Hennie Symington 

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
 
What could be lowlier than dirt? When we feel really badly done by we complain that we were treated like dirt. Dirt is the stuff that people and animals tread on. In Asian countries you wouldn’t dream of bringing the dirt under your shoes indoors. You take your shoes off and leave the dirt outside.
 
Yet, there are people who just love dirt!
 
The gardeners of this world don’t judge the soil for being dirty because they know that dirt is the stuff that brings glory to their gardens. Without soil we wouldn’t have had gardens and trees and shrubs and fruit and vegetables. What’s more, a gardener knows that the soil is alive with possibilities when it is nurtured and dug in with the decaying leaves and rotten plants of the compost heap. But they also know it’s of no use covered up under a plastic sheet to make it look more attractive. You have to spread it around.
 
We as human beings are a little like dirt or humus. When our own stubborn nature and will are “dug in” with a touch of humility and according to God’s will, our inner garden or spiritual life will thrive. So next time you are humbled, rejoice. That’s what makes your soul bloom.
 
PS. The words "humus" and "humility" have the same root. So when you act humbly you are close to the soil. And the soil is where growth begins.
 
Prayer: Lord, often we reject the goodness of your teachings that help us to grow. Teach me that humility is not meant to humiliate me, but to help me grow in faith and wisdom. Amen
 

Hennie Symington

Mens, die Here het jou bekend gemaak wat goed is: Hy vra van jou dat jy reg sal laat geskied, dat jy liefde en trou sal bewys, dat jy bedagsaam sal lewe voor jou God. Miga 6:8
 
Wat kan nederiger wees as grond? As iemand ons rêrig sleg behandel dan is ons lief om te sê: “Ek is soos grond behandel.” Grond is dit waarop mense en diere trap. En in die Ooste sal jy nie waag om met jou skoene ʼn huis binne te gaan nie. Jy trek jou skoene uit en los dit buite.
 
Tog is daar mense wat gek is oor grond! Die tuiniers onder ons sal grond nooit afmaak as vuil nie want hulle weet grond is dit wat tuine omskep in paradyse. Sonder grond sou ons geen tuin en bome met sierlike plante en vrugte en groente gehad het nie. Die tuinier wat sy grond ken, weet ook dat grond wemel van lewe en moontlikhede wanneer dit gevoed en omgespit word met kompos en verrotte plante uit die komposhoop. Maar hulle weet ook dat dit geen krag het as dit onder ʼn seil toegemaak word om dit netjies te laat lyk nie. Dit moet ingespit word.
 
Mense is ʼn bietjie soos grond. Kort-kort moet ons eie koppige natuur ʼn bietjie ingespit word met ʼn skeppie nederigheid en verryk word met kompos sodat ons innerlike tuin of geestelike lewe kan gedy. Wees soos grond! As jy nederig en na aan die grond leef, is dit wannneer jou siel geleentheid kry om te blom.
 
Gebed: Here, dikwels trek ons neus op vir die heilsaamheid van u lering wat ons help om te groei. Leer my dat nederigheid nie bedoel is om my te verneder nie maar om te help om te groei in geloof en wysheid. Amen.

Hennie Symington 

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. Genesis 3:25
 
Despite mankind’s banishment from paradise God did not stop caring for people. He did not abandon us and his constant devotion ensures that the garden and its creatures will be redeemed.
 
God clothes Adam and Eve, this time in animal skins which were far more protective than fig leaves. He then sends them on their way into the big wide world learning to till the earth in a hostile and extremely harsh and waterless land.
 
How sad it must have felt to God looking back on paradise and sharing an intimate relationship with the creatures he had created. Yet, God says, it doesn’t matter where we meet, I can bring you joy and gladness wherever you are. The gospel of John says it so beautifully: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). God would be with us in everything and everywhere – when we are near him and in times that we have chosen to go it alone. That is how great his love is.
 
Prayer: Sadly Lord, man has not learned that sin brings separation. May I walk with you through this barren landscape cherishing your fellowship and all abiding love? Amen
 
 

Hennie Symington

Daarom het die Here God die mens weggestuur uit die tuin van Eden uit om die aarde te gaan bewerk, die aarde waaruit hy gemaak is.  Genesis 3:23
 
Ten spyte daarvan dat God die mens uit die tuin gedryf het, hou Hy nie op om hom lief te hê nie. Hy het ons nie verlaat nie en sy omvattende liefde en trou verseker ons dat die tuin sowel as die wat daarin woon, herstel sal word.
 
God het vir Adam en Eva klere van vel gemaak wat beter beskerming gebied het as vyeblare en hulle in die wêreld ingestuur waar hulle moes leer om die aarde te bewerk in ʼn onherbergsame en droё land.
 
Stel jou voor God se hartseer toe Hy terugkyk oor die paradys en die innige verhouding in herinnering roep wat Hy gehad het met die mense wat Hy geskep het. Tog beloof God dat Hy ons, ongeag waar ons mekaar ontmoet, steeds sy liefde, vreugde en blydskap bied. Die Evangelie van Johannes beskryf dit so mooi wanneer hy skryf: “Ek is die wingerdstok, julle die lote. Wie in my bly en Ek in hom dra baie vrugte want sonder my kan julle niks doen nie.”(Johannes 15:5).God is by ons in alles en oral – in tye wat ons naby aan hom is en tye wanneer ons gekies het om ons eie paadjie te loop. Dit is die omvang van sy troue liefde.

Gebed: Hoe tragies dat die mens nie besef dat sonde afstand bring tussen Skepper en medemens nie. Gee Here dat ek steeds saam met U kan stap deur dorre landskappe en u guns en blywende liefde steeds kan ervaar. Amen

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