Spirit with Pastor Pushie
Pastor Pushie Watson on embracing new beginnings
There’s nothing better than the familiar. The comfort of home, the sound of your language or distinctive accent, reminiscing or engaging in childhood traditions. There’s no greater feeling than that of belonging. No matter where in the world you travel, or how much you grow, your roots will always draw you back to the simple pleasures from your childhood. As an adult there’s a certain comfort that’s gained from going back to the time when you ran around barefoot and played outside. Oh the smell of youthful play. You might not have had the best childhood, but there’s always something special to be found in the simplicity of childhood memories. With the world evolving and merging so rapidly, having the capacity to hold close certain familiar traditions is so precious.
Heritage Day is one such tradition. It is a time when we celebrate and reflect on our rich culture and diversity of beliefs and traditions that make us a rainbow nation. We appreciate the beautiful hues of colours and languages that encompass South Africa. With eleven official languages, we find expression in a variety of sayings and proverbs. With all our different languages and tones, we have come a long way to prove that there can be unity in diversity — that you don’t have to look like me or talk like me to be liked by me. Indeed Heritage Day is a unique celebration of where we come from, and a conscious decision to embrace where we are going.
This day is traditionally celebrated with food, friends and family. It’s a time of fellowship where we get together in unity to enjoy a meal and good company, mostly surrounding a braai. This practice has existed for centuries. During Biblical times, a gathering of friends and family to pray and share a meal over fellowship was known as Koinonia. It was a time when people would get together to unite and partake in a meal with one another. We see it when the people had gathered in their thousands to listen to Jesus as He was teaching. After the service, it became late and the people were hungry. Amongst them they only had five loaves of bread and two fish. But when He lifted it up to heaven, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it amongst the people, it was enough to feed five thousand, not counting women and children, and there remained twelve baskets full left over. The more we share, the more we are blessed. This is the same spirit of Heritage Day, sharing and fellowshipping together around a meal.
But I find it particularly interesting that spring day and Heritage Day come at the same time. Heritage holds fast to what has always been, and yet spring is a time of new beginnings. Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal. Let’s spring forth in faith and fill our lives with God and love. Remember that embracing something new doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to forget the old. Growth simply means that you add to what you already possess. We refer to it as adding truth to your truth, and blessings to your blessings. The Bible describes it as going from glory to glory. I believe that in this season of spring God wants to do something new in your life. Isaiah 43:19 says, ‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’
As we continue to embrace our rich heritage, let’s step out boldly and spring forth into all the new things God has in store for us.
Happy Women’s Month.
Love ya, P
Because the more we share, the more we have. This is the same spirit of Heritage Day, sharing and fellowshipping together around a meal.