‘Sikwenzile Oko Besifanele Sikwenze’
Ngokubaliswa Ngugeorge Couch
Emva kokuchitha loo ntsasa kubulungiseleli bendlu ngendlu, umzalwana endandabelwe naye entsimini wakhupha amaqebengwana amabini. Sakugqiba ukutya ndathi rhuthu umdiza ukuze ndikhe ndithi mpaku-mpaku. Lo mzalwana wabuza: “Kanene unexesha elingakanani usenyanisweni?” Ndamxelela: “Phezolo bendiqala ngqa ukuya entlanganisweni.”
NDAZALWA ngoMatshi 3, 1917, kwifama emalunga neekhilomitha ezingama-50 kwimpuma yePittsburgh, ePennsylvania, eUnited States, cebu kuhle nedolophana iAvonmore. Abazali bethu basikhulisela kule dolophana ke, singamakhwenkwe amahlanu nentombi enye.
Sasingebade kangako kwizinto zonqulo. Abazali bam babekhe bayihamba icawa, kodwa babe bayeka sisebancinane. Nangona kunjalo, sasikholelwa kubukho boMdali, yaye intsapho yakowethu yayiyilandela imigaqo esisiseko efumaneka eBhayibhileni.
Eyona ngqeqesho intle endayifumana kubazali bam yephathelele imbopheleleko—indlela yokuyisingatha nokuyizalisekisa. Babunjalo ke ubomi basefama. Kodwa ke sasingasoloko sixakeke yimisebenzi. Sasisiba namaxesha amnandi okuzihlaziya, njengokudlala ibhola yomnyazi nebaseball, ukukhwela amahashe nokuqubha. Ngaloo mihla yayinqabile imali, sekunjalo ubomi basefama babuyolisa. Isikolo sethu samabanga aphantsi sasingena kwisakhiwo esithile esinegumbi elinye size sithi sakufika kumabanga aphezulu singene kwesisedolophini.
Ngobunye ubusuku ndandihamba nentang’ am edolophini. Komnye umzi kwaphuma imbelukazi ethile ize kubulisa umhlobo wam. Lo mhlobo wam wandazisa kuFern Prugh. Kamnandi wayehlala kwisitrato esinye nesesikolo samabanga aphezulu. Ndandidla ngokuthi xa ndidlula ngakowabo, ndimbone uFern engaphandle equkeza. Yahle yacaca kum into yokuba, wayeyintokazi ekhutheleyo, nto leyo eyanditsho ndadumb’ intloko nguye. Saya sisondelelana de sathandana saza satshata ngoAprili wowe-1936.
Ukuqala Kwam Ukuva Inyaniso YeBhayibhile
Ngaphambi kokuba ndizalwe, kwakukho xhegokazi lithile elaliphiliswa ubomi bentshontsho ngabantu baloo dolophu ngenxa yonqulo lwalo. UMama wayelityelela ngeMigqibelo xa eyokuthenga edolophini. UMama wayelicocela indlu yalo aze alenzele imisetyenzana, de laya kulala kobandayo. Ndicinga ukuba uYehova wamsikelela uMama ngobubele awabubonakalisa kweli xhegokazi, elalinguMfundi weBhayibhile, njengoko amaNgqina kaYehova ayesaziwa ngelo gama ngoko.
Ethubeni, umza wam wafa ngesiquphe. Icawa ayizange imthuthuzele udadobawo, kodwa ummelwane wakhe owayenguMfundi weBhayibhile wamthuthuzela. Lo Mfundi weBhayibhile wamcacisela ngoko kwenzekayo xa umntu esifa. (Yobhi 14:13-15; INtshumayeli 9:5, 10) Oku kwamthuthuzela ngokwenene. Wandula ke udadobawo waxelela uMama ngethemba lovuko. Oku kwawuvuselela umdla kaMama, ekubeni wayefelwe ngabazali bakhe esemncinane yaye ekulangazelela ukwazi oko kwenzekayo xa umntu esifa. La mava anditsho ndakubona ukubaluleka kokusoloko usebenzisa amathuba okunikela ubungqina obungacwangciswanga.
