On the 24th of September, South Africans celebrated Heritage Day. Also known as National Braai Day, except it really poured with rain this time around and put paid to any celebration of boerewors, kebabs, and shisa nyama.
This year, I wanted to explore something different with our iCare Boys at Hope Centre. We had just completed Mandela Day in July, which unavoidably centered on political ramifications and anticlimaxes, and felt anything but like a celebration. Ultimately, in celebrating Heritage Day this year, I wanted to focus on God and what He offers us as a heritage.
But not a preach. Our boys are not in that headspace yet.
I recalled the verse, “The meek shall inherit the earth”, from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:5), part of the Beatitudes. But our Earth is rather damaged currently, and well, to be meek, requires a change of heart and a positive response to life and its challenges. I knew I wasn’t going to get a unanimously optimistic reaction from the boys with this approach.
But I thought about how God fashioned this Earth so creatively. Each plant and animal is uniquely created with beauty and purpose. Like the iCare boys – each created by God with uniqueness and purpose.
So, I settled on one of my favourite pastimes, beach shells. All beautiful, different, undergoing a process, perhaps broken through life’s journey, but still so uniquely perfect and full of significance.
The topic engaged the boys immediately. Shells of all different descriptions were spread across the table. A mini scavenger hunt to try to match the shells to the reference chart, winners receiving a sweet for their efforts. Then we discussed the shells, where they came from, the evidence of their journey, Who was responsible for their initial creation, their role and purpose.
Of course, every aspect of the discussion was ripe with analogies, referencing God, our Creator, how “wonderfully and beautifully” we are made. Made with purpose and intention. In this way, we were able to explore the boys’ understanding of God and God’s intention for them as His children. And why would He give us this planet as an inheritance?
Something about examining the Creator’s workmanship firsthand can really open up a person’s receptivity to the Gospel.
The subject of creativity wouldn’t be complete without the opportunity to express such, and with much enthusiasm, the boys set to work creating tranquil sea scenes.
Here, the boys are ‘designing’ their own shells (made of plaster of Paris).
Shells have an irresistible appeal, and we all agreed it was the one thing that we freely could access, as part of our South African inheritance.
by Gabriella Webber of Turning Points
