UJehova Wayihlelemba Indlela Yethu

NGAZALWA ngo-1924, eduze kwaseCham, idolobha eliseSwitzerland esifundeni saseZug. Abazali bami babenezingane ezingu-13—abafana abayishumi namantombazane amathathu. Mina ngangingumfana oyizibulo. Abafana ababili bashona besebancane kakhulu. Thina abanye sakhuliswa ngemfundiso eqinile yamaKatolika epulazini phakathi noKuwohloka Kwezomnotho Okukhulu.

Ubaba wayeyindoda ethembekile, nelungile, kodwa ethambekele ekuthukutheleni athelwe ngamanzi. Ngezinye izikhathi, wayeke ashaye umama lapho emsola ngokungafanele ngenxa yesikhwele. Umama wayengakwazi ukukubekezelela ukuxoxa kukababa nabesifazane abangomakhelwane, nakuba ayengenasizathu sokungabaza ukwethembeka kwakhe. Lokhu kwakungicindezela kakhulu.

Umama wayekholelwa kakhulu ezeni. Ngisho nezenzakalo ezingasho lutho wayethi ziwuphawu oluvela “emiphefumulweni ehluphekayo esihlanzweni.” Ngangikuzonda lokhu kukholwa kokuthatheka. Kodwa abapristi babekukhuthaza lokhu kukholelwa kwakhe ezeni ngokumnika izincwadi ezazisekela ukucabanga kwakhe okungokwenkolo okungamanga.

Nganginemibuzo

Kusukela ngisengumfanyana kuqhubeke, ngangilokhu nginemibuzo ngokuphathelene noNkulunkulu nekusasa lesintu. Ngazama ukufinyelela iziphetho ezinengqondo, kodwa ngathola ukuthi izinto eziningi ziyaphikisana! Ngafunda izincwadi zamaKatolika eziphathelene nosanta, izimangaliso, nokunye. Nokho, azingenzanga ngaziqonda izinto. Kwakunjengokungathi ngidwanguza ebumnyameni.

Umpristi wendawo wangiyala ukuba ngingazindli ngalemibuzo enganginayo. Wathi ukufuna ukuqonda yonke into kuwuphawu lokuzazisa futhi uNkulunkulu umelene nabaqhoshayo. Imfundiso eyayingicasula kakhulu eyokuthi noma ibaphi abantu abafe bengazivumanga izono zabo, uNkulunkulu wayeyobahlupha phakade esihogweni esivuthayo. Njengoba lokhu kwakusho ukuthi abantu abaningi emhlabeni bayohlushwa phakade, ngangizibuza njalo, ‘Lokhu kuvumelana kanjani nothando lukaNkulunkulu?’

Futhi ngangiwungabaza umkhuba wamaKatolika wokuvuma izono. Ngangesaba lapho esikoleni samaKatolika sitshelwa ukuthi imicabango engahlanzekile yayiyisono esikhulu esasidinga ukuvunywa kumpristi. Ngangizibuza, ‘Ingabe ngiye ngakhumbula ukuvuma yonke into? Noma kukhona engikukhohliwe, okungenza ukuba ukuvuma kwami izono kube yize futhi izono zami zingathethelelwa?’ Ngakho ngawungabaza ngokujulile enhliziyweni yami umusa kaNkulunkulu nokuzimisela kwakhe ukuthethelela.

Cishe phakathi neminyaka emithathu noma emine, ngalwa nemicabango ecindezelayo eyayingikhathaza. Ngacabanga nokuyiyeka phansi indaba yokukholelwa kuNkulunkulu. Kodwa ngangibe sengicabanga, ‘Uma ngikhuthazela, angingabazi ukuthi ngizoyithola indlela okuyiyo.’ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ngaqiniseka ngokwengeziwe ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona, kodwa ngangihlushwa ukungaqiniseki ngezinkolelo zami ezingokwenkolo.

Ngenxa yemfundiso engangiyithole esikhathini esingaphambili, ngangikholelwa ukuthi uJesu Kristu wayekhuluma ngeSonto LamaRoma Katolika lapho ethi kumphostoli uPetru: “Phezu kwalelidwala ngizokwakha isonto lami.” (Mathewu 16:18, i-Douay Version yamaKatolika) Ngangikholelwa ukuthi ekugcineni izici ezinhle zesonto zaziyonqoba, futhi ngangifuna ukubambisana nesonto ukuze lifinyelele lowo mgomo.

Umshado Nomkhaya

Njengendodana endala ekhaya, ngasebenza nobaba epulazini kwaze kwaba yilapho umfowethu ongelamayo esekwazi ukuthatha indawo yami. Ngabe sengiya esikoleni sezolimo samaKatolika, lapho ngathola khona iziqu ze-master. Ngemva kwalokho, ngaqala ukufuna umngane womshado.