Ngeminyaka yee-1930, uMama waqalisa ukuphulaphula iinkqubo zikanomathotholo zakusasa ngeCawa zikaJoseph F. Rutherford, ngoko owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Ngaloo minyaka, amaNgqina aqalisa umsebenzi wawo wokushumayela kwindlu ngendlu kwindawo esasihlala kuyo. Ayedla ngokubeka igramafoni ephathwayo phantsi komthunzi womthi eyadini yasekhaya aze adlale iintshumayelo ezirekhodiweyo zikaMzalwan’ uRutherford. Ezi ntshumayelo zirekhodiweyo kunye namaphephancwadi IMboniselo neGolden Age (ngoku enguVukani!) zawugcina uvutha umdla kaMama.
Kwiminyaka embalwa kamva, ngowe-1938, kwathunyelwa iposkhadi kwabo barhumela IMboniselo ibamemela kwintlanganiso ekhethekileyo kwelinye ikhaya elalikumgama omalunga neekhilomitha ezingama-25. UMama wayefuna ukuya, ngoko mna noFern kunye nabakhuluwa bam ababini sampheleka. UJohn Booth noCharles Hessler, abaveleli abahambahambayo bamaNgqina kaYehova, banikela iintetho kwelo qela. Emva koko, baqalisa ukulungisa iqela elaliza kuya kubulungiseleli ngentsasa elandelayo. Akakho umntu owayefuna ukuhamba nabo, ngoko uMzalwan’ uHessler wazinyulela mna waza wandibuza, “Kutheni ungahambi nathi nje?” Ndandingayiqondi kakuhle wena nale nto babeza kuyenza, kwangaxeshanye ndingenaso nesizathu sokuba ndingabancedi.
Saya kwindlu ngendlu de kwasemin’ emaqanda, waza ke uMzalwan’ uHessler wakhupha laa maqebengwana mabini. Sachopha phambi komnyango wecawa saza saqalisa ukutya. Kusemva kokuba ndikhuphe loo mdiza awathi uMzalwan’ uHessler wafumanisa ukuba ndandiye kwintlanganiso enye kuphela. Wazicelela ngokwakhe ukuba eze kwam kwisidlo sangokuhlwa saloo mini waza wandicela ukuba ndimeme nabamelwane bethu beze kwingxubusho yeBhayibhile. Emva kweso sidlo, wasiqhubela isifundo seBhayibhile waza wanikela intetho kwiqela labantu abalishumi ababezile. Wasixelela ukuba sifanele sibe nesifundo seBhayibhile iveki nganye. Nangona abamelwane bethu bengazange bayiginye kakuhle le nto, mna noFern senza amalungiselelo okuqhutyelwa isifundo seBhayibhile sasekhaya iveki ngeveki.
Ukwenza Inkqubela Enyanisweni
Kamsinya emva koko, mna noFern saqalisa kubulungiseleli basentsimini. Sasihleli kwisitulo esisemva senqwelo-mafutha, yaye sisandul’ ukuqhumisa imidiza yethu xa umkhuluwa wam waguquka waza wathi: “Ndisandul’ ukufumanisa ukuba amaNgqina akatshayi.” UFern wawulahla ngefestile ngoko nangoko owakhe umdiza—mna ndawugqibezela owam. Nangona sasikunandipha ukutshaya, asizange silichukumise icuba emva koko.
Emva kokubhaptizwa kwethu ngowe-1940, mna noFern sasisentlanganisweni ibe kwakufundwa inqaku elalikhuthaza ubuvulindlela, njengoko umsebenzi wokushumayela ixesha elizeleyo ubizwa njalo. Endleleni egodukayo, omnye umzalwana wabuza: “Kutheni wena noFern ningabi ngoovulindlela? Aninanto inibambileyo.” Asizange sikwazi ukumphikisa, ngoko sazenza safumaneka. Ndafaka isicelo sokuyeka emsebenzini kwiintsuku ezingama-30, saza senza amalungiselelo okuba ngoovulindlela.
