We must continue our efforts to turn our hopes into reality

Former President Nelson Mandela’s words “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success” should be a motivation for all. Most of us know by now who this noble peace laureate and former statesman is. South Africa’s very own icon someone that not just South Africans but people all around the globe look up to. Movies have been made about him and in others they mention his name. Even books have been written about him and what he did.

The United Nations in November 2009 declared Madiba’s birthday Nelson Mandela International Day. In response to this Mandela wrote to the United Nations saying “It is my wish that the day be used not to honour an individual, but rather to remember the millions who have contributed to the struggle for freedom throughout the world.” On this day people all around the globe are asked to dedicate 67minutes, the amount of years Madiba dedicate his live to improving the lives of others, to do something good in their communities.  Mandela hails from South Africa and it is thus only right that we set an example.

He set an example when with his inauguration as first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa he said “there shall be a social order which respect completely the culture, language and religious rights of all sectors of our society and the fundamental rights of the individual.” Something we don’t always (most times) succeed in, but Madiba knew this would happen because he also said “the task will not be easy. This needs unity. It needs action. It requires us all to work together to bring an end to division, an end to suspicion and build a nation united in our diversity.”

In his last speech to the first democrat parliament of South Africa as president, Mandela cautioned us that the long will continues. He mentioned new voices of men and women who exist in all communities, who will define themselves as leaders by their capacity to identify the issues that unite us as a nation. Madiba called on all saying together, we must continue our efforts to turn our hopes into reality.

Watching the final Oprah Winfrey show that took more than two shows, with a range of celebrities and politicians taking part, I couldn’t help but wonder if this is how people honor Oprah then how will, no how can we honor Tata.

This is my conclusion; all around us we see the needs in our communities. Unemployment, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, corruption, violence, etc… Let’s start using our 67minutes every second of every minute during each hour of every day of the month during the year to make a difference by changing these hurdles in society.

Let’s tell our friends:

• Of the dangers of drugs,
• Using protection when having sex and the consequences if you don’t (being HIV, teenage pregnancy and sexual transmitted diseases and infections)
• Educate one to create employment opportunities and or to assist those seeking.
• Be the eyes and ears of the long arm of the law, by going to the police and tell them if you see a crime.
• Not to make yourself guilty on corruption or violence
• Never to judge

Friends let us honor Madiba by living our lives with integrity, dignity and always being on our knees praying for fellow mankind.

Standing Alone

Tuesday 31 January 2012, a date I won’t forget, atleast not very soon and if I do, I got the scar to remind me. Everything happened so quick……

In the early hours of that morning I had immense pain on my abdominal area and it was swollen. As is the case when I usually have pain, I took two pain killers, waking up that morning for my daily activity the pain had ease a bit and I could thus carry on with my day. Early afternoon the pain struck again and my stomach was still swollen, colleagues “pressured” me to go see the doctor. He suspected it could be one of three things or all three – so he referred me to a specialist and for x-rays.

After admitting myself at the hospital, they took some blood and I went for X-rays. As the doctor scanned his eye over the results, at 21h46 he uttered the words, I probably thought I would not have had to hear, “emergency operation now.”

On my way to the theatre I did what I do “best”, multi-task. Because I had to hand in my phone, I smsed my parents, asked the doctor about the operation and I prayed. Because of the uncertainty of what exactly could be wrong, they had to make a bigger and horizontal cut. I asked God to 1) make me calm, 2) to go ahead not only with the operation but the healing process and 3) recover at his pace.

Being admitted, the test, the operation – all happened so quick, there was no real time to think or reflect – I had faith though and it carried me. Born with a leak heart, having regular visits to the hospital, I’m “use-to” having a family member next to me – especially when I go for an operation. This time round there were no one it was me, all by myself.

I woke up ±6hours after a successful operation, “glued” to a bed with machines and drips and stuff all over me, not forgetting the very large cut on my body. Or as someone said days after the operation “you’ve been under the knife a number of times, full of cuts.”

After two days in the intensive care unit, I was moved to a single room for a day and a half before finally being moved to a room I shared with others and five days after an operation where they had to cut through my stomach muscles, I was able to eat.

One of the nurses told me I set a record at the hospital with phone calls. Within the first three hours after being admitted I received more than a hundred phone calls of people looking for Earl September, Earl-Ryan, Mr. September; and this is excluding close family.

The doctor and other medical staff all told me I’m recovering quite quickly, faster than normal, that’s not bad but a good sign. I should still take it slow though.

A week after the operation I was discharged, in time for the SONA, but not physically ready to attend it – or even to walk for that matter.

The entire incident and everything that lead to it, made me think.

We come into this world on our own but as a gift to someone. What we do, goals we set and how we achieve it, is up to you alone.

We all faced with challenges (mountains to climb, rocks to catch) – it’s not our destination, not Gods plan for us, but its part of his plan, part of reaching our destination.

So the “emergency” operation and some say if I waited longer I could have died, taught me to live a healthy lifestyle. It also taught me standing alone makes you stronger.

