Month: March 2023

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The chase…

Like every month before, since I started writing about the Bible scriptures on the Desk pads, I cannot help but smile and grin by myself. Because God KNOWS. He is outside of time, and He KNOWS that I will be able to relate in some way to the scripture every month.

This month the scripture is about righteousness and kindness or loyalty as some versions refer to it. The other word to be used instead of kindness or loyalty is benevolent. Not too long ago, I wrote something about this word (see entry – The Word published in November 2022). Benevolence means to have a quality to do good and be kind.

I am therefore interpreting this scripture that we have to chase after (or seek – although some versions speak about hunt – which implies it is an activity of finding something that is not always visible and easy to find) righteousness AND benevolence. My perspective and experience with people, is that everyone does not hunt or seek this. To me, this does not make sense as to why people don’t act in this way, because it is so obvious to me. Something that I have made a part of my life. Logic you know? It seems that people do not always live this way. Someone once told me Not everyone eats from the Logic tree. Something that is logic and obvious to me, is not so for the next person.

Everywhere I am confronted with righteousness and benevolence. Situations cross my path that I am confronted with and must deal with – it is not always necessarily work related, but rather when life happens, and other decisions need to be taken. Things happen that really go against my grain and what I stand for. Then I cannot help but think HOW such things can happen? What spirit is truly ruling in people’s lives? Righteousness or wickedness? Are they truly benevolent towards others or are there always motives behind their actions, living with a motto of each for his own?

Now I can spend hours talking about bad experiences that I have had in my life, from way back when up to this day. But this is not the purpose of this blog. The purpose is not to make everyone negative about life and how others seem to live their lives. The purpose is to be uplifting, inspiring, building up rather than breaking down. To seek the positive in all situations, even if the situations come across very negative. To be able to identify with Scripture, clinging onto God’s promises, rather than having pity parties AND opening up a can of worms with it. My goodness, WHO wants to eat worms AND moan at the same time?

This brings me back to the Scripture for this month. Do people not know the promises held for those who seek or hunt righteousness and benevolence? There it is, black on white in the Bible. If you seek or hunt righteousness, you will find life, righteousness AND honour. Wow. This is HUGE. I will rather not go into the opposite meanings – but maybe it is something to think about… My question is – what are you chasing? Do you know what the result will be of that which you are running after? What are you choosing today? From what tree are you eating today? Are you also at the Logic Tree? Is it obvious to you? To chase after righteousness and benevolence?

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Die jaagtog

Soos elke maand vantevore, sedert ek begin skryf het oor die Bybelverse op die Desk pads, kan ek nie help om by myself te glimlag nie. Want God WEET. Hy is buite tyd, en Hy WEET dat ek elke maand sal kan identifiseer op een of ander manier met die skrifvers.

Hierdie maand se skrif gaan oor geregtigheid en weldadigheid. Nou ek het die betekenis van weldadigheid gaan opsoek, want dis nou nie ‘n woord wat ek eintlik gebruik nie. My resultaat van my soektog, was verwysings na Engelse woorde, waarvan een Benevolent is. Ek het nie te lank gelede nie, geskryf oor Benevolence (sien inskrywing – Die Woord gepubliseer in November 2022). Benevolence beteken om ‘n kwaliteit uit te oefen van goeie bedoelens, om gaaf te wees (ek het nou hier direk vertaal van die Engelse betekenis af so nie noodwendig taalkundig korrek nie).

Ek interpreteer dus hierdie vers dat mens geregtigheid EN goedgesindheid moet najaag en nastreef. My perspektief en ervaring is dat almal nie dit najaag nie. Dit maak nie vir my sin hoekom nie, want dis tog voor-die-hand-liggend vir my. Iets wat ek deel van my lewe maak. Logies jy weet? Dit kom nie altyd voor of mense so leef nie. Iemand het eenkeer vir my gesê Not everyone eats from the Logic tree. So iets wat vir my logies en voor-die-hand-liggend is, is glad nie so vir die volgende persoon nie.