Sabuza iWatch Tower Society ngendawo esifanele sikhonze kuyo, saza safudukela eBaltimore, eMaryland. Kule ndawo kwakukho ikhaya loovulindlela, ibe irente yegumbi nokuhlala apho yayimalunga nee-R48 ngenyanga. Sasinobugcwabalalana bemali esasicinga ukuba noko buya kusithabatha buye kusibeka kwiArmagedon. (ISityhilelo 16:14, 16) Ngapha koko, sasisoloko sicinga ukuba iArmagedon isemnyango. Ngoko xa saqalisa ubuvulindlela, sawushiy’ apho loo mzi saza sayeka yonke eny’ into le.
Saba ngoovulindlela eBaltimore ukususela ngowe-1942 ukusa kowe-1947. Ngaloo minyaka umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova wawuchaswa ngokukrakra. Kunokuba siye ngenqwelo-mafutha yethu kumakhaya ezifundo zethu zeBhayibhile, maxa wambi sasicela omnye umntu asise. Ngaloo ndlela sasiphepha ukuba amavili enqwelo-mafutha yethu agqajuzwe. Akakho umntu othandayo ukuchaswa ngolo hlobo, kodwa ndinokutsho ndithi sasibunandipha ubulungiseleli basentsimini. Eneneni, sasikhangela phambili kwinto ethile eza kusivuyisa ngoxa sisenza umsebenzi weNkosi.
Kungekudala sabugqiba oba bugcwabalalana sasizigcinele bona. Amavili enqwelo-mafutha yethu ayeziitumato, ibe iimpahla nezihlangu zethu zazibalisa ngobomi bazo. Kangangezihlandlo ezibini okanye ezithathu sasilele ngandletyana-nye kangangexesha elide. Kwakungelula ukuqhubeka, kodwa asizange siyicinge kwaukuyicinga into yokuba siyeke. Asizange siyiphathe kwaukuyiphatha ke leyo. Sazincama ezinye izinto esasiphila ngazo ukuze sihlale sikumsebenzi wobuvulindlela.
Ukutshintsha Isabelo
Ngowe-1947 saya kwindibano eyayiseLos Angeles, eKhalifoniya. Xa sasilapho, mna nomkhuluwa wam uWilliam, ngamnye wanikwa ileta eyayisabela kumsebenzi wokuhambahamba ukuze sityelele size sincede amabandla. Ngelo xesha asizange sifumane uqeqesho olukhethekileyo lokwenza lo msebenzi. Sasuka sangena endimeni. Kwiminyaka esixhenxe eyalandelayo, mna noFern sakhonza eOhio, eMichigan, eIndiana, eIllinois naseNew York. Ngowe-1954 samenywa ukuba siye kwiklasi yama-24 yaseGiliyadi, isikolo sokuqeqesha abavangeli basemazweni. Sathi siselapho uFern wangenwa yipoliyo. Okuvuyisayo kukuba, wachacha ngokupheleleyo, ibe sabelwa kumsebenzi wokuhambahamba eNew York naseConnecticut.
Xa sasikhonza eStamford, eConnecticut, uNathan H. Knorr, ngoko owayengumongameli weWatch Tower Society, wasimema ukuba sichithe impelaveki naye nomkakhe, uAudrey. Basiphekela inyam’ enkomo eyayimuncis’ iintupha kunye nezinye ke izibiliboco. Kwakusele kulithutyana siqhelene nabo, ibe uMzalwan’ uKnorr ndandimazi kangangokuba ndahle ndambona ukuba ikho le nto ayicingayo engadibananga nonxulumano kunye nesidlo esi. Kamva ngaloo ngokuhlwa wandibuza, “Ngaba aningethandi ukuza eBheteli?”
“Andiqinisekanga; andinalwazi kangako ngobomi baseBheteli,” ndaphendula ngelitshoyo.
Emva kokuyihlafunisisa kangangeeveki eziliqela le nto, saxelela uMzalwan’ uKnorr ukuba sasinokuza ukuba wayefuna senjenjalo. Kwiveki elandelayo, safumana ileta eyayisithi masifike eBheteli ngoAprili 27, 1957, umhla esasigqiba iminyaka engama-21 sitshatile.
