Shelley du Plessis comments on the "R" word - Recession. The latest word in our vocabulary.

Shelley du Plessis

I am not an economist and, on the grand scale of the recession in which we find ourselves, my insights will perhaps not even raise a blip on the radar. However, I cannot constrain myself from sharing an opinion which, I trust, will be an element of positive hope.

Every possible news channel has some form of professional giving us even more dark and gloomy predictions about what lies ahead. I am in no way suggesting that the economic crisis we are facing globally does not need our utmost attention. I am more distressed and disturbed by the negative attitudes I am witnessing around me on the streets.

I knew that the "R" word was a reality, when I walked down Oxford Street in London just recently. It wasn't crowded or overwhelmed by masses of people with shopping bags as had been the case in the past. Also, every store seemed to be trying to outdo the next with bargain discounts. It was a shopper's paradise, but no one was there.

I believe that we who reside in Africa, have lived with a form of recession for many years. Not everyone has been employed. Unemployment percentages in my nation are alarmingly high, almost 22%. Having employment is almost a luxury. During the years of apartheid in South Africa, many of our black brothers and sisters were unable to gain employment, simply because of their skin tone. Further, when sanctions were instituted, and many large multinational corporations left South Africa overnight, it was this labour force which was very often immediately dismissed without pay - the very people the sanctions were supposed to help.

Now, living with the reality of the slowdown in South Africa due to the "R" word and, facing shorter work weeks and shorter working hours to avoid retrenchments, I want to encourage anyone reading this column, who has become a victim of the "R" word or, who is in a time of great trial because of the loss of earnings, it's from The Message Bible in the book of Matthew:

"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works, fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

I want to share three examples of God-provisions:

1) I have a friend who is fully persuaded that God will supply all his needs in spite of the "R" word. He has operated his art business for many years and ended the year in December with a huge overdraft. At the beginning of 2009, both he and his wife committed the business to God and asked Him to oversee the running of it. They have become partners with God, asking for direction from Him at every turn, never making a decision without His influence. In three months, they have cleared their debt, and are breaking into new local and international markets, where it appears there is an untapped provision for them. Coincidence? I don't think so. God-provision in a recession? Oh yes! Without Him, they could never have dreamt up all the opportunities that have come their way.

2) God does look after those who don't even know He is there. On a recent trip into the deep centre of Kenya, where it is mostly desert, we came across two tribal women. They are nomadic, and were moving their entire worldly possessions on the back of a very small donkey and a very large camel. The one lady had a baby slung in a swaddling cloth on her back. The temperature that day was well in excess of 35 degrees Celcius. We passed them by. A few metres up the road, our Land Rover became engulfed in smoke. We had a fire in our electrical cables. We stopped in a hurry. While the men attended to the cables, we ladies looked for shade. There was none. We stood drinking water on the side of the road, watching the ladies with camel and donkey approach. We didn't speak the same language but, by using hand signals, they indicated they were thirsty. White people in this area of Kenya are not a usual sight, but their thirst overrode their suspicion. We were able to provide them with a large bottle of water and biscuits. They were so grateful, and we parted as friends, waving and smiling. The fire at that spot, a coincidence? God's provision? Oh yes!

3) God's provision for families who never have any form of luxury or who are not assured of a next meal, can come through those who have excess. Every now and then, I see my God move in circumstances that astound me, to provide an 'I love you' gift from the Father. Children in these families are totally oblivious to the fact that there is an "R" word happening. They are just trying to survive by picking food out of garbage cans or eating someone else's leftovers. Just recently, as a result, I believe, of the recession and the slowing down in high end consumer goods, a well-known international chocolate manufacturer approached our mercy ministry, to distribute 'left-over' Christmas chocolates. They couldn't be used for Easter because they were shaped like snowmen and Christmas decorations. We were able to distribute chocolate to hundreds of children who, very possibly, for the first time ever, had tasted chocolate. They screamed with delight, did handstands, compared the wrappings, stuffed the chocolate with both hands into their mouths, and danced in appreciation.

Coincidence that there is a recession? I don't think so. I am going to give God my entire attention to see what He is doing right now. I believe there is great opportunity for my personal growth during the "R" word. What about you?