Igugu Lasendle

OGWADULE OLUGAGADEKILE lwase-Afrika, lapho izulu lomisile khona, kumila igugu—i-desert rose. Njengoba sibulungeke kahle, sinamagatsha asontekile, lesi sitshalo sikhula kancane kancane futhi kuthiwa siphila amakhulu eminyaka. Isiqu salesi sitshalo esivokomele nezimpande zaso kusebenza njengethangi lamanzi, okusenza sikwazi ukuchuma endaweni eyomile, engamili lutho.

Amanzi asalubisi, izimpande nezinhlamvu zalesi sitshalo esinamanzi amaningi kugcwele ushevu obulalayo. Okukhishwa ezinhlamvwini kusetshenziselwa ukufaka ubuthi ezihlokweni zemicibisholo, futhi abadobi bendawo baphonsa amagatsha aso emanzini ukuze badiyazelise izinhlanzi bese bezibamba kalula. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abelusi basebenzisa izingxenye zalesi sihlahla ukuze benze ushevu obulala amakhizane nezintwala emakameleni nasezinkomweni zabo. Ngokumangalisayo, naphezu kokuba lesi sihlahla sibulala, izilwane zasendle zidla amaqabunga aso kodwa zingabi nalutho.

Kodwa kungenzeka kanjani ukuba i-desert rose enobuthi ibizwe ngokuthi igugu? Njengoba inamahlukuzo ezimbali ezintekenteke, i-desert rose iwumbukwane, inemibala egqamile esukela kobomvana iye kobomvu klebhu. Lapho izwe lomile futhi kungekho nto enemibala emihle, leli gugu lasendle elihle likhipha isixha sezimbali ezikhazimulayo uma zikhanyiswa ilanga.

Ubuhle obunjalo obumangalisayo endle bumane nje busenza sicabange ngesikhathi lapho “kuyakujabula ihlane nogwadule, kuthokoze uqwathule, lukhahlele.” (Isaya 35:1) Lesi sithembiso esijabulisayo siyogcwaliseka ngempela ngaphansi kokubusa koMbuso kaNkulunkulu ozayo. Ngaleso sikhathi umhlaba wonke ‘uyojabula,’ ungabi nje ipharadesi lobuhle kuphela kodwa futhi ube yindawo yokuthula kuso sonke isintu.—IHubo 37:11, 29; Isaya 35:6, 7.

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 31]

© Mary Ann McDonald