Ngolo suku lokuqala siseBheteli, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wandicacisela ngoko kulindelekileyo. Wandixelela oku: “Akusesiso isicaka sesiphaluka ngoku; uze kusebenza apha eBheteli. Lo ngowona msebenzi ubalulekileyo omele uwenze, ibe sifuna unikele ngexesha namandla akho ekusebenziseni uqeqesho olufumene apha eBheteli. Sifuna uhlale apha.”
Ubomi Obunentsingiselo EBheteli
Ekuqaleni isabelo sam sasikwiSebe Lamaphephancwadi Nelokuthumela. Kamva, emva kweminyaka emalunga nemithathu, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wandithumelela umyalezo wokuba ndikhe ndivele eofisini yakhe. Wandixelela ukuba esona sizathu sokubizwa kwam eBheteli yayikukuze ndisebenze kwindawo ekuhlalwa kuyo. Imiyalelo yakhe wayenza yangqala, “Uzokuvelela iKhaya laseBheteli [icandelo ekuhlalwa kulo] apha.”
Ukuvelela iKhaya laseBheteli kwandikhumbuza oko ndandikufunde kubazali bam ngokuya ndandiseyinkwenkwe yasefama. IKhaya laseBheteli lifana nentsapho eqhelekileyo. Kufuneka kuhlanjwe iimpahla, kuphekwe, kuhlanjwe izitya, kondlulwe iibhedi, njalo njalo. Eli khaya lilungelelaniswe ngendlela apha eyenza iBheteli ibe yindawo etofotofo, umntu anokuyibiza ngokuthi likhaya lakhe.
Ndicinga ukuba kuninzi okunokufundwa ziintsapho kwindlela izinto ezenziwa ngayo eBheteli. Ntsasa nganye sivuka ngenj’ ixukuxa size siqalise usuku lwethu ngezinto zokomoya ngokuqwalasela umbhalo weBhayibhile wosuku. Kulindelwe ukuba sizibhokoxe emsebenzini size siphile ubomi obulungeleleneyo nobuxakekileyo. IBheteli ayifani nekhaya loonongendi, njengokuba abanye becinga. Kuninzi esikuphumezayo ngenxa yendlela ecwangcisiweyo esiphila ngayo. Abaninzi baye bathi uqeqesho abaye balufumana apha luye lwabanceda kamva ekusingatheni iimbopheleleko zentsapho nezebandla lamaKristu.
Umlisela nomthinjana oza eBheteli usenokwabelwa ukuba ucoce, uhlambe iimpahla okanye usebenze kumzi-mveliso. Ihlabathi linokusenza sicinge ukuba imisebenzi enzima ngolo hlobo iyasithoba yaye ayisifanelanga. Ukanti, ulutsha oluseBheteli luyaqonda ukuba loo misebenzi iyimfuneko ukuze intsapho yethu isebenze kakuhle yaye yonwabe.
Kwakhona ihlabathi lisenokukhuthaza into yokuba kufuneka ube nesikhundla yaye ube nguthile ukuze wonwabe ngokwenene. Iphosakele loo mbono. Xa sisenza oko sabelwe ukukwenza, ‘senza oko besifanele sikwenze,’ yaye sifumana iintsikelelo zikaYehova. (Luka 17:10) Sinokufumana ulwaneliseko nolonwabo lokwenene ukuba nje sikhumbula injongo yomsebenzi wethu—ukwenza ukuthanda kukaYehova nokuhambisela phambili izilangazelelo zoBukumkani. Ukuba sinokuhlala siyikhumbula loo nto, siya kunandipha yaye saneliswe siso nasiphi na isabelo.
