Lockdown 384

Lockdown Day 384 - 14 April 2021

The precious nature of life and people often escapes us in our busy days. But every now and again people cross our paths with stories sounding like something out of a movie. Sometimes these people stay a while and walk our journey with us or only stop to tell their story and move on.

Whichever way, I believe these encounters are one of the missions God had when He created us on this earth. To learn from and be inspired by such people. To ask Him why He would want us to hear a particular person's story.

We recently met such a woman. In one year, the men in her and her daughter's lives were taken from them. A boyfriend, a father, a husband, a brother and a son. Sounds like Job reversed. Our eyes met a few times during our conversation and both mother and daughter left us touched and inspired.

I believe such encounters are the God kind and are never just a hi-and-bye moment, it always lingers or comes back.

God created us in His image. I am sure His idea was if everyone projects Him, we would feel surrounded by Him.

Maybe it's because He wants to remind us of His grace and mercy, or how wonderful and utterly fabulous He is. Or how strong He has created us to be so we can also be a showcase for Him when we tell our stories.

Never think you have nothing to tell, for by just living your life and staying true to who He designed you to be is the very thing He wants someone else to see!

#Ggt

Lockdown 383

Lockdown Day 383 - 13 April 2021

Waking up to the distant swoosh of the sea crashing on the beach not far from here, I was disoriented for a moment before realising where I was.

After our morning walk, we went to see all the sites of Hermanus I have grown to love over all the years. Grotto beach with its white sand and wide open space, Voëlklip beach where I love surfing, and Kwaaiwater where my amygdala dances.

Lunchtime was spent with my sister at the Eatery, officially now my new digs. From the flat white Margaret delivered with a smile to Rebecca's fabulous benedict and Susan's incredibly special touch with her flowers, our day was lit up by this little place with it's big heart.

Our day ended without electricity (looks like an outage only in Onrus area) and the discovery of one of the most beautiful stargazing night sky I have ever seen in this area. We stood outside in the cool air, stunned by what we were seeing. The milky way was strutting it's stuff sprawled across the night sky canopy.

I was instantly aware of God's presence in a way I haven't felt in a while. And I thought of this expanse we live in and speck we really are in comparison to God. He is bigger than all this and this little pandemic diminishes to nothing in the face of this expanse. He really has got this.

(The Eatery Link:

https://g.co/kgs/RnsBJR ) 

Lockdown 382

Lockdown Day 382 - 12 April 2021

Flying in Lockdown is not so bad, as long as you abide by the rules. But I would be lying if I said it is exciting and exhilarating. The whole experience has become rather like a hurry-up-and-get-on-with-it process like when you are queuing in the bank's customer care queue.

I will say though, there were much fewer people than I remember. Kulula was great, but their pre-lockdown humorous mojo has sadly made way for virus rambling they don't have a choice in.

My heart soared once seated, the aeroplane pushing me back into my seat as we took off. Although the masks were a tad irritating and the absence of chicken-or beef with a glass of champers was conspicuous in their absence, I had time to read half a book, something I rarely get the time for nowadays.

Approaching Cape Town, we flew over Paarl with the impressive Theewaterskloof dam in the background. Once over the Du Toitskloof Mountains the approach for landing felt as if we were descending like a feather on its way to the ground.

The spectacular view of False Bay lingered long enough to catch a glimpse of Cape Point. As Table Mountain came into view while taxiing after landing smoothly, I found myself emotional over so many things: seeing my Mom, missing Ma Daphne, a myriad of memories flood my brain of days gone by when CSE were still living here. Missing you guys always!

Mom and I enjoyed the drive home and spent the evening unpacking and catching up well into the night. It is good to finally be here again. I fall asleep thanking God for all the muchness.

"יהוה guards your going out and your coming in now and forever." Psalm 121:8

#Ggt

Lockdown 381

Lockdown Day 381 - 11 April 2021

Today consisted of packing a suitcase for a flight to Cape Town tomorrow. I realised yesterday the extended weather forecast was pretty much hectic with the week starting off with highs of 28 and 26°C. And then, it plummets over the weekend to highs of only 16 and 17°C.

So yesterday I first had to sort out winter clothes still stored elsewhere from the move. And then I had to decide how to pack a medium size bag with clothes and shoes and all things utility for literally four seasons.

