Times of Eswatini

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Dcan mean night time or night fall; it can also mean obscurity. It can mean a severe lack, or a season of gloom. In darkness, people don’t see and whenever there is a form of darkness in people’s lives they lose focus and a sense of direction; and they switch on survival mode. Darkness could entail and signify a number of things.

A person can be in the dark because they do not have certain knowledge. Whenever that happens, assumption­s will replace truth.

When there are no solutions to problems, it is a form of darkness; a financial distress can also be darkness. Darkness can also be a loss of morals and integrity, in as much as this is caused by, or as a result of, something that has transpired. It is also a representa­tion of an outcome of darkness yet it also brings darkness in people’s lives.

And in our relationsh­ips with others we can be in the dark when there is behaviour we do not understand.

Sometimes we begin a search for understand­ing to a point of doing the unthinkabl­e, and this

ARKNESS

is why we can be in the dark and wrong about those we are in relationsh­ips with. Whenever there seems to be no way out, it becomes stormy.

DARKNESS

Whenever there is a season of nightfall, people will always try to find a way out by themselves. If darkness replaces light, others can even forget where the light comes from, others can even look for a candle under the fridge.

In darkness there is always confusion. In that season, people move from their roles and their positions to try and find solutions in darker places. In as much as a form of darkness can be or is metaphoric for a real situation, the point is that we are, and have been, in some form of night season or darkness, and what is important in that season is to know and to remember where light comes from.

It is common knowledge that we can easily switch on survival mode and on this mode there is absolutely no compassion and less concern for others.

It may even look like an intense search for light yet this intense search for light is also in dark places. Nobody likes to be in the dark and any from of it brings an intense discomfort to people. However, forgetting who sustains us also brings darkness.

Forgetting where our help comes from is also darkness. When we search for help we can find ourselves, like Esau in the bible, who sold his inheritanc­e for a bowl of soup. When we have taken matters in our hands we forget that truly we are not in control. Consequent­ly, we can find ourselves trading gold for mud.

When we have moved from our positions of provision, we can find ourselves eating with pigs. In the dark we need to remember who we are and who we belong to. It is an easier option for most of us to take matters into our hands yet light comes from one source.

PROVIDER

There is a visible separation between money and God. God is a provider but He does not make money rain from heaven. He is not a father christmas either or an Italian godfather. God loves relationsh­ips and He provides through faith and relationsh­ips and through people.

He connects people to people when you have a relationsh­ip with him.

This season is a financial darkness for a lot of people and if you haven’t realised yet that finances are being squeezed, you will spend the same way you have been spending and not implement financial changes in your budget.

However, God will rather have us fixing our relationsh­ips with others, because darkness disperses people. Darkness causes hurt, and people hurt others unintentio­nally.

It has become darker now and it’s become darker in the society. Whenever there is a financial storm people whose lives depend on money throw away integrity and morals and most importantl­y they throw away compassion. Whenever there is a financial upheaval, people’s hearts are severely tested.

What is it that our hearts love the most; is it money or God’s word? Over time I have realised that as a nation we were advised to always choose well, maybe it’s because money will always fail.

And if you wanted to experience an emotional display of emotions from people, deprive them of what they were comfortabl­e with by removing the financial comfort.

Santander Bank in the United Kingdom has recently closed down 83 of its branches in that country because a lot of its customers have migrated to online banking.

The banking app has enabled them to do transactio­ns, including change of address, responding to concerns and other administra­tion needs, which made bank branches obsolete.

For those whose jobs were replaced by an app, life became a financial darkness.

Even though this is happening, we can choose light. Light brings clarity and wisdom. Solutions are not found but prayed for and revealed. A system can fail, it decays; it can even need knew inventions, but prayer will always sustain us and bring solutions.

During dog attack

Tell the dog sternly, “No”.

Do not run or he will chase.

Do not scream.

Do not face the dog head on.

Do not make eye contact.

Fold your arms and hands.

Stand very still.

Block. If you have a stick or

any object that will suffice, use it to block. Do not attack the dog, it will attack you. Just keep him out of your space. A dog’s attention span is short. Wait for him to move right away and then back off slowly.

SWAZILAND ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY (SAWS) For a dewormed, sterilised and vaccinated pet, phone Mbabane 7683 8736 / 7944 6795 Manzini: 7676 0295.

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