My dear friends
A conversation between Radio Khwezi's Sylvia Engelbrecht and
a senior citizen of Greytown, 98-year-old Mrs Nel, on Wednesday got me carried away.
After a long illustrious life Mrs Nel believes that she is
in her sunset years. Her pictorial language captured my imagination when she said that she
is in the "departure lounge." Numerous pictures of departure lounge experiences
flipped through my mind.
Knowing that you are heading for the departure lounge brings
a sense of realism and focus. One aspect is the specification on the size and weight of
your luggage.
A South African lady I know worked for many years in a
foreign country. Her well-paid job ensured her of a luxurious lifestyle. Then came a
military revolution that drastically changed all forms of ownership in the country. She
decided it was high time that she flew back home. New laws placed severe limitations on
how much she could take along. In the end, there she sat in the departure lounge with only
two suitcases and not much cash either.
Job confronts us with the bare fact that on our flight back
to our eternal home we are completely empty-handed; that is, except for the investments
that we made in God's kingsdom.
Mrs Nel's age and failing mental capabilities suggest to her
that she is on the way out, but Ma'am, who can say with confidence that they are not in
the departure lounge? Being an MND patient I am an obvious candidate for a flight back
home but some have stood at my bedside and then went on to discover that their planes left
even earlier.
It struck me again that our Lord has a very clear message
for us earthlings in this regard - Be always ready for the journey back home. Somehow
there seems to be an element of surprise when He comes for us and our blessing lies in us
being found ready for Him.
The more I think about these matters the more I find myself
singing with the Domino Servite School Choir,
"Thula moya wami thula
iNkosi iyakusisho
son' isikhathi sokuhamba
mangilinde lapha mina."
(Be still my soul
The Lord will say
when it's time to go
Let me just wait here)
"Therefore keep watch, because you do
not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:13)
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
