Thursday 10 October 2013

Unashamed!


Picture from here


On my way to work this morning I saw something that touched me. I saw a man who has a stall in one of the streets I usually pass through, praying holding his stall, thanking God for the new day and asking Him to be with him and bless the work of his hands. This man was oblivious to anyone or anything that was happening around him. Unashamed – that’s the word which popped into my mind. I admired the man for being unashamed of his faith and beliefs. It made me wonder how many of us would be unashamed to stand up tall and proud and profess our faith like that. I for one know that I would not be brave enough to stand in the streets and pray like that man was doing. A quiet prayer, yes that I would do, but not a vocal one like that man. Maybe one day, who knows?

On a sad note, I saw something which horrified me on my way from work yesterday. I saw a man in his car in the middle of a busy road struggling with another man who was pulling hard at something that he was holding. I think this man was being robbed -  in broad daylight! The worst part is that whilst this man who was being robbed was holding back all the traffic as he struggled with this man, no one, not even a single person (both motorists and pedestrians) attempted to help this poor man. The cars behind him were hooting for him to move and people in the cars going in the opposite direction (the direction I was going) were just shouting out silly things as if the situation was funny. The driver of the bus I was in shouted some stupid remark and laughed. What is this world coming to? How can people even make jokes about a situation which is not even funny? People have stopped caring and that is scary. I am beginning to think that people are now so used to crime such that they have become indifferent.  I will not be surprised if people say things like ‘Oh it’s just another stabbing’ or ‘Ah another robbery what a shame’. It seems crime is being normalised and this is very concerning. The fact that Joburg is one of the worst cities in terms of crimes is no excuse – instead of normalising crime we should be fighting it! God help us.

Saturday 6 July 2013

Done and Ticked Off!


I started a new job last week and I am grateful to God for the new job because I was not happy with my previous job. I am loving my new job so far, my workmates are friendly people and I already feel as if I have been with the company for a long time and yet it has only been 10 days. I particularly like one of the ladies that I share an office with because she has this positive outlook on life and she is very encouraging. She will be leaving in less than two weeks for her maternity leave and I am going to miss her. The other day we were talking about our lifetime to do lists and it turned out she is as crazy as I am because she also has a long list of things that she would like to do in her lifetime. Whilst I might have a long list of things that I would love to do in my life time, I have also managed to do quite a lot such that some of the things once on my list have been ticked off. God has been very good to me. Here are some of the things that I have managed to tick off my lifetime to do list:
1.       Seen the Northen Lights
2.       Experienced the midnight sun days and the polar nights.
3.       Visited a friend I met online in her home country.
4.       Completed my Masters.
5.       Lived in more than 3 different countries at different times.
6.       Been to Santa Claus Village in Finland.
7.       Been to an amusement park – rode a roller coaster (was terrified I don’t think I will do it again).
8.       Started writing a blog.
9.       Done a counselling course.
10.   Visited the Red Square in Moscow.
11.   Been to the Red Light District in Amsterdam – have always wondered about the place so when I visited my friend we went there.
12.   Went to the beach and ‘swam’ in the sea.
13.   Went Bowling.
14.   Went shooting at a shooting range.
15.   Been hiking but took a cable cart down the mountain.
16.   Took a cookery crash course (was just for one day).
17.   Went camping.
18.   Been to a casino.
19.   Have won a story competition.
20.   Been baptised by the total immersion in water (2011).
21.   Been maid of honour at a wedding.
22.   Been to a concert.
23.   Watched a movie in 3D.
24.   Have taken a boat ride in a canal.
25.   Been employee of the month at work.
26.   Bought a car.
27.   Been to the Momentum conference.
28.   Been treated to a birthday picnic by some friends.
29.   Stayed in a historic house which on the list of houses which should not be renovated because of their historic value.
30.   Been to a Hillsong Conference.
31.   Have made a presentation/s in front of many people.

God willing, I hope to tick off many other things off my list. I want to get to the end of my life, look back and be satisfied that I lived a full and fulfilling life and that I did not live a life of just going through life.

Thursday 20 June 2013

It’s Contagious


About a week and half ago I visited the local library so that I could open an account with them. After submitting all the required documents they told me to come back after 7 working days as they needed to confirm information about me. Three days later, I was back in the library. I was a desperate woman who needed something to read and seven days was way too long for me. Fortunately, they had already confirmed everything and I was handed my new library card. I was so excited and told the lady that she had made me the happiest woman in the world.  She smiled when I told her that and she immediately warmed up to me and we chatted for awhile about books. As I was leaving to start looking around she came along with me and gave me a mini tour of the library, pointing out some authors she enjoys reading. I don’t know if this is what they do, to show all new members around the library but I would like to believe that my excitement rubbed off on her and she was able to share her love for books with me and go the extra mile in showing me around the library ha ha ha.

