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.