger than that abominable virus. Love is larger than any lockdown or its rules. Love can build a bridge where there is none. Love can spill over you like warm winter sun when you least expect it. Love is in the little things, as frequently as in the big things. Don't ever stop looking, and never forget to look inside the little things first! 

Just like Truth, Love found me again, and calmly sailed through this day with me. Making sure I am anchored to Him and confirming He's well and truly got this!

Lockdown 57

Lockdown Day 57 - 22 May 2020

Day 1 of week 9. And life goes on. After a quick 'taking-the-dog-to-smell-lampposts' outing, I had to visit the local police station for paperwork. They were friendly and it was clean and organised. I stood watching the cars drive by and saw my walking time go by too. By the time the officer had waded through his paperwork and I had signed where my signature was needed, an hour had passed. And of course I arrived home after 9am. 

In anticipation of this let down and my most unwilling soul having to comply with the stupidest rule ever, I prepped a new recipe last night by mixing the dry ingredients and kept it overnight in a Tupperware holder. Upon returning home I immediately mixed the rest of the batch and had breakfast in half an hour. I am a glutton for a warm thing from the oven. It is just a beautiful thing. (wonder what I would've done if it was a flop!) 

Baking cakes and scones aren't really my thing and usually I'll enjoy someone else's baking rather than risking a disaster. But today this matchbox oven must have signed a heavenly alliance, because it delivered my first ever no mess, no fuss basil and cheese scones baked in an oven dish. 

One of my wonderful free state friends who lives closeby is a star baker (she's so good she could easily win the Great SA Bake Off). I don't think these scones are anywhere near hers, and the bake off judges would most certainly find all the faults there are to find, but for now they offer soothing comfort to a weary non-walker.

Later, after bemoaning my lost walk, another good friend suggested I go to one of the the now open nurseries to satisfy my need for green. I most certainly plan to try it out. 

And of course now that take away coffee is becoming more and more available, a social distancing cuppa with a friend can ignite the friend hormone we so desperately have been deprived of all these weeks. Remember, no blabbing! 🤐 But please stay safe and stick to the rules. The inside of a police station is only friendly when you don't break the law. We dont have to agree but we need to be compliant within the parameters. 

 So tonight I would like to give  a shout out to the men and women of our front line services who show up and help as best they can, even though they also have families they worry about and provide for. Seeing those policemen and women this morning made me realise they are in the same boat I am, doing what they can for their families they are providing for. 

And also a shout out to friends and family, who make a day feel like the gift it is. You guys rock! 

The law of love and service is not required, nor do we earn a salary from it, but when we encounter it and pay it forward, the law of heaven is activated. We are rewarded eternally and experience undeserved grace, not because we called it but because HE IS. HE IS holding the world in His hands. HE IS the God who's got this. 

 

Lockdown 56

Lockdown Day 56 - 21 May 2020

This morning the sun surprised us once again by appearing as a huge white fireball just sitting on the red horizon. I am told it is dust that makes the sky this red at a cloudless sunrise. 

I read recently it takes 8 minutes for the sunlight  to reach earth, traveling at three hundred housand kilometres per second. The sun also generates solar winds which are bursts of plasma from the corona layer (no, the abonimable virus did not get its name from the sun), traveling up to 450km per second. One of the places I still want to see are the Northern Lights, generated by the interaction between the solar winds and our atmosphere. One last fun fact is the sun's surface temperature is between 5027°C and 5727°C. (Phew, and I thought I had hot flushes!) 

As the day passed and the sun glided through is winter path, I was mindfully aware that the sun has a lifetime just as we have a lifetime. And its value is immeasurable, its existence irreplaceable as far as creation goes. 

I believe this is exactly how we were created: to have immeasurable value as a unique human being with 

an irreplaceble fingerprint - the signature of our Creator. 

Feeling the sun on my skin today as I sat in the green room, I smiled at the warmth and the light, realising this is exactly what it means to be created in His image (as written in Genesis). 

Just as it is never dark where the sun is,  it is never dark where God is. Therefore I shall strive to generate more of the  warmth and light I was created to be. 

So tonight I retire with a thank you note for the sun sent as a reminder each day of my God who's got this. 