Oral word ek gekonfronteer met geregtigheid en goedgesindheid. Situasies kom oor my pad wat ek moet hanteer en mee gekonfronteer word en dis nie altyd noodwendig iets werksgewys nie. Dis wanneer die lewe gebeur en besluite geneem moet word oor goed. Aksies van ander wat my dwars in die krop steek. Dan kan ek nie help om te dink HOE kan sulke goed gebeur nie? Watter gees heers daar regtig in mense se lewens? Geregtigheid of ongeregtigheid? Is hulle jou werklik goedgesind of is daar eintlik maar net by-motiewe en amper ‘n leuse van elke ou vir homself?

Nou ek kan vir ure uitbrei oor slegte ervarings wat ek gehad het in my lewe al, van toentertyd tot nou, maar ek sal nie. Want dis nie die doel van die blog nie. Die doel is nie om almal negatief op te sweep nie. Die doel is om tot stigting te lei, mense op te bou. Die positiewe te soek in situasies, al kom dit hoe negatief oor. Te kan identifiseer met Bybelverse, vas te klou aan God se beloftes, eerder as om ‘n pity party te hê EN ‘n blikkie wurms oop te maak saam met dit. Want liewe genade tog, WIE wil nou wurms eet EN kla op dieselfde tyd?

Dit bring my terug na die Bybelvers vir die maand toe. Weet mense nie wat is die belofte vir díe wat geregtigheid en weldadigheid najaag nie? Dit staan swart op wit in die Bybel. As jy geregtigheid najaag, sal jy die lewe, geregtigheid EN eer vind. Wow. Dis groot. Ek sal maar liewers nie ingaan op die teenoorgestelde betekenis nie…..maar los die leser om te gaan dink daaroor… My vraag is, wat jaag jy na? Weet jy wat die resultaat is van wat jy najaag? Wat kies jy vandag? Van watter boom eet jy vandag? Is jy saam by die Logic tree? Is dit voor-die-hand-liggend vir jou? Om geregtigheid en weldadigheid na te jaag?

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The last honour

Language purist. Tennis fanatic. Entrepreneur. Friendly. These are all characteristics of Eugene Smith. Today was the last opportunity to honour his life, a big legend that went home to our Heavenly Father. The day was gorgeous and could not be more perfect. Bright sunshine with clear blue skies. The birds singing and everything else on earth going on as normal, even if he is no longer with us.

I met Uncle Eugene through his daughter Nadine. He was one of my clients. I did not see him on a monthly basis, but we had telephonic conversations intermittently, throughout the year and I saw him and Aunty Ria at least once a year to discuss business, signing off financials and minutes and so forth.

He was always eager to chat, telling a story from his younger days. In the finest detail he would describe how he worked out the measurements for signage for his businesses. So many times, he told me that I must enjoy it being 40. The time goes so fast and 40 is actually a really nice time on one’s life. He always said In die Haak (here I cannot translate to English because what would I say? Sharp?) when we had a discussion about something and had to make a decision about something that we had to finalise. He always had a smile on his face, and I am sure if he had a theme song for his life, it would be something to the effect of a very old Afrikaans song called Ek is lief vir die wêreld sung by Groep Twee.

The family’s request, for those attending the funeral, was to wear white or colourful clothes. Not black. My husband and I chatted when I saw the request on Facebook. We understand that it is actually more appropriate than black, because it is a celebration of his life on earth that is going to take place. For sure it is not easy for those left behind, but we must all be elated with joy that he is with Jesus now, a much better place! The service was led by Aunty Ria’s eldest brother. My thoughts wander back to my own mother’s funeral.

I was not focussed on what was being said the whole time, because I am thinking back about how it felt for me on that day. The day when I was right in front of the church, next to my sisters and father. It feels like a blur, I cannot remember it in much detail. It also feels like 100 years ago, even if it was only a mere 6 years ago. My thoughts come back to the here and now. I listen attentively to tributes that are being told by those who knew him well. The core of everyone’s messages was how he touched their lives and the same characteristics that he portrayed came through in the messages. What a big personality he had, in spite of chronic pain that he constantly had and never showed. How he overcame all his challenges in life. With a song in his heart and a smile on his face.

