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5
November 2015
Things are changing
a
few years ago I read a book about leadership styles in
times of change. The writer (Alan Roxburgh:
Crossing
the Bridge
) went to a lot of trouble to explain what hap-
pens when society is experiencing change and what
you as a leader need to do under such circumstances.
His description of change is: Change takes place when deep-seated
beliefs begin to disappear or when there is doubt about them. South
Africa is currently in such a place. We are not certain if a light will
actually go on when you switch it on and many towns and cities are
even uncertain about the water in their taps.
As landowners we are not so certain that we will be able to keep
our land. The church is making decisions that conflict with our deep-
ly rooted religious beliefs and the drought and weather forecasts
about more droughts are squarely staring down our faith as grain
producers. What are we to do when every weather forecaster, and
now even the politicians, are predicting three years of drought? It is
challenging our steadfast faith!
The drought of 2015 is still in the process of leaving deep scars in
our grain community. In the north western parts of our country it
is something that is not so uncommon, but the Swartland region
definitely has much less experience of such droughts. The wheat
standing on the fields, and even those that in some places still look
green, have empty kernels. (To me it seems similar to people in our
country who are filling jobs, but fail to render a service...) Empty ears
of wheat do not pay salaries or loan installments or buy diesel.
We may be applying the best agricultural practices, but plants
cannot grow without water. Our hearts go out to those of you who
are not merely following the drought on the television, but who ex-
perience it in the fields. We know it is only you who have the re-
sponsibility to turn the conditions in the fields into cash and who
really understand the impact of the drought.
There has always been a deeply rooted, healthy relationship be-
tween Grain SA and the different grain trusts. The grain producers
were there when these trusts were initiated, but this is also chang-
ing. New trustees with different views and limited knowledge about
where the money comes from and for what purpose the trusts were
established, are making it increasingly difficult.
In last year’s annual report we already endeavoured to pass on this
fact about the changing relationship. The good news is that the old
always makes way for the new. We will give further feedback about
this in the near future. However, my issue today is about what we
are to do about deep-seated beliefs that are changing and what
the task of a leader is under such conditions.
Roxburgh’s advice is that one must once again dig deep to unearth
the engrained truths which we still believe in and which we can
cling to. This is what we have to keep reminding each other about.
He, inter alia, mentions the example of Daniel who in exile remained
loyal to the truths in which he firmly believed, even though every-
thing around him was foreign.
People in these times continually pass to and fro over a bridge of
the old and the new. Your job as a leader is to stand on the bridge
to give the bewildered people direction with fixed truths. Working
harder and running faster is not going to work so well in this phase.
There are many emotions, diverse views of, and actions regarding
the same things.
One thing is clear to me however and that is that the grain indus-
try will have to draw a new framework and playing field for the
future and that we will have to enter into new relationships with
our current partners to operate even more independently from the
government and produce sustainably. It is going to take time. There
is no training for it and
Google Maps
does not have a map for this
one. Have courage!
DS KOOS KIRSTEN
WOORD
Uit die
h
oe gemaak as die storms van die lewe om jou slaan en
dit voel asof jy oorweldig gaan word? Dinge wil net nie
verbeter nie en jy moet magteloos toekyk hoe sake net
verder versleg.
Daarby is sommige mense ook nog teen jou gekant en wil nie
meewerk om sake te verbeter nie; laat staan nog om die probleme
te help oplos. Almal wat na aan jou is, voel net so terneergedruk en
moedeloos soos jy.
In Handelinge 27 lees ons hoe Paulus en nog baie ander mense op
‘n skip in ‘n storm verkeer. 14 dae lank dobber hulle hulpeloos op die
see rond. Niemand eet iets nie, want wie kan iets inhou as jy op die
see te midde van ‘n storm is? Sommige het gevas in die hoop dat
hulle gode dit sou “sien” en hulle te hulp sou kom.
In vers 35 en 36 lees ons dat Paulus opstaan en die mense aanmoedig
om iets te eet. Hyself neem brood, maar voor hy begin eet, bid hy
eers ‘n dankgebed voor almal teenwoordig. Dit klink vir ons dalk na
‘n eenvoudige handeling, maar gesien in die lig daarvan dat baie min
van die mense op die skip gelowiges is, is dit iets besonders. Dit is ‘n
eenvoudige handeling, maar die uitwerking is groot.
Almal het moed geskep en ook begin eet. Een man bid en almal skep
moed. Uiteindelik kom almal veilig aan wal. Een man bid en almal
word ter wille van hom gered (vers 24).
Hoe gemaak in die slegte omstandighede waarin jy is en moet
werk? Begin deur te kyk na wat jy het en dank God daarvoor. Dank
God voor almal teenwoordig en tree moedig op. Die uitkoms is in
elk geval in God se hande en wie weet wat Hy gaan beskik. Hou
moed en bid.
Baie geluk aan
Annatjie Kloppers van
Durban wat vir die
Augustus-uitgawe van
SA Graan/Grain
die gratis
Bybel gewen het.