Lockdown 55

Lockdown Day 55 - 20 May 2020

According to the Oxford Dictionary the meaning of the verb bathe, is to “wash or spend time by immersing the body in water”. In this era of wellness we frequently hear we should bathe in nature. Sunbathing has been part of human life from the beginning of time. And now, being in a  worldwide lockdown, there are hundreds of videos and memes about how to use the sun to prevent the spread of this abominable virus. Dry your washing in the sun, put your mask and shoes in the sun, sit in the sun for at least 30 minutes for a dose of vitamin D which, according to new research, proves to be a Covid killer. 

After seeing the sunrise again this morning, I thought about how, pre-lockdown, the world was already more tuned in to natural ways of healing and restoration, homeopathic remedies and holistic approach to health in general. 

One self-care practise particularly interests me. It is called forest bathing. With its origin in Japan, it is a practise regularly prescribed by doctors for many patients in need of alternative treatment. It involves the patient's immersion in a green forest with trees (imagine beating Covid19 with a walk in the park!) . The benefits include mood improvement, lowers cortisol and depression, and the aromatic substances produced by plants and trees can be linked with lowering inflammation and protecting the brain. Oh wow, this is my language. I once heard that even autistic people seek this kind of therapy to ease anxiety and improve attitude. 

For me, seeing the green triggers my happy hormones; its as if I open a door for my mind to access those less visited corners that I rarely have time to explore; as if all creation utters a deep sigh of gratitude, looking to its Creator. 

So tonight I breathe in the oxygen of Truth. And lay my hopes and dreams at the feet of the God who's got this. 

I leave you with a song that says it all:

https://youtu.be/IbUAtPI8vGU

Lockdown 54

Lockdown Day 54 - 19 May 2020

Early this morning we left home at first light. Golden clouds with touches of red and pink stretched across the sky, ever changing as the sun approached. And then, suddenly the sun spilled onto the earth. I marvel at the beauty of creation every time I'm out there. I will never get tired of this scene. Watching the shadows and light, shifting as the sun emerges. There is that second when creation goes quiet as if God says, "Look what have I created", just before the earth breathes its first breath of daylight. 

Then I thought that in the space of the next 24 hours right around the world, every single person in every country sees the same sun. And all are impacted by this virus in some way. For the first time in possibly the world's history, absolutely everyone understands what everyone is going through. Wow. 

The one thing that no lockdown or virus can take away from mankind is the freedom to choose. Freedom to choose how you feel about it while it plays out around you. Freedom to choose how you will react to rules and laws. Also, freedom to be able to speak your truth, even if it is to question decisions, rage at injustice or allow a little sadness about what is lost. 

Nelson Mandela said, " For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." 

So, just remember to always get up, show up and speak the ultimate truth with which comes the ultimate freedom : God is good and He's got this all the time!

Lockdown 53

Lockdown Day 53 - 18 May 2020

One good thing Lockdown sparked is quality time spent together by families. And I suspect relationships and family bonds are a lot stronger by now , even for those who are apart. More time is spent on whatsapp video calls, etc.  One of the things we started doing is playing games on weekend nights. Tangram for the student brain and maths: two people each get 7 shapes and try to build a picture from a card always using 7 pieces. It is for people 6 to 166 years old and believe me, not at all a walk in the park. But when you get it right it's a real morale booster (especially for a blonde Betty 🏄🏼). 

We also pulled out an old family favourite called Pass the Pigs. This game originated many years ago where, it is said, live pigs were actually tossed. Fortunately they saw the light in later years and used small wood carved piglets to toss. Ours are rubber and look just like their farm counterparts. The players each take turns tossing the pigs on a table top and are awarded points according to the positions they land in. The highest score is a double leaning jowler when both pigs land on their snout and one ear. We are extremely amused at ourselves when playing this game. One would think the points are in the way the pigs are tossed. Maybe a special flick of the wrist or a drop from above. No sirreee. These piglets have a way of their own. No amount of practise or new techniques make them land the way they should for high points. First player with 100 wins.

Despite the games being fun and something to do, they ignite a competing spirit in all three of us. After all, who likes losing? And no matter how hard you try not to get upset when you're losing, you do! (maybe next time I will wear a silly outfit) 

Maybe we should design a new game. We could call it the Lockdown Game. The player who lasts the longest wins. Like staring at a target without blinking or balancing on one heel while reading👀. Or trying to type something while the others keep on tapping random keyboard letters. 

