Greetings from the Moderator DECEMBER 2022
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A CHRISTMAS STORY
It was so much fun visiting his grandparents. They have this great farm with a small creek that runs down from a mountain ridge that stretches as far as the eye can see away to the north. Unlimited possibilities to discover all kinds of things. He left early. Packing a backpack with some snacks and water he took his mountain bike and rode towards the mountains. What a beautiful morning he thought, with only the sounds of the field following him as he cycled his way slowly uphill into the mountains. He filled his water bottle with cool water from the creek and continued higher and higher until he could not go any further with his bike. Leaving his bicycle resting against a tree he climbed higher up the mountain, twisting and turning his way through the trees as he edged up towards a cliff that he believed would give him the most amazing view over the valley. Some low clouds started to roll in but he was not concerned. The forecast the previous evening sounded ok with only a small possibility of rain. It grew darker and the wind grew stronger. He was almost there – just one more cliff to pull himself up on and he will be on the edge that he targeted as his destination. It started to drizzle but – he made it. He dragged himself onto the cliff and for a moment he saw a brief image of the valley below before the next cloud drifted in and with it the densest fog that he could imagine. They searched for him for a couple of days but the fog just got worse. Most left and said they will return when the fog lifts but one man continued the search. With a flashlight, a compass and a whistle this man was relentless. Even with lips bleeding from continuously blowing on his whistle he would not take a break. He was so cold and hungry as he lay underneath a rock. His ankle badly bruised and swollen from the fall when he tried to climb down from the ledge. He could only wait. As the days passed he got weaker and weaker. Then he heard it – it sounded like a whistle. He tried to shout but only a croaking sound came out. He tried again. His voice was a bit stronger – the whistle came closer. He shouted louder – then he saw the light and cried at the top of voice. Someone bent down and he saw the face – white with exhaustion, the bleeding lips and tired red eyes. With a weak voice he said: “Dad – you came!” . A different kind of Christmas story but with the same message: A loving Father relentlessly seeking us, for He knows we in trouble. And in Christ, He came! To bring us home. Rev. Ferdi Brits Presbytery Moderator
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Rev. Ferdi Brits
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