60 Reasons to celebrate life

And so we have come to the end of the blog. 60 Days! 60 Reasons! Countless blessings revisited!!! I must confess that at times I had a deep need for people to know me truly and intimately . I now know that this not always possible. Being almost sixty, and especially through writing this blog, I came to the realization that it is not really important at all. Still, it is wonderful to be seen by the people you love. It is not about ticking checkboxes; it is about celebrating who we are. These days many of us have started to interact with AI to aid in our work, research, questions, etc. Many are against it. You know me—I allow you to believe what feels right for you and what works for you. YOU do YOU, I will do ME! (Thanks, Rachelle!) As for me, I always embrace technology without losing human connection and while always still giving Spirit the foremost place in my life. That being said, as I wrote this blog, I always asked A.I. to spell-check my posts. So it “read” my posts in detail. ...

 And here we find ourselves, at the doorstep of the celebration.  Even that in itself is yet one more blessing. What a ride this blog has been; - to remember and re-visit, and count and be filled with gratitude. Sorry if I have worn you out at times. But hey, I am almost 60 now! so I don't care too much about that anymore ha ha. "You do YOU, and I will do ME" like my one good friend always reminds me. And it seems I am starting to, at long last, get the perfect balance and hang to do the "Me" business! (yet I am still clinging to the idea that we are all one!) (at least, we are all part of the ONE!!) Tomorrow, God willing, I will conclude this wonderful journey of identifying blessings. But as I type here, I already know, that the most important thing that I have learned from this blog and taking the time to count my blessings, is that I discovered that they are way more than 60 !!!! And how I am already looking forward to the new blessing on their way still. Th...

  Cars have been my loyal sidekicks through the chapters of life...  The Beemers and Mercs strutted in like celebrities—polished, powerful, purring with pride. Others… well, they were more like scrappy underdogs, squeaking and coughing but refusing to give up. The very first one was a Datsun 1200 complete with vinal roof. I called it "Gamor", Hebrew for Donkey. I was a first year theology student when Dear Mum and Dad scrapped the funds together for this little faithful machine. I was truly spoiled! Yes at times I wished the petrol and temperature gages would switch (the petrol gage was always close to zero, while the temperature gage was constantly close to full alert), but still... I’ve driven “luxury with leather” and I’ve driven “please-don’t-break-down-before-payday or you have reached your destination,” and each one taught me something. The fancy rides whispered, “Enjoy the good times,” while the humble little cheapies reminded me, “It’s not about the shine, it’s about ...

Enough now with the Titles, Trophies, and Training—Be a Little More Modest, You Might Say!  And you’re right. But then again,  we all know that One "T" is missing namely; Die TROUES!!! Hence, I need to start to wrap up this Visual Aid series with something special—an illustration of what 300 couples would look like if photographed together. Sounds like one of those mass weddings you’ve heard about in the Mormon church or in Japan, doesn’t it? Well, in a way, that’s my story too. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of facilitating the weddings of about 300 couples—and counting. Yes it started with a special ceremony for my friend. Then followed family members, colleagues, later kids of colleagues, clients, friends, friends of friends. Students. Friends of students. Attendees at some of my services etc. etc... What began as a simple favor for a close friend, just a once-off gesture, turned into a steady flow of blessings and my small contribution to making a beautiful day...

  13 July 2025 LINK: LINK to Landing page with LINKS to other "REASONS" posts

  All of the above Job Descriptions, I had to wear around my neck at some point in my life. It is a bit like wearing a "Toga" - the one thing I at one stage wanted to prevent at all costs, and yet here we are.... Like a "Toga" a "Title" can be both an incredible honor and burden at the same time. Somehow, we must walk the journey we choose. Let's suffice by that!  12 July 2025 LINK: LINK to Landing page with LINKS to other "REASONS" posts

  Looking back, I’m deeply grateful for the occasions when my input or work was recognized with awards. It started with a humble book prize in Std 1 for best handwriting (the inscription said for best progress in neat and clean handwriting ha ha and some poem recited called "the Voëlkoor" ) and later a few others followed. However, it is difficult to talk about these running the risk to sound pompous. To me, these weren’t just accolades, but affirmations that to never give up, staying true to your vision and giving your best matters. I owe these moments to countless people who encouraged, challenged, and believed in me along the way. Therefor, these honors belong not only to me, but to the many hands and hearts that journeyed with me. I share this, once again, not in a spirit of "Oh Wow look at me!!" No, I share it in recognition of the blessings that was bestowed upon me, the very reason what this blog is meant for.... Here is my creative way of remembering and say...

The thing with the Visual Aid series is that it also gives me a chance to tap into and express my creative streak. To compile the picture below, I had fun with many of my hobbies: my playful spirit, Excel, computing tools, and a few others. So, without further ado: here is a picture of all the houses I willed into being in this lifetime—imagined as if they were built on a single hilltop. (I’ve included projects like Neustadt and Huis Anet(later Huis Samuel) because I was the instigator behind major revamps for them.) And now, a final word on playfulness and creativity: In the rush of adult life—with its endless deadlines, responsibilities, and serious conversations—it’s easy to forget something important: we were all once creative souls (especially as children). Curious, playful, imaginative. We built castles and costumes from cardboard, played with rolls of plastic sheeting (as I’ve told you), and turned discarded items from the "vuilgoedhoop" into magical treasures. We bu...