In the meantime, the piglets rest in their little holder, waiting to emerge again next weekend for a rematch. I imagine if they could talk, the one would say to the other, "When we get out, this little piggy is going to the market and this little piggy will be staying home." (a nursery rhyme from my preschool days that could well have been written in a time like this) 

Well, after a long day of house cleaning, washing and cooking, this tired Betty is going to slip into fresh clean linen, listen to the night sounds and fall asleep to the rhythm of heaven. Tonight I shall dream of a different world where everyone follows God because He's got this.

A song for you to enjoy: 

https://youtu.be/v8yiRgVHeCo

Lockdown 52

Lockdown Day 52 - 17 May 2020

Ever since I can remember, I have always been fascinated by things people experience and how they get through it. Whether it is a life-happening or life-crisis. I remember when I first read Corrie Ten Boom's 'The Hiding Place' I was inspired for a number of reasons. I learned to continuously think about myself  differently, not necessarily because of a crisis, but in spite of it.  Another was to write about everything. Regardless of my personality (and teenager logic😊) I felt if she could survive the holocaust and live to tell her story, I could do pretty much anything and be anybody I wanted. I even thought I was a rock star!  Well, of course I still am a rock star at heart (what would life be without bling jeans and wings✨). 

This virus has literally caused varying levels of crises in every single country of the world. I think it's safe to say this is just another kind of holocaust. The holocaust of the soul, forcing us into introspection. 

But this doesn't have to be a bad thing. This can be the change you've always been dreaming of.... just different. This can be the first spark of a new fire your spirit breathes. Be a rock star and get on your own stage. One little teeny tiny bit at a time. Worthwhile change puts you through discomfort and pain. It takes time. Mostly longer than you think (like cooking in lockdown when you don't have KFC as a backup). 

Who I am in this holocaust is in spite of it. In Corrie's words, "It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts." In my fallible human  'rock star' way, I will stand on my stage with bling jeans and wings and rock it out even if my feet need a foot spa. I shall put my fist in the air and breathe in the victory I see in my spirit, even if I have to wear a face screen (NASA here I come!). 

God's got this, mm hm aha YEAH 💃.

Lockdown 51

Lockdown Day 51 - 16 May 2020

Every time I go out for my weekly shopping I wonder if I am not taking this whole sanitizing strip/wash/shower routine too far. During the weeks preceding Day 1 of Lockdown, we were all coming to terms with washing hands, social distancing and cleaning surfaces. No masks and no shower routine. Then came Lockdown. We stayed home. We heard research telling us how long the virus can last on various items and surfaces. To this day we still don't know if any of these measures, 

except for social distancing, really work (the jury will always be out on this matter). 

And now, after 7 weeks and 2 days, the numbers have not done what we expected and the country is fighting for the economy, for their lives. Not against a virus (South Africans are famous rule breakers🙄) but against Lockdown Levels. 

So I wonder, if I keep my distance, keep my hands clean and wear a screen over my face, isnt that enough? Or am I going to let my paranoia get the better of me and keep the strip/wash/shower routine? 

All of the above set aside, the truth is all of us are in some way or another placed under involutary stress. Lockdown stress.  Most people have a natural instinct to de-stress under 'normal' stress conditions. The process is different for all of us, but we succeed most of the time in keeping the stress at bay. Under the current circumstances research is now being conducted and the number of people suddenly diagnosed with depression and various other stress related conditions has escalated worldwide. 

De-stressing is going to become a regular item on our daily agenda in the months to come. A few de-stressing things to do include music and online shows, dance, reading and creative pastimes such as baking, DIY, gardening and art projects. Spiritual activities such as Bible study, quiet /prayer times  and introspective activities such as blogging (Mm hm aha YEAH 💃) or journaling are also extremely important. Last, but not least, is of course exercise. 

Conducting work, home things and leisure in the same space is challenging. But to do this for an unknown period of time is what makes this even more difficult. This is why you need to have your own therapy hour. Whatever it is, plán for it and do nót compromise! One hour a week at the very least will increase your dopamine and serotonin (happy hormones) levels to make you feel better about yourself and everything else. So have a look at your routine and think about it a little. You be the judge if your therapy hour is satisfactory. 

We are in this together, so we might as well encourage one another. 

But we need to fill our own vessels first. 

The words of Psalm 51:12 from the TPT describe it best, "Let my passion for life be restored, tasting joy in every breakthrough you bring to me. Hold me close to you with a willing spirit that obeys whatever you say." God's got you. 

