6 Mei 2020

No place looks like itself, loss of outline
Makes everything look strangely in-between,
Unsure of what has been, or what might come.
— John O’Donohue, ‘For the Interim Time’

Dit is VEERTIG dae en veertig nagte later. Dit voel soos gister toe ons President gesê het, “Bly tuis!” ... en hier is ons — ses weke later, steeds gehuis. Die onsekerheid knaag aan almal se gemoed: wanneer keer ons terug na normaal, en hoe gaan die ‘nuwe normaal’ lyk?

Die mens hou daarvan om in beheer te wees. Óns wil beplan, óns sal besluit ... en hier is ons — veertig dae later en van net een ding seker en dit is dat ons nie weet nie.

Ledigheid is die duiwel se oorkussing, sê die Afrikaanse spreuk. Nêrens is dit meer sigbaar as op sosiale media nie. Almal het ʼn opinie. Almal is ʼn ekspert. Hoe langer die onsekerheid, hoe groter die histerie – of is dit paranoia? Daar is eenvoudig geen filter oor nie en die ‘fake news’ gooi ʼn sluier oor alles wat waar en eg, geloofwaardig en betroubaar is.

Sedert laas Vrydag tot Sondag het ek myself in ʼn selfopgelegde tegnologie-isolasie gesit, want ek voel vermoeid deur al die informasie met nóg ʼn artikel, nóg ʼn e-boek, nóg ʼn podcast, nóg ʼn Ted-Talk, nóg ʼn coronavirus update, en nóg ʼn dag van selfoonkommunikasie. Ek wou net weer perspektief vind in my eie eie waarheid. Net tot stilte kom binne al die geraas en weer betekenis vind in my eie stem, en die sin in die onsin van alles.

Wat my laat dink het aan Bob Moorehead se stuk oor die paradoks waarin ons leef —

“The paradox of our times is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but we have less. We have bigger houses, but smaller families. More conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense. More knowledge, but less judgement. More experts, but more problems. More medicines, but less wellness. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life. We have added years to life, but not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour. We have conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We've higher incomes, but lower morals. We've become long on quantity but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; More leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are the days of two incomes, but more divorces; Of fancier houses, but broken homes. It’s a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose, either to make a difference .... or just hit, delete.”

Nou is ʼn tyd om rustiger te word en van rat te verander. ʼn Mens kan nie 120 km/h ry en steeds in 2de rat wees nie. Alles rammel en val uitmekaar. Niemand het antwoorde op die duisend vrae wat ons het oor die implikasies en konsekwensie van die coronavirus nie. Die rassistiese ondertoon teenoor alles wat die regering doen, is gewoon skokkend, asof enige een van ons weet hoe om die land veilig deur hierdie pandemie te stuur. Niemand weet of die ‘storm’ nog voorlê nie en ek kan nie dink dat enige iemand in ons kabinet ons (reeds) gebroke ekonomie verder wil verpletter nie.

Gisteraand het ek besluit om ʼn gebed te doen vir ons President. Nie net sy naam te noem in my gebede nie, maar om hom op te dra aan God. Skielik was ek oorrompel deur emosie en het bitterlik bewoë geraak. Ek was oorweldig deur die gewig wat hy op sy skouers dra. Dis nie om enige foute van die ANC oor te sien en nog minder om nie Jakob verantwoordelik te hou nie, maar om God te vra vir leiding in hierdie dae van twyfel en onsekerheid.

Nou is ʼn tyd vir meer respek. Heelwat meer nederigheid. Om enige iemand te verkleineer of te beledig maak geen bydrae nie. Nou is 'n tyd om 'n beter weergawe van onsself te kultiveer.

Miskien vir vandag net dít —

Some people don’t agree with the lockdown and others don’t agree with reopening too soon … that’s okay. Be kind. Some are scared the worst is yet to come and others find the laws and regulations draconian … that’s okay. Be kind. Some are relief to go back to work and others are making desperate plans to save their business and/or home … that’s okay. Be kind. Some will wear their masks forever, even while driving alone … that’s okay. Be kind. Some people want to get out and fill the beaches and restaurants and others think they are insane … that’s okay. Be kind. None of us are in the same mental and emotional state than when we sang, “Happy New Year” … and that’s okay. Be kind.

Laat die liefde van God oor julle harte en gedagtes waak.
Soos altyd

Terblanche

Terblanche is sedert September 2011 die geestelike leier van Neo-Spektrum.

GEDAGTE VIR DIE WEEK

Neo-Spektrum Byeenkomste

Alle Neo-Spektrum byeenkomste is opgeskort tot tyd en wyl dit veilig is vir almal se gesondheid.