My dear friends
19 May 2006 is probably one of the dates that will always
trigger unsettling memories in my mind. Struggling to breathe is a very unpleasant
experience.
When it became clear that I had to be taken to Entabeni
Hospital in Durban I wondered if I would survive the +120 km drive on a ventilator that
had given signs that it was ready to give up the ghost. If we could just get to Durban I
would be helped.
Till today I cannot explain it but somehow despite the
ventilator constantly complaining of low pressure I kept breathing reasonably comfortably
in the ambulance. I smiled as I thought that the bumps and all the rattling in the
obviously old vehicle could have helped. Surely though, the Lord must have undertaken on
my behalf.
Imagine my surprise when as soon as we entered the hospital
building I started gasping for breath again. They could not wheel me fast enough to the
General Intensive Care Unit. It was midnight but my good specialist, Dr Mike van der
Linden, was there within minutes.
We all listened as Mike gave details of the procedures that
would be followed. The main point for me was that I would be disconnected from my
ventilator which was sapping life out of me on to the hospital's giant Bear 1000.
It occurred to me then that I trusted Mike fully; for me he
is one of the best pulmnolologists in South Africa. I had no doubt that the information he
was giving us was correct. The problem was that with the Bear 1000 literally a few
centimetres from me I was still withering from insufficient ventilation. I then indicated
with my head and eyes that it was time for the crucial connection to be made. The relief
was immediate!
These events reminded me of the tragedy of many who are very
close to the source of life yet still perish because they do not get connected to it.
Many children have sung the Sunday School song,
"Singabantwana abancane
abahlala ethempelini ...
Usizi asinalo."
(We are little children
that stay in the temple ...
We have no sorrows.)
Some of our young ones have the privilege of literally
growing up 'in the temple.' As some of them testify later their bodies were in a church
environment but the hearts were far away. Until they have a personal meeting with the Lord
they are lost.
Talking about Sunday School songs, an experience we had
years ago comes to mind. We were standing before 'escort agencies' in Durban, warning
people against the dangers of prostitution. We could hardly believe our eyes when some of
the prostitutes came out, stood in a row and started singing,
"Jesus loves me, this I know
for the Bible tells me so ..."
These girls had head knowledge about Jesus' love for them
but they did not realise that He wanted to love them out of the bondage of prostitution
and drugs.
It has been said that some 'ononhlevu' - people who were
born and live in Mission areas' - pride themselves on the fact that they are very familiar
with the Bible, so much so that they use Bibles as pillow-cases. Unfortunately many sink
into all kinds of depravity with the Bible under their head. It's the heart and not the
head that must make the crucial connection.
In the mid-90s I witnessed a sight that got me thinking
seriously. We had just finished a service in a multi-hall centre in a key European city.
Just then from an adjacent hall a whole crowd of classy ladies and gentlemen came out from
an evening of fine music. I am not sure what compositions they were treated to but I kept
wondering how many of them had a relationship with the Source of all beauty.
It is indeed a pity that people will give a standing for an
excellent performance of Georg Haendel's 'Messiah' yet miss out completely on the
significance of the Messiah for their personal lives. Some enjoy a long list of 'Agnus
Dei' compositions but they have never met the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the
world.
Recently I watched a music video of three tenors who are
hailed as the world's best, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. As the
thunderous applause echoed after they had sung John Newton's 'Amazing grace' I asked
myself if beyond their enormous talent these men had experienced the salvation they had
just presented in song.
My love for sacred music is not unknown. I enjoy visiting
church-buildings and the chiming of church-bells. Fellowship with God's children is
precious to me. However, beyond all that it is my prayer that I shall know the daily close
walk with my Lord.
Of all the colourful biographies that have been written
about great men and women is there anything more beautiful than what we read about Enoch?
"Enoch walked with God" (Genesis
5:24)
Have a blessed week.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