I leave you with a Danny Gokey song:

https://youtu.be/F77v41jbOYs

Lockdown 50

Lockdown Day 50 - 15 May 2020

Day 50! Wow. I'm sure many of us are in some kind of daily routine, getting things done as best we can, trying not to think about this too much. I keep wanting to go out for a walk at odd times, and invent reasons to fill the trash so I can take it out to the place where everyone in the matchboxes have to put their trash. Roxy is especially alert and jumps up when she hears me getting the bag ready. She gets to accompany me, walking without a leash. 

To get there we walk inbetween 12 matchboxes, crossing our entry road. Most days we never see a soul. This is the only unchanged routine  and definitely makes it feel as if the world is normal again. This time we actually passed two people in their little back yard and greeted politely. Then the lady asked me if we are okay. I stopped and we introduced ourselves, having a quick chat about lockdown living. We have never met before. 

I had a strange feeling this encounter was not just a coincidence. When we said goodbye and we were walking back home, I looked up and saw a thin string of clouds right above us, standing out against the baby blue sky. Just like the lines on a road. I immediately knew they were showing the way. 

Back inside, I went to sit in the green room and pondered the sight of those clouds. I felt encouraged to keep going, “toe the line”, put one foot in front of the other. That is the way to go. And then it hit me. You know how a train on a track, once on its way to a destination, only goes forward? Leave the past just there: it has passed! Looking back in remembrance is possible, but this is a chance for us to change the not so good things, to try that something new we have thought would never work but had potential. 

To recognise our strength does not lie in how our life was before this, but how we lived inside of it that matters. To dig extra deep for that spark we know is still there. Change can only induce the birth of something new if there is pain. This is my reality tonight. I am writing from the pain deep down in my being, the part that is mourning what was before all this. But, as turning back is no longer an option, looking up and putting one foot in front of the other, small changes make each new day bring a twinkle of its own. 

So keep your eyes open, because if you blink, you might just miss it! And when you see it you’ll know there is a way and a vision set before you by your Creator. Choose to take it, folllow it and choose to believe Gods got this.  

I leave you with the words of Isaiah 30:21, "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left."

Lockdown 49

Lockdown Day 49 - 14 May 2020

Today Roxy and I started out at first light in the first cold Free State morning of 6°C. Eureka! Below 10 degrees at last! And as predicted, we were alone for most of the way, enjoying the sun coming up and feeling the bite of the cold on our faces. Happy days! 

Once home, I tackled my weekly baking session aimed at spoiling the man people with a few eats. After which I spent some time catching up on my old magazines I never had time for pre-lockdown. l read all the travel features, movie and theatre reviews, articles on events such as 'sweat parties' (exercise events), Chasing the Sun on rooftops (a Big City mass aerobics thing) and business breakfasts. I was transported into the pre-lockdown life! All the editors published content for a Covid19 - free world. No survival skills, symptom-lists and interviews with doctors and front line staff. I find myself looking forward to my weekly shopping to see what the headlines look like now, 8 weeks along. 

Haven't even peeked to see the online front pages of all my faves. 

Last night, when I went to bed after the Prez spoke, I had world leaders in my thoughts, and felt thankful I wasn't one. Which is why, while thumbing through my magz today, I immediately noticed a less-known quote by none other than Nelson Mandela. He said, 

"Your playing small does not serve the world. 

Who are you not to be great?" 

At reading this, I stopped to think about this. Two little sentences packing a giant punch. Who am I to think I can't be amazing? Who are we, as lockdown thinkers not wanting to still, against the odds, be absolutely fantastic?! The first part hit me a while later. And almost immediately resulted in a question: 

Am I playing small? Are we playing small? 

The futuristic inspirational nature of this quote is in itself jaw dropping. But because Nelson Mandela said it, it creates a whole new dimension within this quote. In my mind's eye I imagine a reporter asking him what he means by this. And the answer would be something simple, but powerful:

"Stop selling yourself short, you were made with the potential to hold the world in your hands........all you have to do is decide!" 

This makes me want to jump up and shout, "YES!!"  Let's grab hold of our world and run with our own brand of greatness! 

Be fearlessly authentic ! 

In the words of Psalm 8:4-5, 

"What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor." 

'Nuff said. 

The God who visits us and crowns us has got this.

