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