Crazy Enough to change the world?
Inspired by JP, Rodé and Werner Groenewald.
This goes out to some crazy friends of mine who actually believe they can change the world.
This past month I’ve experienced anew the effects of death on peoples lives. I’ve had my fair share of dealing with death in my life, who hasn’t, but this time it was different in the way it felt pretty much the same. I’m lying, In the contrary this time I’m old enough to ask questions I didn’t know existed or was too afraid to ask with my father’s death in 2001.
(Photo taken by Corali Theron)
In my visit to the East in October 2014 I met many new faces. Many new personality types. Many new ways of believing. Many new sayings. Many new people.
But there was this one weird bloke: Jean Pierre Groenewald (17) from Afganistan.
Originally from South Africa, but was doing humanitarian work in Kabul he was weird because, well at first I thought he was as a nerd as I am, but then I realised that he was weird because he was different and therefore not so weird at all.
I had the privilege of getting my arse kicked in Squash by this not at all weird nerdy dude that in some way reminded me of what I wished I was at his age. During our very intense and highly professional match-up I realised two things about JP. One, he was quite competitive although he was trying to hide it seeing as we were talking about being disciples and all the rest of it. And two, he was so eager to learn. Not only Kingdom minded, but this brother wanted to learn more and more of today’s followers of Christ. I mean, he has been in Kabul for more than half his lifetime, most of what he has learned was taught to him through the way in which his father worked with people and his mother cared for people.
For a start, I introduced him to the infamous Bouwer Bosch and Straatligkinders’ latest album. We chatted about being followers of Christ in a world like today and how he experienced it in Kabul. We chatted about China’s strategic placing in the Christian world today. We chatted about life. About school. About rugby.
About death.
To be honest I don’t really know where I’ am going with this blog, just that I needed to let out the way in which the death of the Groenewald’s affected me. Especially JP’s. I’ve been thinking about JP everyday ever since he passed away. I still have Whatsapp messages that didn’t go through.
As has been reported they were killed by the Taliban because of their faith. Because of them being Christians. They killed a damn 17 year old, never mind his younger sister and their father, because they were trying to expose the Kingdom of God in a place where hope does not exist?
Killed because they were bringing hope?
It doesn’t add up?
A few days ago suspects killed 12 people in Paris because they felt the people was dishonouring the name of the Prophet Muhammad. Some of the deceased were killed cold blooded after begging the shooter to let them live? How is this adding up in the minds of the killers?
These questions may haunt me forever and may run me up the walls, but what I can say is that JP’s death was not in vain. I don’t know why not yet, but I do know that he was crazy enough to believe he can change the world. Crazy enough to give up his comfort before the age of ten. Weird enough to give up South African Braai’s and rugby. Nerdy enough to stand up for what was right. Absolutely drunk on the love for Jesus Christ and justice.
He inspired me in the East with his yearning for knowledge. He inspired me for a few days after his return to Kabul with his interest in blogs and Straatligkinders. The tears I shed over him inspired me to cry for others too.
He inspires me today. To live. To cry. To die.
Today I feel so lonely in my town. This blog will never do justice to how I feel about Paris, JP, Rode, Werner or any others that has died because of their faith. My words are too little in stature.
Thank you JP, Rodé and Werner for your inspiration. Thank you JP that I can be crazy enough to live AND die for Jesus Christ.