Lockdown 48

Lockdown Day 48 - 13 May 2020

Today, while walking in the most absurd early morning rain, the sticky raindrops (it smelled like ice drops) dotting the road surface, a couple of what ifs surfaced in my thoughts. I wondered what if the world wakes up tomorrow to find the virus is just gone, vanished into thin air with zero new cases, zero deaths and people all over over claiming they are healed. Would people immediately go back to their former way of life? In time, I suppose they probably would, because human nature will not be wiped out. (Nature's laws declare quite candidly that if something can decay it will.) I wonder who will praise God for a virus free world. 🤔

Here's another one: You know how these days everybody is going on about how inportant the internet and LTE/5G is and how one should have a strong online presence? What if tomorrow, the plug gets pulled on the internet? No data, nothing. And then I wondered what if we wake up to the ice age tomorrow morning?

Suddenly a different world overnight (now that sounds familiar!) and resources are not what they seem ... what on earth would we do? 

Fact is, all the above scenarios are entirely possible, the earth already being in a compromised position because of acid rain and pollution not to mention humankind's selfish abuse of resources.

Once home, I am relieved and grateful  beyond measure that all of us are healthy, that I am not living in the ice age and that I can google a recipe in seconds or order food online in minutes, call my Mom on a wireless device and even share a video with her. Yes the world can change in a day, as we have seen. But we still get up, show up and keep on keeping on. 

Tonight, while waiting for our Prez to talk, one question still hovers in the back of my head: 

What if the world comes to an end tomorrow? 

In the end its about where your faith lies and who your Master is. Let's choose to live each day to the full as if it's our last. To grab Christ's hand while He is holding it out to us. He is our Way, Truth and Life. Our way to God the Father, the One who's still got this.

Lockdown 47

Lockdown Day 47 - 12 May 2020

Lockdown changed both my self-view and my world view. Apart from being a Kinetic Scientist, I am also a highly trained multi-skilled person with talents I never knew I had and loads of experience.

I am a housekeeper and chamber maid, security detail with an alert and super fit canine, a chef, proof reader, IT technician, cleaning and laundry service, confectionery artist, hairdresser, nurse and homeopathic faith healer. I thought long and hard for a perfect job description to fit this unique combination of skills. But came up with nothing. No job in the whole wide world expects anybody to do all those things plus their real job. Yet, this is what homemakers do, and more. Truth is most modern day women do both. According to an American poll, a homemaker's salary needs to be in the order of $21000 a year. That's R387 000 per year and roughly R32 000 per month. Although these numbers are open to interpretation and rarely get paid out, they give value to a priceless occupation of which the world has no equal in the business world.

If I were a CEO of a business, any business, I would like my workers to be capable of almost anything and do whatever is needed. I would like someone with wisdom who doesn't need to be supervised. I would like someone with a positive attitude who is not worried about what the world thinks, but has enough life experience to get through any challenge. Moreover I would like someone with passion and commitment who will not give up easily.

What would happen if everyone would consider to try and be that kind of worker for just one day? Or maybe a week? Or maybe a post lockdown trial?

In my ideal world this could mean a world that truly has a spirit of love, grace and compassion. If everything were perfect, would there be a chance for us to really make a difference? I think in a world of chaos, anarchy, injustice and poverty we have the perfect opportunity to start making a difference by just using our unique set of skills with spunk and sparkle. Maybe, just maybe, we will mirror a Creator the world so desperately

needs. 

So they'll know like we know He's got this.

Lockdown 46

Lockdown Day 46 - 11 May 2020

Monday. The 7th Monday since Lockdown began. 

And we are already in week 7. I find myself in lockdown limbo, scanning the media for any sign of hope that level 3 will soon be announced. But nothing. In fact there are speculations that school opening dates will be postponed. Today I am allowing myself to miss how things were. I suppose all of us are going to have these days from time to time. To say it out loud already helps a great deal. I spoke to a friend who described this lockdown limbo very well. She said it’s not the travel ban that gets her, but the simple fact that we can’t go about our duties as it suits our families and jobs or businesses. Being told what you can and can’t. The time constraints for exercise don’t help either. 

I totally agree with social distancing. But as Winston Churchill said, “ If you destroy a free market you create a black market. If you make 10 000 regulations you destroy all respect for the law.” 

Wise words. 