Knowing how winter in the Cape can creep up and move in at a moment's notice, I eventually decided to Google what to wear.

I found the most awesome posts from people who have traveled frequently, posting what they call a vacation wardrobe capsule. Pictures and all.

I settled on an interesting blog of a girl who would've traveled abroad in 2020, but had to stay put because of lockdown.

She actually packed her bag and wore her outfits according to the weather at her destinations, and also posted what she would change if she actually got to go.

So I got my act together and did as the capsule people said. And got it done. Filled to the brim, my bag weighs approximately 17kg, well within limits.

Packing is as much a brain exercise as it is a spiritual one. Another thing our spirit has been equipped for in our design by God. Tonight I retire knowing God is in the driver's seat.

#Ggt

Lockdown 380

Lockdown Day 380 - 10 April 2021

Yesterday's Lunch Bar advert I shared has 2 connotations for me personally. First, the " Maritzburgh" connection where Makatini said he came from.

Maritzburgh or Pietermaritzburg is where I lived my entire childhood straight through my primary and high school life. You could say it's my growing-up town. It was also known as Sleepy Hollow because of the valley it is situated in.

Lunch bar also reminds me of an evangelical story used to share the gospel by using chocolate bars as tools to get the message across. So I thought I'll try to do something similar using the punch lines and slogans from those adverts.

Here goes:

Feeling a little glug-gluggy  lately? Why not pump up your performance  and munch on the one bar (Jewish for 'son') that  gives lasting life- the son of God!

He is on top of it all and is the One who makes sense when the world doesn't, giving us strength when we need it.

https://youtu.be/f_teYa2iGk8

#Ggt

Lockdown 379

Lockdown Day 379 - 9 April 2021

While waiting for the Nike store to open at Atterbury Value Mart, I decided to get a Maverick Flat White to pass the time. While the queue was piling up behind me, I knew this was going to be a good one. And sure enough, Jason the barista delivered in spades. Definitely worth a re-visit.

After nailing the early-bird-find-walking-socks-and-go mission, I thought about the old advert I mentioned yesterday, and started looking for it on youtube. I discovered a few golden oldies and thought I'd share them today.

Do you remember the iconic Sasol "glug-glug"  and the Lunch Bar tug of war ones? I just love a good advert. Here they are :

https://youtu.be/NvK1ZXgHBKI

And of course there's the Cremora one:

https://youtu.be/tKcV4tqRNlA

More recently, the lost in translation King Price ad with Marijke van der Westhuizen has topped the charts and put a smile on our lockdown dials:

https://youtu.be/VT2izHKDhmo

And then there is one of my all time favourites, the airport Joko Gold advert, brilliant!

https://youtu.be/s9oRjneTIpY

Have a joyful weekend and make time to laugh! Pray for those who can't and share a lunch bar or two with a friend. You're stronger than you know!

God's got this.

Lockdown 378

Lockdown Day 378 - 8 April 2021

Following my fortnightly home help (whom I have known for years) informing me she will be finishing at the end of April, I was confronted once again with somewhat of a little storm inside my own head. One I think many women struggle with at some point in their lives.

As in 2020 I am confronted with a do I/don't I  tug of war.

I know I can do it all with one hand (remember that advert?) and cleaning is an incredible core strengthening exercise.

And this time I cannot find a good enough reason to hand it over to someone new, again.

ONE thing this little pandemic created are homes that have become sacred spaces for those working from home. Because of the blurred lines between work life and home life, we are there all the time.

Depending on the size of the space, the number of @home working bodies and who cleans, it remains a conundrum for all.

In a certain sense our lives have been made simpler and have we learned to uncomplicate and unclutter certain ways of doing things. How I wish this were true for our online lives.

It is as if the world went into overdrive, but it overtook our personal space, our walk with God and human contact. Little children are getting used to a de-personalized 'faceless' world with as little human contact as possible.

So let's think about how we will move forward and what we are presenting to the world as children of God. Let's go back to what He created us to do, even within these constraints.

Tonight I offer up a prayer for each and every one of us, asking God to teach us how to integrate our design with this new lifestyle so we are not  faceless to anyone who is lost.

#Ggt