It is the late Pop icon (singer/actress) Whitney Houston who sang “I’ll try it on my own” and “The greatest love is to love yourself.” This is confirmed by my favourite bible scripture, 1Corinthians 13:7 and 8 (a) reads “Love never gives up, and its faith, hope and patience never fail. Love is eternal.”

Wat is tog in 'n naam

Jou naam speel 'n belangrike rol. Dit is jou identiteit.

Die aankondiging dat die raad van Radio KC, op sy tyd een van die vooraanstaande gemeenskap radiostasies in Suid-Afrika, die naam wil verander het soos 'n veldbrand onder veral voormalige omroepers en personeel van die radio stasie versprei en die vraag op almal se lippe waarom nou?

Vanjaar is dit die tiende jaar dat die radiostasie met sy permanente lisensie uitsaai. In September vanjaar sal die stasie sy 15de bestaansjaar vier.

Soos 'n tiener is dit seker letterlik ook die geval dat die stasie deur 'n fase gaan en die naam dan nou wil verander. Watter impak sal dit op die stasie, die omroepers en die gemeenskap hê?

Die nadeel aan hierdie verandering is natuurlik dat KC 'n huisnaam geword het en die nuwe naam kan dalk nie so lekker op die tong klink nie. As een wat die produksie proses al te goed verstaan is die grootste nagmerrie al die “jingles, drops, promo’s” wat moet verander. Daar is ook kliënte wat adverteer, hoe gaan hulle die verandering ontvang?

Maar tog kan daar ook voordeel getrek word uit hierdie “aankondiging” en dalk net dalk is die feit dat die stasie nou 15-jaar oud is en al tien jaar met sy permanente lisensie uitsaai die “gulde” geleentheid om 'n naamsverandering te ondergaan. Die huidige span, waarvan nie een in 2001 betrokke was by KC nie, sal die naamsverandering as 'n nuwe begin sien – om met 'n nuwe boek te begin.

Hoeveel weet regtig waarvoor staan KC, terwyl name soos Stasie vir die Nasie en Klank wat vrede gee gebruik is. Toe ek te hore kom aan die gedagte, kon ek nie help maar om te wonder het Koinonia Community, se naam ooit sy reg laat geskied of was dit maar net 'n naam.

Die radio stasie vir die gemeenskap, deur die gemeenskap om sake in die gemeenskap te bespreek. Kan nie help as om te wonder sal dit nou gebeur? Sal die gemeenskap die naamsverandering in programme kan bespreek? Meer nog gaan daar na die gemeenskap geluister word, en sal die gemeenskap/luisteraar gehoor word

'n Verkorte weergawe van hierdie brief het in die Paarl Post van Donderdag 1September 2011 versykn.

Patience, Humility & Spirituality for Ramadan

Our Muslim friends all over started celebrating Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, this week.

Ramadan, which lasts 29 tot 30 days, is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility and spirituality. Muslims fast for the sake of God/Allah and to offer more prayer than usual. Something many others should also opt to do and renew yourself as an individual.

Muslims believe Ramadan to be a promising/lucky month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed.

In the Qur’an, God proclaims that “fasting has been written down as obligatory upon you, as it was upon those before you.”

As we wish our Muslim family a festive Ramadan, let’s renew and revive ourselves as individual in our own religions about patience, humility and spirituality.

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success.” Nelson Mandela (17/12/2009)

Monday 18 July 2011 marks the 93rd birthday celebrations of Nelson Mandela. Most of you know who this noble peace laureate and former statesman is. South Africa’s very own celebrity icon someone that not just South Africans but people all around the globe look up to. Movies have been made about him and in others they mention his name. Even books have been written about him and what he did.

The United Nations in November 2009 declared Madiba’s birthday Nelson Mandela International Day. In response to this Mandela wrote to the United Nations saying “It is my wish that the day be used not to honour an individual, but rather to remember the millions who have contributed to the struggle for freedom throughout the world.” On this day people all around the globe are asked to dedicate 67minutes, the amount of years Madiba dedicate his live to improving the lives of others, to do something good in their communities.  Mandela hails from South Africa and it is thus only right that we set an example.

Watching the final Oprah Winfrey show that took more than two shows, with a range of celebrities and politicians taking part, I couldn’t help but wonder if this is how people honor Oprah then how will, no how can we honor Tata.

This is my conclusion; all around us we see the needs in our communities. Unemployment, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, corruption, violence, etc… Let’s start using our 67minutes every second of every minute during each hour of every day of the month during the year to make a difference by changing these hurdles in society.

Let’s tell our friends:

• Of the dangers of drugs,
• Using protection when having sex and the consequences if you don’t (being HIV, teenage pregnancy and sexual transmitted diseases and infections)
• Educate one to create employment opportunities and or to assist those seeking.
• Be the eyes and ears of the long arm of the law, by going to the police and tell them if you see a crime.
• Not to make yourself guilty on corruption or violence
• Never to judge

Friends let us honor Madiba by living our lives with integrity, dignity and always being on our knees praying for fellow mankind.

