and now it's Solomzi's turn........

Ministry of Presence

One of the fundamental teachings in Africa is that “Umntu ngumntu ngabantu” (a person is a person through other people). Coming to a community of believers, it becomes clearer that as people we rely and depend on each other sometimes in life for us to move on. Life becomes hard and unbearable. Brokenness and sadness can lead us to depression, anxiety, anger and loneliness. Sometimes the very same people that we lean on leave us - they don't pay much attention to what we communicate to them or seem to have much more to say instead of listening to our brokenness.

Indeed ‘no one is an island’- dependent on oneself,but everyone is a part of the main continent. We need each other; we need family, friends, our neighbours, our community, our fellow Christian and sometimes we need a stranger, just to listen to us. But what happens when we do not receive the necessary support that we need sometimes, when we cannot rely on others any more? Well most of the time the results are catastrophic and sometimes I wonder if the rage on the roads during peak hours when people really express their anger toward each other through violent conduct, just proves that people have unresolved anger, work, family and life frustrations.

According to Proverbs 15: 18, angry people spread their anger wherever they go. But we can reverse the anger of those around us by staying cool and calm, gentle and patient. Whatever our emotions- joy, anger, depression, anxiety they infect those around us. This is one of the great Christian secrets. When we are filled with the calming strength of the Spirit, we can improve whatever environment we find ourselves in.

This past Sunday at the 11 o’clock service we were challenged by Noni Mdaka to offer Ministry of Presence, for us just to be present for those who want to talk and for us just to listen to one another to one another. People, in particular those who are hurting, sometimes just need to be heard, They maybe discouraged and faltering but not helpless. Psychology argues that hurting and angry people need acceptance as a simple fact that they feel what they feel, no matter how irrational. Perhaps that’s why prayer works, sometimes, for some people- because God is mute, and doesn’t give advice or try to fix things. God just listens and does not judge and lets you work it out for yourself. Mother Teresa says “If you judge people, you have no time to love them”. Ministry of Presence encourages us to be there for each other but also concurs with Umntu ngumntu ngabantu.

Yours
Solomzi