Botlhale II

We have heard that the eyes are the windows to the soul and furthermore, that if you desire an adventure in life,  never walk with your eyes closed. For five years now, I have been travelling up and down this great mountain, similar to the one in Zion, where I got to see the Lord bestow his blessing. In the same way our fellow Africans who are spiritually gifted need to go through an initiation to understand the ways of those who came before them, the same is true for those whom are chosen to understand the ways of the Holy Spirit. To fulfil what was once said “They will all be taught by God”.

On this trip up the great mount, we still maintained our custom tradition of mountain food, followed by the singing of hymns, until we made our way to the peak top. We stood atop and instead of looking down at the town below, the Watchman gestured that we stand facing each other. He put one hand on my head and the other on my belly, like an anointing of some sort. He followed that by saying, “open your eyes and look into mine, today marks the end of your braveness and the beginning of boldness.”

The Watchman and I were now finally one.

And so it went,

 

Ea itshepelang Modimo, le botshepehi ba Ntate,

A ka tla dula ka kgotso, har’a tshiu tsa mefuta.

Mookamedi ea renang, O tseba see re se hlokang.

Sefela~18

The one who trusts in the Lord and His faithfulness,

Will find peace and rest, among all trials and tribulations,

Our Lord who reigns, He knows everything you need.

Hymn~18

 

Morena Modimo oa hoelletsa, oa le bitsa, o re tlong le bone bophelo, lea mutlwa naa? Tota ke khale a bitsa le baholo ba lona empa ho tshwana le bona, ha le motlwi. Lona ba ratang ho phela, hopolang tsietsi ya tsela e tsamayang ke Morena wa lona, le fetse le tlhalohanye sefela he se re “Ho Mmopi wa batho, le tleng ka boikokobetso. Tsebang hore he re rapela, rentse re rapela Morena Modimo, Kgosi ya mahodimo le lefatshe, ke ra yena Ramadula hodimo, Letsoho la kgotso, Motheo wa bophelo, yanong ea naleng tsebe, nke a lemohe mohau wa Morena Modimo, ashu oa te ponahatsa pela batho, lea mmona naa?

It is written that ‘They will be called my people and I will be their God’, ‘I am not praying for the world, but for those you the Father have given to me’ and ‘Anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it’. If everyday life is not evidence enough, you should know by now that we are not all God’s children and we have never been. A person can only accept that privilege, if it’s been offered to them and they accept it with all that it comes with.

You have heard that you should always protect your heart, as everything you do flows from it. You should also make sure that the person whom you allow to put their hand on your head whether in prayer, relation or spirit has the authority to do so. It is unfortunate to witness how many people lose their lives, due to the negligence of who they allow to bless them.

There is a time for everything, a season for all things and the truth in all matters. For the days where it rains in your life and you finding it difficult to manoeuvre, always hold onto the hand that offers to help. For the days when the rain comes to a halt, remember that the sun may shine, but it takes time for the soil to dry up. To those who always find themselves lending a helping hand, remember that people will always do what they desire to do irrespective of your hope for them, it is important to know when to stop.

To you who find themselves needing a lending hand? An umbrella for the rainstorm in your life? remain grateful to the help you receive within that period until the rain stops, be even more grateful to the person who offers a car ride instead of just an umbrella, because they can give you a lift to the place you need to be.

Blessed though, is the one who finds help from someone who does not offer an umbrella nor a car during a rainy day but the one who offers a house for shelter, that person will find rest, coupled with the grace to look out of the window and admire the rain without suffering through it. It is then wise to understand the difference between an umbrella, a car and a house, although they each able to provide shelter during unfavourable weather, only one of them can afford you comfort through it all. Find refuge in the Lord.

Do not find yourself saying things like you do not believe in ancestral acknowledgement, traditional methods, witchcraft or other spiritual practices. Do not be so conceited to think that your belief is a condition for the existence of any one thing. Learn and understand that a spiritual journey is not complete until you stop seeing things as good or bad and right or wrong, they are just the way they are. This is why the Prophets in the holy scriptures, say “This is what the Lord says” before they speak, without that privilege? you will cause division among people. How unfortunate then, for the person who speaks on their own.

Take the time to sit with elderly people and listen to their wisdom, there is nothing to gain by repeating the same mistakes as those who came before us, by calling it a generational curse. There was a man who used to take long walks every evening, down a long pathway which had a train railway track alongside it. In his folly, he used to jump to the other side of the railway track, since a train was not coming any time soon. His thoughts were that he could always jump back on the way back home. 

He continued this habit until one day, on one of these walks, a very long train passed by shortly after he had crossed the railway, only to find out that this train was as long as his life and he could not cross back in order to get home. This then is same for people who always feel like they can get away with things repeatedly, one day you will make a mistake that you cannot correct for the rest of your life. If knowledge is power, it will benefit you greatly to learn and understand the reasons why your grandparents followed certain traditions.

Our Lord created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Each day he created something different, you should follow the same template. This means that your purpose will change from time to time according to who you become as life progresses, the key is to always answer the call of life, every day. Every part of your life will require a different version of you, a spiritual calling for you to rise to that occasion. 

Be courageous in answering the various calls of life, and make sure to rest when you are supposed to. These calls may include school, career, establishing a family, baptism and enjoying life’s many wonders including the desires of your heart. It is the responding to these calls at their given time, which will one day create the beautiful world you have always desired.

Remember that wisdom and understanding teach us that the biggest stumbling block in any person’s life is hope. You have to prioritize hearing the voice of our Lord for yourself first, and then everything else shall follow. That is what the Son of Man meant when he says seek first the Kingdom, because once you no longer need another person to tell you that ‘this is what the Lord says’ or 'a blessing is on the way', you have found the heavenly treasure that is talked about in the holy scriptures. How much longer are you going to depend on other people for your own life? Do not repeat the same mistakes our parents made.

Be then, like a child. When a little child hears an elder calling out their name, they respond and come running to their parent. To you who has been granted the grace of a burning bush moment, do not look back – lightening does not strike twice. Lastly, in the same way gravity is a crucial force keeping things together on this earth, there is deep truth in the saying that what you treasure the most? there your heart will also be.

 

Ke se ke utloile, Jeso, ha a mpitsa,

O mpona ke lahlehile, O re oa mpholosa.

E ke dumetse, nthole Morena, ntlhatswe, ntlhakodise, ke be lo botle.

Nkapese ka matla, wena ka Sebele,

O ntlhwekise pelo, O mpuse le kutlo,

Tsohle tse ho nna tsa botho, di kganye ka hlweko.

Sefela~308

 

I have heard the call of my Lord,

He has found me and offered salvation,

Yes, I have answered, sanctify me, make me Holy, that I may have life.

Clothe me with your strength, you in your essence,

Purify my heart, restore my sense of self,

All things within me, let them exude holiness.

Hymn~308

This is just a leaf from my tree, the glory of the Spirit that was bestowed on me.