Happiness is a choice word

12 Feb 2019 14 Comments

by Phindela muses in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/pro.13.20.esv

As I grow older I discover I have more things to do and less time to spend on the social media spaces. I am not sure whether I am now slower or I am running out of time and am trying to accomplish all that I can in the life God has given me.

Anyway, whichever way it is has caused me less time on the social media sites. I came here because of a thought that continues to haunt me.

I have lived two score plus three years on this earth and a large part of this has been in quest of peace and happiness.

I cannot claim the copyright to happiness but in the journey and quest I have learnt a few things.

1. Happiness stems from the heart. This has taught me to find first, peace in me before I can demand it from someone else. One cannot give that which they don’t own or that which they don’t have in their hands.

2. You owe yourself happiness. Happiness stems from a heart that is at peace with itself. I have seen people walk with a spring in their step, whistling at every turn and when they are asked what is happening they can only summarize by saying I don’t know much but I have peace and I am happy!!

This has taught me that I cannot expect the world at large to create peace and happiness for me. The fact that I have a persona that is me implies that all that which I desire to have is already packed into my DNA and awaits unpacking. (By me).

3. Happiness inspires blessings. Isaac craved a delicious meal to make him feel good in order to trigger a blessing to his son. The resultant meal, despite being prepared by the unintended son, was so delicious that despite his misgivings and suspicions, Jacob went to bless the usurper.

“He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the LORD has blessed. Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭27:25-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/gen.27.25-29.nkjv

Israel decided to adopt two of Joseph’s sons and make them his in exhuberation.

The same Israel had no happiness or peace with his original two sons and he denied them blessings.

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it — He went up to my couch. “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honor be united to their assembly; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob And scatter them in Israel.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭49:3-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/114/gen.49.3-7.nkjv

4. No one owes you your hapinesss but your hapiness and peace can be infectious.

I have seen lovers gaze into each other’s eyes and smiles spread past their dimples and they tell each other “ you make me happy”.

I have since learnt that a sad person cannot spread hapinesss and what makes other persons happy through you is deep seated peace and happiness that one’s person exhudes .

So in conclusion, please remember no one owes you your peace and happiness yet your peace and happiness can be a catalyst to a happy and peaceful world. You and me owe the world at least that.

#iamphindelasson

#brokenbutnotafraid

Sitting in the dark

25 Dec 2018 10 Comments

by Phindela muses in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light. – Plato

Silence is like sitting in the dark. After some time, the shadows and silhouettes become defined.

It is not the shadows that would have solidified. It is our eyes and perceptive ability that would have adjusted and sharpened.

I have watched my camera lens try to pick and clearly define my objects of interest to me. On auto zoom it will zoom in and out until it picks and defines with a crystal clearness the optimal image.

At times all we need to do to see the issues and matters ailing us is to sit the darkness out and let our perceptions deliver the true image to us.

We should not fear sitting in the dark, the dark does not define us.

The dark defies us , dares us to panic, make rushed decisions and up and run. Then the darkness would have won.

Sit out the darkness, get clear images, do not make decisions on hazy images. It will dawn to your eyes soon and you will be able to pick your way out of the maze without headbutting walls and tripping in the labyrinth.

#iamphindelasson

#brokenbutnotafraid

#brokenbutnotafraid 6

14 Sep 2017 13 Comments

by Phindela muses in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , ,

Are you afraid?

In the above image from my sojourn on duty during the Nedbank Three Country Cycling Tour 2017, I was on the dry river bed of the great Limpopo River around Sentinel Farm.

My lesson today is short.

I took off my shoe and set it against the foot imprint of an elephant that had crossed earlier and therewith the lessons began.

  1. I needed a shoe to cross the dry river bed but the elephant feet came suited for the walk. In this I learnt that each one of us faces different odds and needs different interventions to walk the journey of life.
  2. My shoe helped me protect my feet but that did not make my feet as big as the elephant’s. In this I learnt that it is not the size that will help but a comfortable fit will help my feet take me across the riverbed of challenges.
  3. Trying to match the stride and steps of the elephant would have made me walk in a drunken maze and almost in circles so I did not. I learnt that I have to walk my own journey, patented on my footsteps and destination.
  4. My shoe would not fit on an elephant. I learnt that life is not one size fits all. Every step requires it’s own effort and leaves it’s own imprint on the sand.
  5. I cannot substitute my legs for an elephant one in as much as I might want to walk in gigantic steps. Actually, the only link to to a human being that carries a name similar to an elephant is a disease borne by a mosquito called elephantiasis or elephants foot disease !! From this I deduce that one cannot seek to walk in another’s shoes or feet and trying to do so will result in disability.

So, we must not be afraid of our footsteps. We must not envy the elephant’s feet and we must not be afraid to cut our shoes and wear them!!! We must not be afraid.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jos.1.9.ESV

#brokenbutnotafraid

#iamphindelasson

#brokenbutnotafraid 5

24 Aug 2017 22 Comments

by Phindela muses in Uncategorized Tags: , , , ,

Walk your path

My sojourn in the Shashe valley in the past few weeks still continues to reveal lessons. I am grateful to the devices that allowed me to record as many photos that are now revealing a lot of lessons to me.

In the above image that I took on the dry Limpopo River bed near Sentinel Farm there are two deposits, elephant dung and faecal pellets from an impala.

From them I made a great number of observations.

  1. Both the elephant and impala ate grass but the elephant ate many times the weight of the impala as evidenced by the dung pile.
  2. Both crossed the dry riverbed in search of water and possibly more food.
  3. Both needed, possibly at the same time, to relive themselves so as to create space for more food and water.

I learnt a lesson here. Even if the impala ate a hundredth of what the elephant foraged , they both had lived and trekked across the same expanse river bed.

Even if the impala weighed enough to be equivalent to one ivory tusk of the elephant this did not stop it walking where the elaphant trudged.

Even if the impala took twenty dainty steps for every two the elephant took it did not stop the impala from reaching the river bank and crossing over.

So, it ain’t the grass amount, no the giant steps but it is the resolve to beat the odds and keep going that wins the game.

I am not afraid of my tiny steps, I am no longer afraid of my resolve because I have learnt one great thing; Both the impala and elephant share the same amount of the gift of life.

Dainty steps, giant steps, mounds of grass, nibblings of grass, all that matters is to keep walking to cross the river bed in pursuit of greater goals.

I am not afraid to step where giants tread. I am no longer afraid of fear.

#brokenbutnotafraid

#iamphindelasson