Wanda Bam

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also: knowing that that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.”  Romans 5:2-4

We speak a language, a new dialect, in South Africa. A language that we have almost mastered: the language of hopelessness.

Many educators speak this language as well. It often dampens the enthusiasm and vision of those being educated because often we get stuck at the negative experiences of the past. Irrespective of the past, it is important that we, as adults, realise that there are certain things that we cannot do for the younger generation. We cannot endure pain for them, we cannot choose life for them, we cannot believe for them and we cannot live for them. We can only live out what we believe to be right.

Standing tall alone does not bring change, but how we push and move forward and steadfastly continue believing.

Hope is not a subject learnt in a curriculum, it is a lifestyle. It is a perspective on life, moulded by the greatest disappointments. It does not provide us with a degree and does not make things happen for us or on our behalf. It is found in the manner in which we perceive those disappointments and how we convert them into opportunities for growth.

I have heard a number of people who have been directly affected by crime in our country, say that they are struggling with an inability to trust and that they have experienced deep disappointment in the goodness of people in general. Their lives reflect merely living day to day, without hope. The greatest tragedy here is that we abdicate our calling and that we do not occupy our assigned positions in order to facilitate change in the community. By not showing up as mentor for the next generation, we allow our bitterness to curtail their calling as the next leaders of our country. This, while the Almighty has raised us up for a time such as this! Our disappointments not only rob us of our calling, but also our legacy.

The choices that we make as to how we live with this brokenness is what makes us people with impact. If we choose anger and bitterness, we may live with a dead soul. If we choose to move on, we may live with the excitement of an unknown future in which we can unfold the reasons as to why we are here.

Prayer:“Lord, teach me to believe, hope and love again, as you do.”