Time to REFLECT

December 2018

Things happen so fast nowadays that we struggle to keep up. As producers we particularly experience this during planting and harvest time. This involves managing the one important process after the other, long hours and hard work. At Grain SA we experience exactly the same thing. However, it doesn’t seem to happen only at a certain time or season, but the whole year around. 

Die hele debat oor onteiening sonder vergoeding was ook so. Ons hardloop rond en probeer sin maak van die feite en redenasies. Tog het ons in hierdie debat mense, deur die volle spektrum, gevind met wie ons konsensus het; mense met wie ons kon redeneer; mense wat dieselfde visie as ons vir Suid-Afrika het. 

Alhoewel ons van verskillende agtergronde is en ons verskillende geskiedenisse het, beken ons almal die behoefte aan ’n vinniger grondhervorming, erken ons almal die huidige tekortkominge, maar sien ons almal die essensie daarvan om aan alle landsburgers die geleentheid te gee om eiendom te besit en dan ook hul regte verbonde daaraan te beskerm.

By die onlangse Grondberaad in Bela-Bela het die gewilligheid van produsente en die innoverende planne waarmee hulle vorendag gekom het, my en ander aanwesiges verbaas. Dit is ongelooflik om te sien hoe ver ons mense sal gaan om hul medelandsburgers te help – en ook om te aanskou watter verskil dit in gemeenskappe maak. 

However, the common thread that ran through the conference was how God led these producers to take the appropriate decisions, how God guided them to select the right partners, or how He showed them what was needed. His hand was very clear in all of this.

Upon reflection, there is only one explanation for the way in which the land debate turned out and how things started to change since mid-June: God has taken control. And the more one reflects, the more we can see what’s happening and how He guides people and institutions to build the future of South Africa.

In 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18, the Lord tells us to always rejoice in Him, pray constantly, and give thanks in everything. When we live our busy lives, we forget to rejoice in Him. We forget to thank Him, we also forget to reflect on all that he has done for us – all the blessings that we so undeservedly receive.

Mag ons deur hierdie Kerstyd heen die tyd neem om na te dink oor ’n jaar waarin Hy ons op soveel maniere geseën het – deur goed en sleg heen – en mag ons die opdrag wat Hy deur middel van Paulus aan ons gegee het, met ywer najaag!

Mag jy ’n geseënde tyd met vriende en familie beleef; mag jy besin en jou verheug; mag Hy jou in die nuwe jaar vernuwe; en mag sy lig op jou skyn!

Publication: December 2018

Section: Grain SA