Let's look back on the past …
President FW de Klerk announced the end of apartheid and a new direction for the government of the day on 2 February 1990. General consensus was that it would end in a blood bath and thousands of South Africans fled the country - times were very uncertain.
While South Africa was busy with a transition from an apartheid government to a new rainbow nation, the biggest tragedy was taking place in Africa. The Rwandan ethnic genocide - almost 800 000 Tutsis were killed without the international community batting an eyelid.
The Exxon Valdez oil tanker hit a reef in Alaska on 24 March 1989 and it was reported that approximately 41 million litres of oil spilled into the sea. A disaster with an immeasurable extent.
One of America's government buildings was burgled on 17 June 1972. The result was that proof came to light which indicated that President Nixon had been involved with wheeling and dealing, which resulted in his resignation as American president on 9 August 1974.
On 3 September 1939 France and Britain declared war against Germany. The Second World War. The World War Statistics website indicates that a total of 72,768,900 people died (
World War 2 Statistics). It includes the 5,9 million Jews who were murdered in the most inhumane manner.
We get very excited about Black Friday at the end of the year, but we forget about Black Thursday on 24 October 1929 when the Wall Street Stock Exchange and world markets crashed. The Big Depression - famine, poverty, unemployment - not only in South African, but worldwide.
Lastly, the plague (Black Death) between 1347 and 1351 in Europe. It is estimated that 60% of the European population was wiped out - in the order of 50 million people.
So, what are we saying? Stick around - that's life? That we do not really know anything about suffering?
We are experiencing tough times in our wonderful country.
At this stage of the history of South Africa, no one is spared. We are all experiencing difficult times.
We can be very negative about the current situation in South Africa - the land debate, Eskom's problems, poor service at municipalities, unemployment, farm murders, murder on the Cape flats, millions of people who are still without electricity, houses and water, politicians robbing the public! Is there a future in South Africa? What about my child's education?
We don't need a lot to push us into the realm of negativity.
What are we saying then? We have a number of problems, but at least we are not living during the Second World War?
Let's share a few basic truths with one another:
• Ecclesiastes 1:9 says: "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun". We are not the first and we will not be the last to go through difficult times. It is an eternal truth! Difficult times are part of the seasons of life. But what we learn from it is that it has the ability to bring out the best in some people...think of Stacey Brewer and her Spark School Network, the Ndlovu Care Group and the incredible impact they made through the Ndlovu Youth Choir. Think of the Gary Kirsten Foundation, which is determined to make sure that the sports infrastructure in our townships is safe, where there is no hope or money. What about the Jakes Gerwel Technical School - a few individuals who dreamt about a better future for the people growing up in Bonnievale.
• There is always a reason to be grateful, even in these times. For instance, new technological developments that make our lives so much easier. A farm worker in a remote location who can have warm water by means of a solar geyser. He can store water by making use of his roof in an effective manner and by using a JoJo tank. Antibiotics saved millions of lives and extended lives. It is reported in the media that people will start living longer and longer. The life expectancy of people who lived in the middle ages was only 40. Not too long ago you had to phone an exchange to make a call - now you can use your cell phone to phone any person any time throughout the world and you can use the same phone to obtain any information you require, or to determine direction and distance! Food and clothes are more readily available than ever. You can order something through Amazon from America and have it delivered on your doorstep within a week. If you are in London, England you can be in Paris, France (491 km) in less than 2 hours by taking the Eurostar...under the sea!
• Countries don't suffer - individuals, people, friends, family do. We must never forget this. It is good to get perspective, but the person who lost parents during a farm attack, a woman who has to process a rape, a family who lost a child as a result of violence on the Cape flats...that is their perspective and they have to process the reality thereof, irrespective of how technology made their lives easier.
During these times you have a choice. You can be angry and bitter and depressed, or you can choose to look at your life and to recognise your privileges. You can look around you and see people who are suffering far more than you. You can put your arm around someone and cry with him about the pain in his/her life. That is what perspective does - it helps me to take the focus off my own circumstances and to see the people around me. Even if you just arrive at work with a smile and the hope that, even if today is not a good day, the sun will shine again tomorrow.
I conclude with what gives me perspective: "Our suffering in this life is insignificant and will pass, but the end of it is glory which will surpass everything and which will endure forever”.