Daag op!

Matteus 11:28-30
Geskryf deur Prop. Olga Ludwick

Met die kalender wat ‘n nuwe blaadjie omgeslaan het, besef ons dat hierdie jaar met ‘n ‘bang’ begin het. Ons ervaar die opgewondenheid en hoop wat saam kom met die nuwe moontlikhede en die belofte wat hierdie jaar inhou. Ons ontdek weer opnuut ou spasies en sien skielik nuwe spasies raak.

Maar hierdie opgewondenheid en belofte wat tasbaar in die lug is, het nie dieselfde effek op almal nie. In party van ons maak dit energie los en ons voel borrelend, terwyl dit in ander van ons ‘n swaar gevoel ontsluit.

Vir party van ons is die belofte van nuwe dinge ‘n pynvolle herinnering aan dit wat ons die afgelope tyd verloor het. Die persoon wie se plekkie leeg is. Die besigheid wat net nie weer kon herstel nie. Die moeilike besluit wat steeds nie geneem is nie. Die opgewondenheid van moontlikhede herinner ons aan al die dinge waarna ons verlang.

Dit is in hierdie kontras tussen nuwe moontlikhede en verlange wat ons uitgenooi word om op te daag in ‘n warm spasie. ‘n Spasie wat ons liefs miskyk en mislees, want dit pas nie altyd in ons leefstyl in nie. Dit is die spasie van rus.

Matteus 11:28-30 Kom na My toe, almal wat vermoeid en swaar belas is, en Ek sal julle rus gee. Neem my juk op julle, en leer van My, omdat Ek sagmoedig en nederig van hart is, julle sal rus vind vir julle gemoed. Want my juk is draaglik en my las is lig.

God nooi ons uit om by Hom te rus. Vergeet vir ‘n oomblik om van al die moontlikhede en die eise. Vergeet van die opgewondenheid en die verlange. Sit in die tussenspasie en laat God toe om jou te laat smelt soos ‘n roomys op ‘n warm dag. God nooi jou na die spasie wat altyd beskikbaar is. Sy spasie. Mag jy ook in hierdie spasie opdaag.

A Blessing for one who is exhausted  John O’Donohue

When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic,
Time takes on the strain until it breaks;
Then all the unattended stress falls in
On the mind like an endless, increasing weight.

The light in the mind becomes dim.
Things you could take in your stride before
Now become laborsome events of will.

Weariness invades your spirit.
Gravity begins falling inside you,
Dragging down every bone.

The tide you never valued has gone out.
And you are marooned on unsure ground.
Something within you has closed down;
And you cannot push yourself back to life.

You have been forced to enter empty time.
The desire that drove you has relinquished.
There is nothing else to do now but rest
And patiently learn to receive the self
You have forsaken in the race of days.

At first your thinking will darken
And sadness take over like listless weather.
The flow of unwept tears will frighten you.

You have traveled too fast over false ground;
Now your soul has come to take you back.

Take refuge in your senses, open up
To all the small miracles you rushed through.

Become inclined to watch the way of rain
When it falls slow and free.

Imitate the habit of twilight,
Taking time to open the well of color
That fostered the brightness of day.

Draw alongside the silence of stone
Until its calmness can claim you.
Be excessively gentle with yourself.

Stay clear of those vexed in spirit.
Learn to linger around someone of ease
Who feels they have all the time in the world.

Gradually, you will return to yourself,
Having learned a new respect for your heart
And the joy that dwells far within slow time.