Do you love yourself, not to judge?

People sometimes ask you a question you wish to not answer or don’t know how to answer.

The past month two friends during separate occasions asked me: "Do you think God loves gays?" My response was we all love and are proud of what we create. So if we firmly believe God created us as humans why ask if he loves you?

Question should thus be do you love yourself not to judge yourself?

Saying the youth is the present that will inform, educate and motivate the future was the encouragement behind this note…

Do we have a generation that loves themselves for who they are, created in the image of God? Boys and girls who, look past their race, sexual orientation and social challenges to be proud on who they are.

Back to the question my friends asked me, they responded to my answer with, "but the bible says it’s a sin to be gay". It makes me wonder how we, who do read the bible, read it. Do we read it and take it as is or do we read and interpret it through the Holy Spirit?

Those against argue with quotes from the bible like Genesis 1:27, 28, Genesis 2:18-25, Genesis 19:1-29, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:23, Romans1:18-32, 1Corinthians 6:9 and 1Tomothy 1:10 - now some of these scriptures don't even mention homosexuality and others speak of homosexual acts.

As a fellow human being I respect the arguments from my neighbour on the topic and to debate is good. To debate however does not allow me to be God and judge others. Those who watched the movie Evan Almighty should have learned this. In the movie God goes on holiday and picks a normal human being to be God, Evan soon realizes being God is not easy. Yet there are so many who want to be God.

 “Let us be gentle with each other, as with ourselves. We do not have all the answers to all the questions surrounding right or wrong expressions of Gods gift of our sexuality,” according to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in The Bible and Homosexuality.

My favourite bible scripture is 1Corinthians 13 and verse 7 and 8 (a) reads “Love never gives up, and its faith, hope and patience never fail. Love is eternal.”

All around us there’s drug abuse, gangsters, teenage pregnancy, adultery, violence, etc… and while we don’t speak out on this we quick to judge someone based on their race or sexual orientation.

The debate should be concluded with the words from Prof. Allan Boesak in his report to the General Synod of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa in 2008

“For the church, homosexual persons are not the objects of discussion or study, whose lives are to be pronounced on and regulated by church bodies. They are human beings, children of God, created in Gods image, persons in need and in search of love and understanding and fulfillment.” He continues with “Today we recognize that sexual orientation is not something a human being learns it is inborn.”

To add to this if we were to create ourselves there’s probably a lot we would change, some of my gay buddies would most probably have decided not to be gay, but reality check God created us, each with our own unique talent and in his eyes you perfect.

Quite frankly I’m more concerned about the pregnant teenage girls in church, youngsters who don’t attend church and those using drugs we don’t want to talk about than the boys that are more feminine than the church sisters.

Common future of the Confuse Generation

Thursday 16 June South Africa commemorates the 35th year since the Soweto student uprising.  The day is about more than the death of Hector Petersen and many other. Hundreds of young people stood up for what they believed was right, tragically leading to the death of many.

Most of the young people under 25, that I atleast know, show either little or no interest in this historic day. This happens with reason as most would say why dwell in the past if we have a future to work towards, why talk and talk about what happened and not what could be done?

Politicians will be delivering speeches to celebrate the youth’s role in our democracy, where young people stood up for what was wrong in the 1970’s, and while their words might differ – their messages comes down to the same thing – the youth of 2011 also face challenges.

Our unemployment rate amongst the youth is not what it should be, gangsters rule neighbourhoods being a source of comfort for so many. Drugs are used like I would eat sweets, if you don’t have a child before you are 21 then you not really that cool.

Despite these challenges our youth is good in technology, I’m probably wrong with my statement but I reckon there’s more young people on Mxit, Facebook, Blackberry messenger, Twitter, The grid, eBuddy, Nimbuzz and other social networks, than there’s members of church youth groups.  

While some refer to the youth as the lost or new generation, I think it’s the confuse generation. We confuse because:

• Some say there are no opportunities while there’s so many we just can’t decide what to go for.
• We think following friends is cool, and not thinking as an individual
• We think what we see, hear and our parents go through should also happen to me
• We sometimes don’t want to come out our comfort zones

The Nobel peace laureate, former President Nelson Mandela during the Young Christian World Council in 1995 said “young people are reaching out to other to build a common future. This demands emotional maturity and moral strength.”

You can’t blame the so called lost generation for not caring about historic moments. The past is important and while we should learn from the past we need to work on the present to move towards the future.

I thus agree with Tata Madiba – young people in their own unique way try and reach out to build a common future, sometimes society just tend to

• Not see this
• Criticize the youth
• Reject the youth
• Judge young people

The common future Tata talks about is not just a common future amongst the youth but also all spheres of society.

At a church youth day event in Zuurbekom 1997, Mandela told young people “become pioneers of reconstruction and development, by your example you will be helping ensure that South Africa indeed becomes the country of our dreams.”

Building this common future would thus seek the moral strength and emotional maturity of all recognizing, informing, educating, motivating, encouraging and accepting the youth.