That is the vibe in SA at the moment. And it shows in the numbers. Painfully so in certain places. Anybody who is not complying, has absolutely no respect for themselves or their fellow countrymen. I suspect many of us who are law abiding citizens find ourselves in this lockdown  limbo. All of us know at least one person who is a smoker, and they’ll tell you how easy it is to get hold of the stuff on the black market. 

First Churchill box ticked. Also, many of us know of others who don’t feel heard and respected, and then you get those people who are living dangerously from day 1, doing whatever they want. Second Churchill box ticked.

In all fairness the task of our Prez and his people is at the very least daunting. I don’t know what I would decide in this catch 22 situation. But what I do know is that a choice needs to be made soon. Neither choice is going to be easy and neither will magically ‘cure’ our country. But maybe the people could wake up less troubled and hungry, and comply to social distancing out of respect for a government who acknowledges how important their work force is to this self sustaining productive country. Let's make plans to look after one another in stead of giving an abominable virus the stage. And shift focus from the virus to what we know will work for our country.

Truth found me today in the words of Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng who said, “We are exposed — we are not protected — and my call is to all those who can pray to see it as an absolute necessity, starting from today, to do so......at least every Wednesday and every Sunday.... knowing that, with prayer, nothing is impossible.” 

We stand accountable. Because we know God's got this.

Lockdown 45

Lockdown Day 45 - 10 May 2020

Mother's Day began last night when I watched August Rush, one of my all time favourite movies. I was once again blown away by how a mother and father have that special bond with a child. No matter what happens in life, every child should have a parent who mirrors God's love for them. And no reason can justify the abuse of a child's love for its parent/s. The heart of a child is pure, created this way with intent. The definition of a mother is someone who imprints deep value of life, nurturing the heart with principles and building character. A mother's bond with her child is not rooted in genes or physical tissue. Social science and nature has proven this over and over. 

So today, I am giving a shout out to anyone who has mothered a child. And especially my Mother who is the kindest person I know with the biggest heart in this world. Thank you Mom for always being there and putting us first before yourself. Thank you for showing us who God is through your life and love. And thank you for praying for and supporting us in our lives as adults. May you be blessed! 

Another shout out is for my Mother in law with whom I have had a close relationship ever since I started dating my husband. Thank you Mom for always standing by your children and for accepting me and my family as your own. Thank you for praying for all of us, even now! 

Today I was unexpectedly surprised by my boys (one in Namibia and one here, thank goodness for whatsapp and google). They found a local cake shop who were baking cakes for delivery today, and ordered the most beautiful cheesecake slathered with the most delicious looking thick layer of cream (these people understand that a baked cheesecake needs LOTS of cream). It was packed in a box with a lovely card and ribbon around it. A New York baked cheesecake. My favourite!!! My boys, a tearful thank you for this wonderful lockdown surprise. I love you both more than words can express💖. 

Tonight I also want to give a shout out 

 to all Mothers who taught their children to  follow the music of their heart. 

After cheesecake and coffee I am going to watch the beautiful moon and listen to the heavenly rhythm of August Rush's Rhapsody. He wrote this musical masterpiece as a tribute to his parents. He said, "the music is all around you, all you have to do is listen". As a mother, my peace tonight lies in the perfect love of God. It is because He loves me that I can love. It is because He cares that I care for my own. And because He's got this I can face tomorrow. 

Below is the link for August Rush's Rhapsody. Enjoy! 

https://youtu.be/Ow0R7n94hzI

Lockdown 44

Lockdown Day 44 - 9 May 2020

Today I am focused on 

T I M E : a commodity we as humans have no control over other than to utilise it productively or keep track of. Past present and future all describe moments in time. Thousands of quotes exist about it. Prominent people have had their say about it. T I M E is precious. TIMING is everything. People use the word all the time (you see?), every day. 

43 Days have passed since lockdown started, 6 weeks. We have learnt to slow down a little. In a manner of speaking, Slow Living is actually just taking time to do normal things with more mindfulness and care, such as having a meal or a cup of coffee or tea. Slow Living is why people go to places away from their homes; to feel less pressured by time constraints their lives impose on them. 

The feeling of being able to manipulate time is as old as the mountains. But no matter how hard we try, the clock just keeps ticking. So how on earth can we make time work for us? Some may say the more you cram in a day, the better you'll feel at the end of it. But the truth is a human body is a living organism and not a machine. 