 Quite a few days ago we shared about the places I have had the privilege to visit in my lifetime (so far). At times I had quite a wondering spirit. These days I much rather travel via YouTube in the comfort of my own little BosHuisie. Still, I have a feeling that my travels are far from over. I will be ready for these "new" destinations once they announce themselves. For now, I am much more interested in retrospective and introspective journeys and to travel on the roads of Esoteric wisdom and new Gnosis (knowledge) to learn. Lots of this information was not so readily accessible in my youth (hidden even), but became abundant in our current age.  What a joy to be alive in this time. Yes, their are a split ahead for humanity, but each one of us will experience this according to our own growth and believes. There are no right or wrong paths.  I love this quiet truth and peace that dawns on us the older we get. It just once again confirms that life is not a destination, but...

 Acknowledging with joy Who we are ...yet another Reason to Celebrate!!! As I approach my 60th birthday, I find myself thinking less about candles and cakes, and more about connections — real ones. Meaningful ones. The kind that aren’t bound by calendars or age milestones, but by shared understanding, honest conversations, and time spent truly seeing one another. There’s a strange ritual in our culture: we rally around milestones and events. Sometimes with a flurry of enthusiasm -  and too often, it's people celebrating an idea of you — not the real you. With this Blog I tried to open a little bit of a window to the real me. Thank you for siting with me in silence, laughing  with me at something stupid, or challenging me in a way that made me think — this all gives us a reason to celebrate my life and our journey together. Perhaps this was the biggest reason I’ve chosen to write this blog -  as a way to open a window into my heart.  It’s for those who want to...

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.  (Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV)   The blog is slowly but surely drawing to a close. The final ten days will include a few parting reflections, but will mostly serve as a visual summary of all we've shared thus far. The words of Ecclesiastes certainly comes to mind. Most definitely it is  a sobering truth that has echoed through the ages: wealth, status, most human accomplishments eventually fade like mist. And yet, there are more to consider. For me, this life has not been a empty chase after wind (or accomplishments) , but rather a lingering presence—a participation in a life that at times felt like a dreamscape. I often said; "I am at play in the fields of the Lord." Therefor, I believe,  what Ecclesiastes is pointing to is the fleeting nature of everything. That, I can deeply affirm. But in this life, we ...

  There’s a particular kind of stillness that settles on a Sunday evening. The world slows, the noise softens, and a hush falls over things—as if life itself is pausing to breathe. For a melancholic soul, this time carries a familiar spell. It’s not sadness, exactly. It’s more like a tender ache, a quiet awareness that everything is passing, that the golden light is fading, that time never quite stands still. Sunday evenings remind me of old songs, of books half read, of the scent of something just out of reach, but with a definite memory attach to it. They hold within them a strange mix of longing and gratitude—a reflection on what was, what might have been, and what still could be. It’s a time when the soul leans inward, listening. Remembering. Reflecting. Hoping. Melancholy, I’ve come to believe, is not a flaw but a gift. It’s the part of us that feels deeply, that sees the poetry in the ordinary, and that holds space for what is unresolved. I don't think Sunday evenings ask u...

  There is something deeply liberating, truly healing, - in acknowledging our shortcomings. To stand before ourselves and others, without pretense or justification, and say: Yes, I failed there. I missed the mark. I hurt others. I took wrong turns. It is not shameful—it is what it means to be human. We are all works in progress, and part of what gives our lives depth and texture is the imperfect path we’ve walked to get here. Taking full responsibility for our actions, for the words we spoke too quickly or the silence we kept too long, is not an act of self-condemnation—it’s an act of maturity, of courage, and even of love.  When we own our story—all of it—we stop running. We stop hiding. And we begin to grow. It is in this honest reckoning that a strange grace often finds us. Not a grace that excuses everything, but one that redeems. That says: Even so, your life has meaning. Even so, there was beauty. Even so, it was good. Because despite it all—the stumbles, the missteps...

The 4th of July is, of course, America’s Independence Day —a celebration of freedom, new beginnings, and the courage to break away from the old to embrace a better future. Together with America, I’ve decided to also celebrate the spirit of this day in light of my own significant celebration approaching. As we count down the days in our 60 Things Celebration , tomorrow marks fourteen days to go until my birthday. So let us honour the spirit of Independence Day— a spirit that transcends borders and occasions . This day is about claiming our right to live differently , to declare our own kind of independence. Many have told me that this is what turning 60 is all about: The freedom to boldly and fearlessly JUST BE ME! . So yes, starting my personal "revamp" on this 4th of July—culminating on the 19th—is deeply meaningful: I declare freedom from habits that no longer serve me. I commit to a better version of myself, intentionally and publicly—even if just in my own heart. ...

  I’ve often been told that people don’t " quite " understand what I “do” professionally. As if my career is some sort of a mystery... In hindsight, that might have been a blessing. I’ve never liked being put into boxes. Once people can label you by your profession, it becomes easier for them to summarize you, assume they understand you, and neatly place you into one of their tidy little categories. They will say as confirmation: "So jy is n..." and there they go! But here we go (smile), let me enlighten you and offer you some background to my studies and career. (It is really not such a big mystery after all!) I started by studying Theology and Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch. And although I was eventually ordained as a Full Pastor with United Life Church, I changed my major to Social Sciences in my second year at varsity, and therefore also did Modules in Social Work, Sociology and Afrikaans Cultural History in addition to Psychology, which already...

  A Picture tells a thousand words or more... Thank you HFI  (die NPO) 02 July 2025 LINK: LINK to Landing page with LINKS to other "REASONS" posts

  A Picture tells a thousand words or more... Thank you World Training 01 July 2025 LINK: LINK to Landing page with LINKS to other "REASONS" posts