One of the first books I came across in my search was this one:

I am a great fan of Monk the TV series; I have watched each and every episode of the series. I could not resist taking the book when I saw it. Apparently, it is a continuation from where the TV series ended when Monk was finally able to solve the mystery of  his wife's death (any Monk fans out there?). I have just begun reading it, so far so good. The way the obsessive and compulsive Mr. Monk is always able to see things that most people would miss and solve murder cases always fascinates me.

Monday 3 June 2013

God's Cake


I received this forward from a friend which I found so interesting that I just had to share it here on my blog. I hope you find it as encouraging as a found it.
Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this", or "Why did God have to do this to me”. Here is a wonderful explanation!
A daughter was telling her Mother how everything was going wrong...
She was failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend was moving away.  Meanwhile, her Mother was baking a cake and asked her daughter if she would like a snack. The daughter said,
"Absolutely Mom, I love your cakes." 
"Here, have some cooking oil," her mother offered. 
"Yuck" replied her daughter. 
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!" 
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" 
“Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replied: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same way.

Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

Friday 24 May 2013

A Lunch Time Encounter


A while back I was sitting down in Nandos with a workmate waiting for our orders. It was lunch hour and it was packed.  Three women came and stood next to us. Without even communicating both of us stood up offering our seats to them (from my estimate they were all in their mid or late fifties). One of them  suddenly exclaimed,

“Oh no, don’t stand on my account, I am young and can manage to stand”.

On seeing the expressions on our faces she began to laugh.  She then went on to explain how she chooses to live her life to the fullest without letting her age be a hindrance. She said she saw no point in crying about getting older and succumbing to it with resignation instead she had made a decision to be young at heart despite getting older each year and to embrace life with a passion as if her life was just beginning. I was impressed by this woman’s attitude towards life and so was my workmate. As we walked back to the office my workmate and I could not help but reminisce about the lady we had just met. We were both excited and inspired. What had been a boring day suddenly turned into a beautiful day.

I love and always look forward to such encounters were I meet someone who says or does something that wows me and makes me re- evaluate my way of thinking or life in general.  My hope and prayer is that, even without my knowing it I have done or said things that have touched people (strangers or not) and changed them in some way – and that I continue to do so. Such is what I would call one of life’s’ priceless pleasures.

Friday 17 May 2013

Dreams, Expectations and Reality




One of my favorite authors is M.C Beaton. I am a great fan of her Agatha Raisin Series. I am someone who likes to have a good laugh when I am reading a novel and I am never disappointed when I read M.C Beaton’s books about the adventures of Agatha Raisin, a woman who has a complex personality and is simply hilarious. Below is an excerpt from M.C Beaton’s book Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley which I found very interesting:

She (Agatha) remembered a typist called Fran she had once employed at her PR Agency. Fran had mooned and talked about a man she fancied who worked for another PR firm. At last Agatha and the rest had pointed out that it was the 20th century and there was nothing to stop her phoning the man up and asking him out for a drink. They had all stood over her until she had picked up the phone and done just that. He said he would meet her for a drink on the Friday evening after work. They told her what to wear right down to the under wear and scent. They told her what to talk about and how to behave and then sent her off on Friday.
On Monday morning Agatha stopped by Fran’s desk and asked “How did it go?”
“I didn’t meet him” said Fran.
“What!” exclaimed Agatha “Didn’t he show?” She remembered Fran’s little resigned sigh and how she had said “I went right up to the door of the pub and looked in and he was there at the bar, waiting. So I turned and walked away. You see, I’d dreamt and dreamt about him for so long that I realized he could not possibly live up to my dreams and expectations. I am not into reality”

I felt very sad when I read this passage. It is a very sad thing to be stuck in the dream zone being afraid of living those dreams. Whilst we have to be realistic in life I believe that the realities of life should not stop us from dreaming big and thinking big. Yes, we may not necessarily get to have or do exactly what we have been dreaming of but just doing something and giving it a go never hurt anyone. At least one can learn and find out that maybe what they thought they wanted was not really want they want after all. Personally, I would get satisfaction knowing that although things did not turn out the way I thought  or expected at least I tried. The thought of never having tried would drive me crazy.  Nothing can be lost in trying; fear is a disease that can hinder us from taking steps that can transform our dreams into reality.  I like the words of Joyce Meyer, in one of her sermons she said that it is better to ask God for 50 things and get half of them than to ask for only 4 things and get all of them.

Maybe it is a matter of being more daring and fearless when chasing our dreams. One can never know what they can do and achieve unless they try, so why not give those dreams a go. Move from the dream zone where dreams remain dreams and make a move towards making those dreams a reality. As for me I am ready to make a move.

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