A story that Onkel Erlo told during the sermon on Sunday
caught my attention and brought back one of the saddest pictures from my boyhood days at
Chibini.
Onkel Erlo's main point was about having a goal in life. He
told the story of a man who was known for constantly walking up and down. One day
when he was asked where he was going he replied that he also did not know. It then became
clear that he needed the assistance of a psychiatric institution.
It was that man's story that reminded me of
Phelezela Maphumulo. In my mind I put together a few lines that sum up my memory
of Phelezela.
Wearing the same clothes,
Disconnected from his surroundings.
Shall we ever know his story?
It lies hidden in some corner of his chest.
There were rumours about what led Phelezela into that
state but the full account must have been locked up in his conscience. Be that as it
may, whatever the cause was, Phelezela's life came to a dead end. From then on he was
a walking dead, living in the past.
It is as if I can still see him in his military-style
outfit, singing his song,
"Wayilobola ngendlal' intombi ..."
The song was about the sadness of paying 'ilobolo' (bride-price) for a young woman
during a time of famine.
Phelezela's story is indeed a sad one but it is by
far a greater tragedy when for some reason a Christian's spiritual life is brought to a
standstill. Frozen.
A stagnant spiritual life is certainly not to God's
honour. A vibrant, fresh life with an ever-new song should characterise our walk with the
living God.
Let us eat today's manna today.
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
