Shadows of Yesterday | Rolbos ©
10 Replies	When Oudoom staggers home after a most enjoyable afternoon in Boggel’s Place (Marco never breathed another word about the secrets of Rodriquez da Silva), he is in great spirits – in more ways than one. He’s never let his hair down like that, and it was great to be comfortable amongst friends. Mevrou always has this haughty approach when she talks to members of the congregation – something she encourages him to do, as well. He tries, Lord knows, he tries. But this afternoon he felt so much closer to his flock, so much nearer to the heartbeat of the little society.
This entry was posted in smalltown short stories and tagged confession, forgiveness, love on July 26, 2012 by Amos van der Merwe.	Post navigation
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10 thoughts on “Shadows of Yesterday”	thehappyhugger July 26, 2012 at 8:13 am	To be honest, Amos, I really felt for Mevrou…there were some characteristics about her that one often sees in people, that come from experiencing pain, sorrow and rejection from those who were supposed to love them the most – so I I nearly gave up on reading the installments, because I thought that, in your story, mevrou would be shunned even more, but I continued reading because I have faith in you, and you as a writer did NOT disappoint. Thank you for this…
Reply ↓	Amos van der Merwe Post authorJuly 26, 2012 at 8:28 am	Thanks Huggs. Not a single person deserves to be rejected – unless he/she visits a cinema to shoot a bunch of innocent people, I suppose. Even then…there must be something horribly wrong in such a person’s past. But – where will Oudoom go? Leaving Rolbos is a huge risk for him and a loss for the town. And, once the townsfolk realise the truth about their clergyman, will they not be glad if he goes? So….hold your breath: tomorrow will be the last of this series before I leave for the Kalahari. Rolbos, as we know it, may very well come to an end….(you were warned…heehee)
Reply ↓	Bileam se Donkie July 26, 2012 at 9:15 am	Amos, hierdie stuk het my regtig diep gegryp vanoggend! Weet jy, ons dominees het die werk om te vertel van genade wat mense se lewens nuut kom maak het. En tog is die pastorie dikwels die plek van die minste genade, As ‘n dominee aanjaag, is dit dadelik in die Son, en op Rapport se agterblad. Op die platteland het van my vriende al hulle werk verloor as gevolg van “nadelige gerugte”- nie eers altyd waar hoef te wees nie. Om in ‘n pastorie op die platteland te woon, is al vergelyk met die lewe van ‘n goudvissie in ‘n glasbak- niks is privaat nie, alles word dopgehou. Agter vanoggend se stuk sien ek ‘n stuk deernis, met hierdie situasie waar onvolmaakte mense teen volmaakte standaarde gemeet en te lig bevind word. En tog, ek vertrou Rolbos se mense om genade en dalk selfs waardering te hê vir die “wounded healer” in hulle midde en sy vrou. Baie sal my dalk ook met klippe gooi, maar weet jy, ek het al in party mense se lewens baie nader aan hulle harte en seer gekom deur ‘n dop saam met hulle te drink, as deur ‘n wonderlike preek van die kansel af te lewer… Dankie vir sulke egte karakters!
Reply ↓	Amos van der Merwe Post authorJuly 26, 2012 at 9:38 am	So baie dankie vir hierdie kommentaar – dis kosbaar! Ek kén kleindorp-skinner en wat dit al in ‘n gemeente gedoen het. Die verwoesting wat op sulke verldtogte volg, is onbeskryflik. (Sal eendag graag oor ‘n glas wyn hieroor gesels!)
Die storie van Rolbos is gebore uit die behoefte om te leer skryf, beter te skryf, en miskien eendag iets daaruit te publiseer. Maar hoe verder ek met die blog vorder, hoe meer kom ek agter dat dit my op paaie lei waar ek iets méér van menswees besef: ons is almal eensaam, voel soms verstote en kry soms swaar. Die enigste oplossing is om vergifnis deel van jou bestaan te maak.
My hoop is, dat deur die lees van hierdie eenvoudige stukkies, mense miskien (ai, asseblief tog) met minder vooroordeel deur die lewe sal gaan. En, net so groot asseblief, hulle nie hulself so ernstig sal opneem nie. En soms glimlag.
Jou kommentaar bemoedig my eindeloos. Dankie daarvoor…
Reply ↓	Bileam se Donkie July 27, 2012 at 2:56 pm	Jy is baie welkom! Ek hou so baie van die manier waarop jy dink! En ‘n rooiwyntjie sal baie lekker wees eendag!
newsferret July 26, 2012 at 10:19 am	Alweer briljant – kon nie ;n sterker woord kry nie.
Reply ↓	Amos van der Merwe Post authorJuly 26, 2012 at 10:59 am	Baie, baie dankie!
Reply ↓	colourmecrazee July 27, 2012 at 5:15 pm	sjoe
Reply ↓	Amos van der Merwe Post authorJuly 27, 2012 at 5:40 pm	Die ou lewe….baie draaie, ‘n paar kinkels en dan kom die onverwagte…
Reply ↓	colourmecrazee July 27, 2012 at 5:43 pm	ek het nie eintlik woorde nie, so toe ek se maar net “sjoe” …. a lot of food for thought …