What's in a cup?

I was on my way to Korea, to teach English. Three weeks before my plane was to take off, I went out with a friend. When it was close to midnight, we decided to call it a night. Her car was parked a bit further on, so I was driving her to her car. She was directing me, so I was driving slowly. The robot was green for us. I continued driving, but at a slow speed. From my right came a car at full speed and drove over the red robot, crashing into my right-hand side. A young blonde man was in the car. He got out. I thought he would help. Instead he ran away. I saw him running up the street. I had a great pain in my pelvic area and my groin. I knew it was serious. I started praying in the name of Jesus for healing. Sandra was okay. An ambulance was standing outside. But they weren’t coming to us. I screamed for help. I was stuck. The ambulance guy didn’t have a scissors to get my seatbelt off. There was a stranger on the curb who had a knife, so he cut me free. The...

I read today that it is mostly people with knowledge that are impatient, which begs the question, isn't impatience a perfect excuse to be arrogant? However, the wise Balthasar Gracian goes on to say that it is almost our duty as man to simply make do with the folly of men, for it is inevitable, but also - and this was what intrigued me - he claims that having patience leads to peace, and peace to happiness. I admire Paul for his claim that he was content no matter the circumstances, whether rich or poor, sick or healthy, understood or misunderstood, loved or hated, known or unknown. His perspective was greater than his eyeview. I wonder if he just never took things personally. Isn't that oftentimes the great issue of man, and hereby I speak of myself, that my ego is injured, and this injury seeps into my heart. It is bizarre that I have been sad lately. Yes, I have been depressed. God knows it. He knows the thoughts I've been having. And when I have a moment t...

Another worldly wisdom of Balthasar Grecian's - boy, love this man, though he is waaaaaaaaaaay too old for me. Posted: To-day for to-morrow, and even for many days hence. The greatest foresight consists in determining beforehand the time of trouble. For the provident there are no mischances andfor the careful no narrow escapes. We must not put off thought till we are up to the chin in mire. Mature reflection can get over the most formidable difficulty. The pillow is a silent Sibyl, and it is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards. Many act first and then think afterwards--that is, they think less of consequences than of excuses: others think neither before nor after. The whole of life should be one course of thought how not to miss the right path. Rumination and foresight enable one to determine the line of life.

So, for whatever reason I felt really drunk this evening, after making smoothies – Tannie Ellen had the frozen fruit and I the ice cream and milk – and had “Dutch courage”, so I convinced myself to take up the courage and sing my newly composed song “Walk away” to her. I asked her permission, and she said, “Ok”. So, there I was, trying to overcome my fear of public singing (speaking is also an issue, but singing comes more easily) and I gave it my best shot. When I was finished, shaken not stirred, nerves still pounding in my flesh, I looked at her for some response, almost sheepishly. She smacked her thin lips together and said, shaking her head, “Weet jy wat, ek moet more skonsies bak.” (You know what, I have to bake scones tomorrow.) Well, I almost fell on the floor laughing. I mean, I was gasping for air, crying, and the more she spoke, the more I laughed. And the more I laughed, the more the seriousness of all my seriousnesses left the building, just gone, vamoos, futchiy...

My principal has a habit of answering every pupil in a manner that ensures they are not ashamed or embarrassed. She answers their questions without ridicule and ensures them of the validity of their question. She satisfies their need for self-assurance and self-confidence, and it is an admirable trait. It spoke to me: protect others against shame when you have the power to embarrass. In light of that sentiment she directed me to a movie entitled "Departures" which is an arty movie that once showed at Cinema Nouveau. The movie is based on the Japanese culture of saving face and honor. It sounds like the kind of movie I would gobble up, in great dignity and composure, of course ;) The other reminder I had today was the memory of myself singing "Ten bottles of beer on the wall" when I was but a wee child. I wondered, were I to hear a young child sing that aloud, would I not feel the urge to ask him to refrain from such songs, as they encourage debauchery, and...

Bought Polyfiller today – making sure I don’t fall through the cracks. I am torn between two churches – the one where I felt spiritually led when I first arrived in Rustenburg, and the other, which is close by and where the message is preached strongly. The former entails the discomfort of facing the once-was and the frills and thrills that came with that, which now I need to cut down to size and proportion, allowing myself the minimalist approach to people lest I incur a similar group identity which fails me in the end. Having a second option is a fine resource, but one which offers convenience and friendship over a peaceful and tender-hearted worship service. My heart prefers the former, while my mind the latter, and yet neither meet in the middle. Thus I, instead of settling in but one place, have found myself sitting in the crack, between the two, and unable to budge. My God has brought me here, that is clear. But who does he want me to fellowship with? Where is He cal...

Sometimes we need to bend over backwards to overcome things. When we go out of our way to help someone, we land up overcoming the issues in our lives, and by so doing, we reach new spiritual heights. God calls us higher. He raises the bar. And he gives us the tools and techniques to get over the bar and reach new heights. Hallelujah!

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. --Reinhold Niebuhr

I love the way God works - consistently. I made this list of goals for the year, and suddenly the very things on the list are almost floating towards me, so that which I wanted to have by July is already at my doorstep. Ok, so it was something quite arbitrary - a washing machine! - but it was really quite bizarre that the very thing I need was offered to me for a REALLY good price the very next day. Only question is, where to fit the thing? The same lady offered me a microwave - she had a flat in Pretoria which was filled with things, and now she has double of each! I turned that offer down, simply for lack of need and space, but am sure she can bless someone else with it. Anyway, it was really kind and generous of her to offer. The other cool thing was the goal "write a song for a worship band to perform and the congregation to sing and enjoy singing!" - the next day a friend tells me about a lady here in Kroondal who was operatically trained, and she is giving voice ...

God spoke to me today about many things, but of these I share but one: Either way, whether rich or poor, money is about security. When you are rich, you think your security comes from your riches. And when you are poor, you think your poverty takes away the possibility of security. Poverty nullifies security in poor people's lives. It is the one thing they feel they are doomed for - a life of insecurity. They never feel secure in their environment, and in their lives. But still, they make money their marker. Joseph Prince says that God wants us to be rich. It is a lie from the devil, he says, to believe that God's way to humble us is by making us poor. God wants the best for us, and he wants to bless us with material things too, not just spiritual things. It is not much of a concern of mine, but I am trying to get my around this. For I also know God says it is not easy for a rich man to turn his back on money. He says, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye ...