Lockdown 121

Lockdown Day 121 - 25 July 2020

This morning we decided to try out a walking trail in our estate which has recently been opened for dog-walking. We first had to walk nearly a kilometer before we turned onto the nature trail. It felt like being in another place. The view was wonderful, just an open plain of grass and hills on the horizon. We passed a dam where we saw a number of small water birds and also two flamingo's enjoying the early morning sun on the water.  

These are apparently the Lesser Flamingo that trek between salty lakes in Africa for the algae they feed on. I wonder why these two were here. Maybe they decided to rest on their way to Kimberley, where they are known to frequent the Kamfers Dam. Or maybe they had a family fight because they didn't want to fly non-stop. And then I decided they were the gypsies of the flock:  wayward, alternative and non conforming. 

These are the characteristics I can identify with, being bohemian at heart myself. Although bohemian means unconventional and gypsies traditionally means of the Roma tribe, to me their lifestyle has evolved into an unconventional one that is also non conforming.

These gypsies originally fled India to get away from the Islam faith that was forced upon them. They wanted to keep their religious freedom. It was Hinduism they originally wanted to protect, but this evolved into them following the faith of the country they resided in. Today, they mostly belong to Islam or Christianity. 

Throughout history they were mostly misunderstood and unfortunately also branded as thieves. Their lives revolved around survival because of these misconceptions, resulting in them becoming entertainers in order to put food on the table. Hence the origin of the circus. To this day circus people are perceived as gypsies. 

Imagine you had to flee because your country of birth decided you had to change religion. Imagine that. They stood up for what they believed in, and never looked back. Despite being persecuted and branded. Now that's my kind of tribe. Maybe it was God who caused them to flee so they could meet Him along the way. 

Truth is, sometimes God removes His children from a situation to show them things about themselves they never knew existed. And sometimes God allows His children to endure hardship to show them things about HIM they never knew existed. 

Whatever the reason, stand up for what and Who you believe in. Don't look back (unless God tells you to). Ask God to show you the things about yourself you never knew existed. And above all, ask Him to show you the things about HIM you never knew existed.  

HE says in Jeremiah 33:3, "Call unto Me, and I shall answer you, and show you great and inaccessible matters, which you have not known." This is God's telephone number. Dial it in faith. The answer is guaranteed. 

So tonight let's declare ourselves gypsies for God. Because He's got this.