Ngomunye wodadewethu, ngazana noMaria. Kamuva ngathola ukuthi wayethandazele ukuthola umyeni ayengasebenzela naye ukuthola ukuphila okuphakade. Esimemezelweni sethu somshado sabhala: “Sihlanganiswe uthando sifuna injabulo, amehlo ethu abheke kuNkulunkulu. Sihamba endleleni yokuphila, futhi umgomo wethu uyinjabulo yaphakade.” Sashada ngo-June 26, 1958, esigodlweni iFahr, esiseduze neZurich.

Mina noMaria sasinezizinda ezifanayo. Wayevela emkhayeni othanda inkolo futhi eyizibulo ezinganeni ezingu-7. Bonke babehlala bematasa ngemisebenzi yasepulazini, yesikole, nangokuya esontweni, ngakho sasisincane kakhulu isikhathi sokudlala. Iminyaka yethu yokuqala emshadweni yayingelula. Ngenxa yemibuzo yami eminingi ngezindaba zenkolo, uMaria waqala ukungabaza ukuthi wayeshadwe indoda efanele. Wenqaba ukuphenya izimfundiso zesonto noma ukusekela kwalo izimpi, iziMpi Zenkolo noKuqulwa Kwamacala Ezihlubuki. Nokho, sobabili sasethembele kuNkulunkulu futhi sikholelwa ukuthi uma nje silwela ukwenza intando yakhe ngawo wonke amandla ethu, ngeke asishiye.

Ngo-1959 saqasha ipulazi eliseduze neHomburg empumalanga yeSwitzerland. Lona laba yikhaya lethu iminyaka engu-31. Ngo-March 6, 1960, sathola indodana yethu yokuqala, uJosef. Yelanywa abafowabo abayisithupha nodadewabo, uRachel. UMaria uye wazibonakalisa engumuntu olungile nomama ongakhethi, othembekile ezimisweni eziqinile. Uye waba isibusiso sangempela emkhayeni.

Ukufuna Iqiniso LeBhayibheli

Kancane kancane, ukungazi kwethu ngenkolo kwagcina kungasabekezeleleki. Ngasekupheleni kweminyaka yawo-1960, saqala ukuya ezinkulumweni eSikoleni SamaKatolika Semfundo Ephakeme, kodwa sasibuyela ekhaya sidideke nakakhulu. Izikhulumi zazichaza imibono yazo siqu, engenabo ubufakazi obungokomBhalo. Ngasekuqaleni kuka-1970, ngacabanga ngamazwi kaJesu athi: “Uma nicela uBaba noma yini egameni lami, uyoninika yona. . . . Celani, futhi niyokwamukela.”—Johane 16:23, 24, Dy.

Lesi siqinisekiso esingenhla esivela eZwini likaNkulunkulu sangenza ngathandaza ngokuphindaphindiwe: “Baba, uma iSonto LamaKatolika liyinkolo yeqiniso, ngicela ungibonise ngokuqondile. Kodwa uma lingelamanga, ngibonise ngokucacile futhi ngiyotshela wonke umuntu.” Ngangicela njalo ngokuvumelana nesiyalo sikaJesu saseNtshumayelweni YaseNtabeni ‘sokuqhubeka sicela.’—Mathewu 7:7, 8.

Izingxoxo zami noMaria—ikakhulu ezimayelana nezinguquko ezimfundisweni zamaKatolika ngeminyaka yawo-1960 ezaziphathelene nokukhulekelwa “kosanta,” ukudla inyama ngoLwesihlanu nokunye—ekugcineni zamenza waba nokungabaza. Ngesinye isikhathi, lapho siseMiseni entwasahlobo ka-1970, wathandaza: “O Nkulunkulu, sikhombise indlela eya ekuphileni okuphakade. Asisazi ukuthi iyiphi indlela okuyiyo. Ngizokwenza noma yini, kodwa bonisa wonke umkhaya wethu indlela okuyiyo.” Ngangingazi lutho ngomthandazo wakhe, naye wayengazi lutho ngowami, kwaze kwaba yilapho sesibona ukuthi imithandazo yethu yayizwakele.

Ukuthola Iqiniso LeBhayibheli

Ngemva kokuba sesibuyile esontweni ngelinye iSonto ekuseni ekuqaleni kuka-1970, othile wangqongqoza emnyango. Indoda eyayihamba nendodana yayo eneminyaka eyishumi ubudala yazethula njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Ngavuma ukuba sixoxe ngeBhayibheli. Ngenxa yezinto engangizitsheliwe ngoFakazi BakaJehova, ngangicabanga ukuthi ngizoyibonisa kalula nje ukuthi inephutha, ngangikholelwa ukuthi babengenalo ulwazi kahle.

