Welcome to Chapter MMXI

 

New Year’s eve didn’t turn out to be the scorcher that it promised to be – the temperature peaked at 37C around midday and steadily cooled down. By the time we celebrated the year change, it was already around 20C. We started off with a year-end fellowship at our church hall as we thought it would be too hot to gather at the pastor’s house. After dinner, we made our way to Light’s Vision – a monument on Montefiore Hill just outside of the city, erected to commemorate Colonel William Light’s vision of the city that he designed. It was quite a good spot to see the fireworks as it wasn’t at all crowded. After the delightful ooohs and aaaahs, we made our way back home. The pastor kindly drove a friend of ours all the way down to Panorama and then it was our turn.

I got up a wee bit later than usual, and after my quiet time (which I have made a commitment to do it more regularly), I checked my email and Facebook and all of the New Year’s wishes from friends all over the world. I had to walk down to the nearest servo to get some milk, margarine and today’s paper – the neighbourhood was still very quiet then even though it was already around 11am. People were probably still resting after a night full of partying and drinking.

After two cheese melts, a cup of coffee and my daily paper, I’m ready to tackle the new year – especially after a refreshing shower as well. 🙂 The weather forecast mentions that it’s going to be 30C maximum but it doesn’t feel like it. Although the air still feels a tad warm, it’s currently around 27C with some cloud covering the sky. In a wee bit, we’re going to head to the pastor’s house to have our weekly prayer meeting.

It feels surreal to realise that we’re in 2011 already – it seems like it was a short time ago that we stressed over the year 2000 and all of the calamities that it would bring. Eleven years later, life goes on as ‘normal’. I know some people are also quietly stressing over 2012 after all of the new age hype and mumbo jumbo – for me, well, if it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. It’s not worth stressing over. This year is going to be a mighty good year! I won’t focus my eyes on the possible tragedies, crisis, hardships or challenges, but I’m going to focus my eyes on God. If He has done such a marvellous job keeping me safe and sound all these years, I have complete faith that He will also keep me well this year and the years to come!

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)