It’s time, too, for Julius Malema to take responsibility for his irresponsibility. Vilifying and publishing the private cellphone number of journalist Karima Brown is tantamount to assaulting her. The effect of his harsh criticism has resulted in threats to her personal safety. He needs to reflect on his actions, his choices.
It is Wednesday, March 6, as I write this — Ash Wednesday.
This day marks the beginning of Lent, a Christian season of fasting and prayer, a day that announces that there are 46 days to go until Easter Sunday. It is one of the most popular and important holy days in the Catholic liturgical calendar.
It was certainly one of the most significant religious days for my family, one that my parents treated with great solemnity.
Ash Wednesday was not a favourite holy day for us, the four Naidoo children. It meant the start of sugar deprivation; it meant that there were 46 long, painful days to go before we could eat sweets, cakes, biscuits and all things sugary again.
Our next chocolate encounter would be with the Easter Bunny at an egg hunt in our garden after mass on Easter Sunday.
As much as we dreaded Ash Wednesday, so too we loved Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent began, when my mother cleared out the treats pantry.
Out came the rich chocolate Romany Creams I loved; the fat lady finger Boudoir biscuits that my lovely dad devoured with his late evening tea; my mother’s secret stash of dark Bourneville chocolate; Anton’s custard creams. We worked our way through the pile of deliciousness on Shrove Tuesday leaving the goods cupboard bare of treats until late April.
Catholics observe this 40-day Lenten season (Sundays are not counted) through fasting, repentance, prayer and reflection.
This period of abstinence and solemnity represents the 40 lean days that Christ spent in the wilderness, being tempted by Satan as he fasted and prayed.
The Devil’s temptation of Christ has been the subject of thousands of artworks over the centuries. I think that Sandro Botticelli’s 1482 fresco on the subject is the most beautiful, the most illuminating. Called The Temptations of Christ, the painting records the artist’s view of Christ’s 40 days in the desert.
In one scene the hungry Jesus is tempted by Satan, disguised as a hermit, to turn stones into bread. It makes me think, sadly, of political parties attempting to bribe rural voters with gifts of food parcels.
In another, the Devil takes Jesus to the top of the Jerusalem temple, tempting him to challenge God’s promise of angelic protection by throwing himself off the ramparts. In another scene, the Devil promises Jesus power over all earthly treasures if he will just bow down to him, Satan. Botticelli shows Jesus sending him away, while God sends angels to minister to him.
It’s a hauntingly beautiful, thought provoking piece of art to be found in The Sistine Chapel in Rome.
As I write this I have a charcoal cross on my forehead, put there by my parish priest, Father Thabo, with these words: From dust thou art and to dust thou shall return.
It’s had the effect of reminding me of my mortality, of my morality. In this moment, I am deeply aware of the limited time I have left on this earth.
At 60, that ash cross reminds me that I have fewer years ahead of me than behind me. It makes me realise that if I am to live a fulfilled life, I have to get on with living the kind of life I want rather than waiting for life to make my decisions for me. In that chosen life, self-examination, repentance and the seeking of forgiveness is paramount.
The cross on my forehead reminds me, too, of my failings as a human being. I am forced to look critically at my life, at my life’s choices.
As I reflect, I know I have to be scrupulously honest about the way I live my life. Does using the printer at work to Roneo recipes, or a chapter of a friend’s dissertation I am to edit, amount to theft from my employer?
Will the urge (not given in to, I must say) to pay a traffic officer a bribe to get out of a hefty fine be counted as a sinful thought?
The charcoal ashes are soft and scented with incense. They are the burnt offerings that come from palms blessed last year on Palm Sunday.
This morning, the priest solemnly reminded the congregation why it was necessary for us to use this period to seek grace by admitting and begging forgiveness for our sins, for correcting our faults, for finding ways to purify our hearts. I was struck then by how desperately just such reflection, accountability and action is needed in our country to end the rot.
Yes, this 40-day period can be used to learn to control our human desires — to give up beer or chocolate or carbs.
But reflection, honesty, the absence of pride or envy, abstinence from anger and violence, self control from over eating or laziness — those were the things to practice during this period, Father Thabo preached.
If we are to survive as a democracy and grow to our full potential as a country, the time is ripe in our country for reflection on and acknowledgement of all that we need to heal.
It’s time for those in charge of our communal fate — politicians, big business, men and women with power — to take stock of their faults and find ways of purifying their hearts. I am stunned by the obscene level of greed that undermines our country as I listen to testimony given at the Zondo Commission into State Capture.
I am staggered by the level of anger and violence — particularly against women — in our country. The story this week of Gqom artist Babes Wodumo, whose abuse at the hand of her boyfriend Mampintsha (Mandla Maphumolo) was made public on social media, is an example of the end result of wrath.
It’s time, too, for Julius Malema to take responsibility for his irresponsibility. Vilifying and publishing the private cellphone number of journalist Karima Brown is tantamount to assaulting her. The effect of his harsh criticism has resulted in threats to her personal safety. He needs to reflect on his actions, his choices.
I am left aghast by the gluttony of environmental affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, who, we heard during the Zondo Commission, had her Christmas shopping done by disgraced Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi on the instruction of then CEO Gavin Watson. The list included, among other things, four cases of premium whiskey and 40 cases of beer.
Every day we hear of, and see, real examples of the seven deadly sins at play on our social media platforms, on the news, in our neighbourhoods. If we are to effect any kind of change, we all need to take the next 46 days to reflect on what it is we need to move forward with a clean slate.
We could all benefit from a little less self indulgence and a little more self discipline. A little more kindness and forgiveness.
It’s worth giving up sugar for that.
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