Ingxoxo yethu yathatha amahora amabili, kwangaba namiphumela etheni, futhi kwenzeka okufanayo nangeSonto elalandela. Ngangibheke phambili engxoxweni yesithathu, kodwa loFakazi akazange afike. UMaria wathi kumelwe ukuba ubonile ukuthi akunanzuzo. Ngajabula lapho ebuya ngemva kwamasonto amabili. Kungakapholi maseko, ngathi: “Sekudlule iminyaka engu-35 ngizibuza ngesihogo. Angikwazi ukukwamukela ukuthi uNkulunkulu, oluthando, angahlukumeza izidalwa ngendlela enesihluku kanje.”

“Uqinisile,” kuphendula uFakazi. “IBhayibheli alifundisi ukuthi isihogo siyindawo yokuhlushwa.” Wangibonisa ukuthi igama lesiHeberu nelesiGreki elithi Sheoli nelithi Hayidese ngokuvamile ahunyushwa ngokuthi “isihogo” eBhayibhelini lamaKatolika, libhekisela ethuneni elivamile nje. (Genesise 37:35; Jobe 14:13; IzEnzo 2:31) Wafunda nemibhalo eyayifakazela ukuthi umphefumulo womuntu uyafa nokuthi isijeziso sesono ukufa, hhayi ukuhlushwa. (Hezekeli 18:4; Roma 6:23) Kulokho, kwacaca bhá ukuthi kukho konke ukuphila kwami ngangiphuphuthekiswe amanga enkolo. Manje ngaqala ukuzibuza ukuthi kazi ezinye izimfundiso zesonto azilona yini iphutha.

Ngangingafuni ukuphinde ngikhohliswe, ngakho ngathenga isichazamazwi seBhayibheli lamaKatolika nemiqulu emihlanu yomlando wopapa. Lezi zincwadi zazinemvume yokushicilelwa, okungukuthi, izikhulu zeSonto lamaRoma zazikuvumele ukunyatheliswa kwazo. Ukufunda umlando wopapa kwangenza ngaqaphela ukuthi abanye babo babeyizigebengu ezimbi kakhulu emhlabeni! Futhi ngokubheka isichazamazwi seBhayibheli, ngathola ukuthi uZiqu-zintathu, isihogo somlilo, isihlanzo, nezinye izimfundiso zesonto eziningi azisekelwe eBhayibhelini.

Manje ngase ngisilungele isifundo seBhayibheli noFakazi. Ekuqaleni, uMaria wayeba khona ngoba ebonisa inhlonipho kuphela, kodwa ngokushesha wakwamukela lokho ayekufunda. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezine ngesula eSontweni LamaKatolika futhi ngatshela umpristi ukuthi izingane zethu zazingeke zisaba khona emakilasini ezenkolo. NgeSonto elalandela umpristi waxwayisa amalungu esonto lakhe ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngamtshela ukuthi ngizimisele ukuvikela obala izinkolelo zami ngisebenzisa iBhayibheli, kodwa umpristi wenqaba ukuba kube nengxoxo enjalo.

Ngemva kwalokho, sathuthuka ngokukhulu ukushesha. Ekugcineni, ngo-December 13, 1970, mina nomkami sabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova ngobhapathizo lwamanzi. Ngemva konyaka kwadingeka ngibhadle ejele izinyanga ezimbili ngenxa yendaba yokungathathi-hlangothi kobuKristu. (Isaya 2:4) Kwakungelula ukushiya umkami nezingane ezingu-8, ngisho isikhathi esifushane kanjalo. Izingane zazisukela ezinyangeni ezine kuya eminyakeni engu-12 ubudala kuphela. Ngaphandle kwalokho, sasinepulazi nemfuyo okwakufanele siyinakekele. Kodwa ngosizo lukaJehova, bakwazi ukukusingatha ngingekho mina.

Ukubeka Izithakazelo ZoMbuso Kuqala

Akekho emkhayeni wethu owayephuthelwa imihlangano ngaphandle kokuba egula. Futhi sasihlela umsebenzi wethu ngendlela yokuba singaphuthelwa imihlangano emikhulu. Ngokushesha imidlalo yezingane eyayiba sekamelweni lethu eliphezulu yayigxila ekulingiseni lokho ezazikubona emihlanganweni yethu yobuKristu. Ngokwesibonelo, zazabelana izinkulumo zabafundi futhi ziprakthize izintshumayelo. Kuyajabulisa ukuthi zonke zasabela emfundisweni yethu engokomoya. Ngikhumbula kahle lapho kuxoxwa nami nomkami emhlanganweni wesifunda, izingane zethu ezingu-8 zihlezi ezihlalweni ezingaphambili—zihlezi ngokulandelana kwazo—zilalele ngokucophelela.

Ukukhulisa izingane “ngesiyalo nangokuqondisa umqondo kukaJehova” kwaba into ebalulekile kithi. (Efesu 6:4) