Thoughts on freedom day

There are homes that I visit- dilapidated shacks constructed from a mish-mash of corrugated sheeting, cardboard and other people’s throw-aways, but homes nonetheless. A drain carrying dirty water, often blocked by litter, is the long narrow pathway that leads me there.

Today we celebrate the long road to freedom in South Africa journeyed by so many heroes. We will forever be grateful to them.

But we pause and are mindful that the achievement of that dream was merely ‘the first step on a longer and even more difficult road’- and perhaps that road looks more like the litter-filled gutter that I traverse- a pathway easily hidden and avoided.

For us in KZN, the floods have shaken so many and led to an incredible outpouring of generosity. It has been a privilege to witness- as people of all colours, religions, ages and economic backgrounds have opened hearts and wallets, focusing on others’ calamities rather than their own inconveniences. As the Bhambayi Project, thanks to this generosity, we have been able to help over 100 families and have, so far, been able to assist in 17 home rebuilds.

On this Freedom Day, may we be reminded that helping restore is only a step on the long and difficult road of freedom that we are invited to journey-  a road that is about justice and dignity for all. A journey that has to include seeing all who live in our country as equals- every person with a unique contribution to make. And when we journey with another for their freedom on that long and difficult road, we discover that it is, at the same time, our own journey of freedom.