Ilungelo Lokufak’ Isandla Kulwando
Kwindibano eyayiseCleveland, eOhio, ngowe-1942, kwiminyaka engaphezu kweshumi ngaphambi kokuba size eBheteli, uMzalwan’ uKnorr wanikela intetho ethi “Uxolo—Ngaba Lunokuhlala Luhleli?” Wayicacisa into yokuba iMfazwe Yehlabathi II, eyayisagquba ngoko, yayiya kuphela kuze kulandele ixesha loxolo elaliza kuvula ithuba lephulo elingakumbi lokushumayela. Ngowe-1943 kwasekwa iSikolo SaseGiliyadi esasiza kuqeqesha abavangeli basemazweni kunye neSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo esasiza kuphucula ubuchule babazalwana bokuthetha esidlangalaleni. Kwakhona kwalungiselelwa iindibano ezinkulu. Ezazibalasele ngokukhethekileyo ngaloo minyaka yee-1950 yayizezo zaziqhutywa kwiYankee Stadium, eNew York. Kwiindibano ezaziqhutyelwa apho ngowe-1950 nangowe-1953, ndaba nelungelo lokunceda ekulungiseleleni isiXeko Seenqwelo Zokuhlala Ezirhuqwayo esikhulu awayehlala kuso amawaka abantu kwiintsuku ezisibhozo zezo ndibano.
Emva kwezo ndibano, kuquka neyona inkulu kuzo zonke eyaqhutywa ngowe-1958, kwakubakho ulwando olukhulu lwabavakalisi boBukumkani. Loo nto yawuchaphazela ngokungqalileyo umsebenzi wethu eBheteli. Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1960 nasebutsheni beyee-1970, sazibona sesiphelelwe yindawo yokusebenza kunye namagumbi okuhlala abasebenzi. Ukuze intsapho yethu eyayikhula ifumane indawo yokuhlala, kwafuneka sibe namagumbi okulala, amagumbi okuphekela nawokudlela angakumbi.
UMzalwan’ uKnorr wacela mna noMzalwan’ uMax Larson, umveleli womzi-mveliso, ukuba sifune isiza esifanelekele ulwando. Ngowe-1957, ukufika kwam eBheteli, intsapho yethu eyayimalunga nama-500 yayihlala kwisakhiwo sokuhlala esinye esikhulu. Kodwa ekuhambeni kweminyaka, uMbutho uye wathenga waza walungisa iihotele ezinkulu ezintathu ezikude kufuphi nalapho—iTowers, iStandish kunye neBossert—kunye nezakhiwo ezincinane ezininzi ezinamagumbi okuhlala. Ngowe-1986 uMbutho uye wathenga isiza eyayimi kuso iHotel Margaret waza eso sakhiwo sihle esasakhiwe apho wasenza ikhaya labantu abamalunga nama-250. Wandula ke ebutsheni beminyaka yee-1990, wakha urhec’ izulu wesakhiwo sokuhlala esinemigangatho engama-30 esihlala abasebenzi abangakumbi abali-1000. Ngoku ngamalungu entsapho yethu angaphezu kwama-3300 ahlala aze ondliwe kwiBheteli yaseBrooklyn.
Kwakhona kwathengwa nesiza eWallkill, eNew York, malunga neekhilomitha ezili-160 ukusuka kwiBheteli yaseBrooklyn. Ukutyhubela iminyaka, ukususela ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yee-1960, kuye kwakhiwa izakhiwo zokuhlala kunye nesakhiwo esikhulu sokushicilela kwesi siza. Ngoku, amalunga ne-1200 amalungu entsapho yethu yaseBheteli ahlala aze asebenze apho. Ngowe-1980 kwaphinda kwaphunyw’ iphulo kufunwa umhlaba oziihektare ezingama-250 cebu kuhle nesiXeko saseNew York kufutshane noohola bendlela. Umfo othile owayethengisa iziza wasuka wee qhuzu-qhuzu yintsini esithi: “Niza kusifumana phi ke isiza esinjalo? Inene amahashe angaphum’ iimpondo.” Kodwa ngentsasa elandelayo wasitsalel’ umnxeba waza wathi: “Ndinifumanele isiza.” Namhlanje, saziwa ngokuba liZiko Lemfundo LeWatchtower ePatterson, eNew York. Kulapho ziqhutywa khona ke izikolo yaye kukho intsapho yabalungiseleli abangaphezu kwe-1300.