I remember how Aunty Ria once told me that Uncle Eugene is very set on speaking pure Afrikaans. It almost made me more aware about the way that I talked. He always ended telephonic conversations with Totsiens while I said Bye on my side. I cannot help but think that the English that comes through in my language is linked directly to my work (I work in English every day, the whole day, even if the clients are Afrikaans, all calculations and returns are done in English). Of course, my mother was also English, so I think that also adds to the reason why I say Bye at the end of a conversation rather than Totsiens. To join in with Uncle Eugene’s humour, I added a meaning of an Afrikaans word in the gallery of this entry, I am sure he would have enjoyed this!

Back to the day, I listen attentively to what everyone said. How he made a big impact at the PNA, with plans and dreams for the group. How his daughter elaborated about how he ran with her, helping her to achieve a 21 km run in less than 2 hours. How he supported and motivated her. How he made Aunty Ria run the Comrades, after she made a joke saying that is something that she wants to do. The memories just go on and on. In the process, I learnt more about Uncle Eugene, even if he is no longer on earth.

After the service, I chat with Nadine. We both get teary eyed. I search frantically for a tissue in my handbag. Nadine stops me, opening up the zipper of her handbag that she was wearing across her chest saying I must take one. I look down and cannot help to burst out in laughter. It is jam packed with tissues. Not a wallet or cell phone in sight. Her son asked her if she is packing tissues for everyone that is attending the service, only for her to answer him that it is actually just for her. I think Uncle Eugene would have laughed at this handbag full of tissues!

Aunty Ria, Nadine, Justin and family – my heart is shattered with you about someone that is no longer here, living such a full life, an inspiration for so many people. I will always remember his laughter, how we could laugh and share jokes. You are so blessed to be able to call him husband, father and grandfather! May his legend live on through those left behind. He leaves a big legacy behind, something we can look up to; remember and learn from. Now that I think about it, he lived the PNA slogan in his life. Colour your world. That is what he did with every person whose life he touched – he came to colour it, enriching it. Uncle Eugene, you are missed by many people on earth, but we know that you are now in a much better place. Rest in Peace.

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‘n Laaste eerbetoning

Taalpuris. Tennis fanatikus. Entrepreneur. Vriendelik. Hierdie is alles eienskappe van Eugene Smith. Vandag was die laaste geleentheid om eer te betoon aan ‘n groot legende wat huis toe gegaan het na ons Hemelse Vader toe. ‘n Mooier dag kon dit nie wees nie. Helder sonskyn, blou lug. Die voëltjies wat sing en alles wat hier op aarde aangaan soos normaal, dit alles terwyl hy nie meer hier is nie.

Oom Eugene het ek leer ken deur sy dogter Nadine. Hy was een van my kliënte. Ek het hom nie maandeliks gesien nie, maar ons het gereeld oor die foon gesels en ek het ten minste een maal per jaar vir hom en tannie Ria gesien om besigheid te praat, state en notules af te teken en so meer.

Hy was altyd gretig om ‘n staaltjie uit sy jong dae te vertel. In die fynste detail te beskryf hoe hy die afmetings doen vir naamborde van sy besighede (ek moes signage gaan Google vir die Afrikaanse weergawe – want ek voel hierdie inskrywing moet so na as moontlik wees aan hoe oom Eugene gepraat het). So baie keer het hy vir my gesê dat ek dit moet geniet om 40 te wees. Die tyd gaan so vinnig en 40 is eintlik ‘n lekker tyd in ‘n mens se lewe. Hy het altyd gesê In die Haak as ons oor iets gesels het en iets moes besluit om te finaliseer. Hy het altyd geglimlag en ek is seker as hy ‘n tema lied vir sy lewe gehad het sou dit iets in die lyn van Ek is lief vir die wêreld gesing deur Groep Twee (‘n baaaaaie ou liedjie ek weet) gewees het.

Die familie se versoek, vir diegene wat die roudiens bywoon, was om wit of vrolike, helder kleure aan te trek. Nie swart nie. Ek en my man gesels toe ek die versoek sien op Facebook. Ons verstaan dat dit eintlik van pas is, want ‘n viering van sy lewe hier op aarde gaan gebeur. Dit is vir seker swaar vir die wat agterbly, maar eintlik moet ons saam bly wees dat hy nou by Jesus is, op ‘n baie beter plek! Die diens word gelei deur tannie Ria se oudste broer. My eie gedagtes dwaal terug na my ma se roudiens.