Restoration and rest is part of maintenance and without it our time will run out. Time can only work for us if we daily renew our thoughts. Our attitude before we hit the ground running can make the time we spend doing what we do much more productive. And the wisdom knowing when to stop and slow down gives our time value. When we can look back after 44 days and see the value of change in a good way, time did work well for us. 

So take the time to stop and think how you add value to the time running through your world. Alice in Wonderland said, "It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."  How true is this. Lockdown afforded us a different perspective on TIME. And spending it with the God who holds eternity in His hands seems like a good restore point for us all. Rest assured, God's got this ; yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Lockdown 43

Lockdown Day 43 - 8 May 2020

Today my morning walk took me along a winding nature trail close to home. And except for two other people coming from the other direction I pretty much had the 'veld' to myself. The sky was filled with cloud feathers and all the colours just seemed to pop. I felt a 

familiar connection with something deeper, but couldn't put my finger on exactly where it came from. 

I also picked up a snow white feather on the path. It was really as if nature was tugging at my heart, telling me God is not going to stop showing us every day that He’s in control. We paused at the places where the path was overhung by trees. I sat Roxy down and took a few pretty pictures to remind me of that moment. The sun was playing through the branches, scattering the green path underneath with shiny dots of sunlight 

as we headed for home. 

In the Free State fleece clouds announce cold temperatures are imminent, together with a significant shift of the sun's winter trajectory. 

Before long the first walking hour will feel like the "Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" (this is actually a title of a film from 1962), because it will only be the die hard walkers and runners out there. Apart from loving the cold, that is the second reason I love walking in cold temperatures; less people and traffic makes it easier to start the day more focused. 

Later, as the sun said its goodbyes and our braai fire was crackling, I tried my hand at computicket's online shows and quickly learned that a blonde should not try new technology on a Friday evening when she has a gin in one hand and the remote in the other. I am however pleased to say that I actually got it right in the end after first buying a ticket to the wrong online "stay-in" show before finding the right one!

Tapping my feet to all the familiar tunes I grew up with, triggered a childhood memory of the times we played in the bottom part of our garden where a stream ran through the Eucalyptus trees on its banks. 

I had forgotten about how it felt. The sounds of nature and the feeling of quiet while my feet sloshed through the cold water has always been something that inspired me to write a poem, sing a song or just talk to God. Then I realised this was the familiar feeling this morning I couldn't pinpoint. Looking anew at each day in a free, uncomplicated and fresh way. Leaving behind the debris of the previous day and choosing to embrace a new chance to try again. Looking forward to the next thing God will use to show us that He's got this.

Lockdown 42

Lockdown Day 42 - 7 May 2020

Well, well, it is Day 42. Who would've thought. In a strange way I feel the prisoners of War held by Hitler and I are kindred spirits. Sure, it is not war (or is it?) with weapons (now I'm not so sure), but the fight stays the same. We are fighting to stay alive and to trump (no pun intended) this virus and stand the test of time. And what a test this is on so many levels. 

I believe the greatest test is the fight for peace in our inner chambers of self. The battle outside sparks an inner battle so deep in our spirit, soul and body. The dynamics of who we are in our essence has been shaken up to such an extent that we were forced (there's that no control again) into a corridor of life where there is no return. 

So looking forward is the only way to go.  Just like Paul says in Philippians 3:13b, "but one thing I do,  forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead". 

Your vision first changes to tunnel vision until you get used to the low light. Then suddenly the walls of the corridor comes to life and you start seeing texture, feeling temperature and looking for the light. Once you've decided to make a run for it, the Light becomes the focus. 

You were designed to follow the Light.  This is how Hitler knew to keep his prisoners alive - by giving them the tiniest little flicker of hope to hang on to. Corrie Ten Boom wrote in The Hiding Place, "If God has shown us bad times ahead, it's enough for me that He knows about them. That's why He sometimes shows us things, you know - to tell us that this too is in His hands." 

Surviving the holocaust and living to tell the story is an amazing thing. But to say those words in the face of the most terrible adversity is nothing short of miraculous. 

While visiting a similar camp outside Berlin a number of years ago I literally felt the trauma while standing in the place the prisoners slept. Although Corona is a far cry from the holocaust, the whole planet is in a bad state. Humankind will however, God willing, survive this too. How? By trusting that God's got this. 

In Corrie ten Boom's words, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 

I leave you tonight with a song:

https://youtu.be/LjF9IqvXDjY