My dear friends
My friends in the northern hemisphere might find it
difficult to imagine how challenging the recent extremely hot days in our area were to us.
It was thus very inconsiderate of the air-conditioner in my room last week to cut out and
abandon me to that heat. When the expert, Norbert Husslig, came to check what the fault
was it took him only a minute or two to pinpoint it. With a smile he announced that the
plug was not in properly. Just that? Yes.
As I pondered this amusing incident more came to mind.
Thanks to my excellent technical support team I have
wireless internet access that keeps me in touch with my friends the world over. On a few
occasions I have had to face the unwelcome reality that the connection was gone. Frankly,
being cut off from your friends is not nice. On inspection by computer specialists the
common cause was found to be a disconnected cable. An accidental kicking of the wire did
it.
Thankfully almost all of you will never know the discomfort
of failed swallowing muscles, hence leaving you dependent on continuous oral suction day
and night to clear the mouth. Sometimes the system fails and a mouthful of contents that
should have passed on is very unsettling. Almost without fail the breakdown in the system
is the work of one culprit - a loose bottle-lid!
With time the mirth factor of these incidents gave way to
more serious consideration. How often do not we complicate things for ourselves and others
because we overlook, or even despise simple solutions to our problems?
Do we realise that many long-standing family, church,
regional and even international feuds could be solved by a simple statement, "I am
sorry?" I am certain that our twenty-six-year-old marriage would not be this happy
without a sincere "I am sorry" whenever it became necessary. Somehow that brings
a breath of fresh air into a relationship.
One of the most popular community choirs in Radio Khwezi's coverage area is known as
'Izembe' (The axe). That is derived from their song about the young prophet's borrowed axe
that fell into the water in Elisha's company. One of the main thrusts of the song is the
response to the question, "Where did it fall?" In this case elaborate
discussions on laws of gravity and underwater kinetics would have been unnecessary and
misleading. Pointing the exact spot where the axe had fallen was all that the man of God
needed to know. Indeed, many broken relationships between God and us and amongst ourselves
would be mended if we faced and answered the simple question, "Where did it
fall?"
The Ephesus church in Revelation 2 was given a clear and
straightforward solution to their dangerous state of having lost their first love,
"Remember therefore whence thou art fallen" (verse 5)
Tragically, many Christians choose to remember everything else but the place where they
fell. Such selective memory is fatal.
When talking about these matters I a reminded of my paternal
aunt, Ntomb'nkulu Nhlabathi, generally known as MaGakanye (daughter of Gakanye). Her
possession by the spirits of our forefathers gave her exceptional authority in my
grandfather's big family. A dramatic turnabout that shook the family accompanied her sound
conversion to Christ. She became a shining and powerful witness for the Lord.
Till today I marvel at my aunt's effectiveness in God's
kingdom despite her human limitations. She was illiterate and her Bible knowledge was not
very wide but till today we remember her for her central message - walk in the light and
keep your heart pure. Adherence to what some might consider a simple theology has seen
numerous children of God through this evil world to the pearly gates.
Back to the many machines that surround me.
Admittedly there are times when technicians need to do an
elaborate systematic examination on the equipment to diagnose and fix malfunctions. In the
same way, in life there is definitely a place for serious deliberations and in-depth
analysis but may the Lord grant us the grace and the humility to recognise and accept
practical simple solutions to our problems.
'At that time Jesus said, "I praise
you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise
and learned, and revealed them to little children.' (Matthew 11:25)
Have a blessed week further.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