Ek fokus nie die heeltyd op wat gesê word nie want ek dink terug aan hoe dit gevoel het op daardie dag vir my. Toe ék heel voor in die kerk gesit het, langs my sussies en my pa. Dit voel soos ‘n blur, ek kan nie lekker onthou nie. Dit voel ook soos 100 jaar gelede, al was dit net 6 jaar terug. My gedagtes keer terug na die hier en nou. Ons luister na huldeblyke wat oorgedra word. Die kern van almal se boodskap was hoe hy hul lewens aangeraak het en karakter eienskappe wat ooreenstem, kom deur. Watter groot persoonlikheid hy gehad het, ten spyte van chroniese pyn wat hy nooit gewys het nie. Hoe hy al sy uitdagings in die lewe oorkom en oorbrug het. Met ‘n lied in sy hart en ‘n glimlag op sy gesig.

Ek onthou hoe tannie Ria eenkeer vir my genoem het dat oom Eugene erg is oor suiwer Afrikaans. Dit het my amper meer bewus begin maak van hoe ek praat. Hy het altyd die telefoniese gesprekke afgelei met Totsiens terwyl ek ‘n Bye sê aan my kant. Ek kan nie help om te dink dat my Engels wat deurkom maar eintlik gekoppel is aan my werk nie (ek werk elke dag heeldag in Engels, al is die kliënte Afrikaans, word opgawes en berekeninge in Engels gedoen). Natuurlik was my ma ook Engels gewees, so ek dink dit dra ook by oor hoekom ek Bye sê aan die einde van ‘n gesprek eerder as Totsiens. Om by oom Eugene se sin vir humor aan te sluit, laai ek ‘n woord se betekenis op in die gallery van die inskrywing, ek is seker hy sou dit geniet het!

Terug by die dag, luister ek aandagtig na wat almal gesê het. Hoe hy ‘n groot impak by PNA gemaak het, met planne en drome vir die groep. Hoe sy dogter uitbrei oor hoe hy saam met haar gehardloop het om 21 km in minder as 2 ure te hardloop. Haar ondersteun het, motiveer het. Hoe hy vir tannie Ria die Comrades laat hardloop het, na sy spottenderwys gesê het dat dit iets is wat sy graag wou doen. So gaan die herinneringe aan en aan. In die proses, leer ek nog meer van oom Eugene, al is hy nie meer hier op aarde nie.

Na die tyd gaan gesels ek met Nadine. Ons albei raak tranerig. Ek soek verward vir ‘n snesie in my handsak. Nadine stop my, maak die ritssluiter van haar handsakkie wat sy skuins oor haar skouer dra oop en sê ek moet een neem. Ek kyk af en kon nie help om uit te bars van die lag nie. Dit is propvol tissues gepak. Nie ‘n beursie of selfoon in sig nie. Haar seuntjie het gevra of sy snesies pak vir almal wat die diens gaan bywoon, net vir haar om te antwoord dat dit eintlik net vir haar is. Ek dink oom Eugene sou so lekker gelag het vir hierdie handsak vol snesies!

Tannie Ria, Nadine, Justin en familie – my hart is saam met julle stukkend oor sy afsterwe, iemand wat so ‘n vol lewe gelei het, so ‘n inspirasie was vir so baie mense. Ek sal sy laggie altyd onthou, ons kon lekker lag en grappies deel. Hy los ‘n leemte in baie mense se lewens. Julle is bevoorreg om hom man, pa en oupa te kon noem! Mag sy legende voortleef deur die wat agterbly. Hy laat ‘n groot nalatenskap na, iets waarna ons kan opkyk, onthou en uit leer. Noudat ek daaraan dink, het hy eintlik PNA se slagspreuk en leuse uitgeleef. Colour your world. Dis wat hy gedoen het met elke persoon wie se lewe hy aangeraak het – hy het dit kom inkleur en verryk. Oom Eugene, oom word gemis deur baie mense op aarde, maar ons weet dat oom nou op ‘n baie beter plek is. Rus in Vrede.