Izinto Endizifundileyo
Ndiye ndafunda ukuba umveleli ophumelelayo ngoyamkelayo inkcazelo ebalulekileyo evela kwabanye. Uninzi lweengcamango endiye ndanelungelo lokuziveza njengomveleli waseBheteli zivela kwabanye.
Ukufika kwam eBheteli, babebaninzi ababesele bekhule njengam lo. Ngoku inkoliso yabo sele yaya kulala kobandayo. Ngubani othabath’ indawo yabo baluphalayo baze bafe? Akusoloko ingabo banobuchule bokuwenza loo msebenzi. Ngabo bazinikeleyo, abawenza ngokuthembeka umsebenzi, nabazenza bafumaneke.
Enye into ebalulekileyo omele uyikhumbule kukuxabiseka komfazi olungileyo. Inkxaso yomkam, uFern, indincede gqitha ekuzalisekiseni izabelo zam ezingokobuthixo. Amadoda anembopheleleko yokuqiniseka ukuba abafazi bawo bayazinandipha izabelo zabo. Ndiye ndizame ukuceba into mna noFern esithanda ukuyenza. Akuyomfuneko ukuba idle kakhulu esipajini, siye sifune ukukhe senze into eyahlukileyo. Ngumyeni ke omele enze izinto ezonwabisa umkakhe. Ixesha alichitha naye lixabisekile ibe ngokuphanyaza nje kweliso seliphelile, ngoko kufuneka alisebenzise kakuhle.
Kuyandivuyisa ukuphila kwimihla yokugqibela uYesu awathetha ngayo. Eli lelona xesha libangel’ umdla kuyo yonke imbali yomntu. Siyakwazi ukukhangela size sibone ngamehlo ethu okholo indlela iNkosi eyikhulisa ngayo intlangano yayo ilungiselela ihlabathi elitsha elithenjisiweyo. Xa ndicinga ngobomi bam enkonzweni kaYehova, ithi thaa engqondweni yam into yokuba nguYehova owalathisa le ntlangano—kungekhona abantu. Thina singabakhonzi nje bakhe. Ngenxa yoko, ngalo lonke ixesha simele sikhangele kuye ukuze sifumane ulwalathiso. Xa esixelela emasikwenze, sifanele sisabele ngoko nangoko size sikwenze ngaxhatha-linye.
Zinikele kule ntlangano, ibe ngokuqinisekileyo uya kuphila ubomi obupheleleyo nobonwabisayo. Enoba yintoni na oyenzayo—enoba unguvulindlela, ukumsebenzi wesiphaluka, ukhonza ebandleni njengomvakalisi, ukwinkonzo yaseBheteli okanye ukumsebenzi wobuvangeli basemazweni—landela ulwalathiso olunikelweyo, yaye usixabise isabelo osinikiweyo. Zama ngandlela zonke ukusinandipha isabelo ngasinye osinikwayo kunye nosuku ngalunye oluchitha enkonzweni kaYehova. Maxa wambi uya kudinwa, yaye usenokude uqotywe ngumsebenzi okanye uzive udakumbile. Kukobo buthuba ke apho umele ukhumbule isizathu sokuba wahlulele ubomi bakho kuYehova. Kukwenza ukuthanda kwakhe, hayi okwakho.
Akukho nalunye usuku endiye andawunandipha ngalo umsebenzi ebendiwenza. Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba xa sizinikela kuYehova ngomphefumlo uphela, kuyasanelisa ukwazi ukuba ‘sikwenzile oko besifanele sikwenze.’
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 19]
Xa sasingoovulindlela eBaltimore, ngowe-1946
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 19]
Ndikunye noFern KwisiXeko Seenqwelo Zokuhlala Ezirhuqwayo ngowe-1950
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 19]
ISebe Lamaphephancwadi
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 19]
IsiXeko Seenqwelo Zokuhlala Ezirhuqwayo, ngowe-1950
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 22]
Ndikunye noAudrey noNathan Knorr
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 23]
IZiko Lemfundo LeWatchtower ePatterson, eNew York
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 24]
Ndikunye noFern namhlanje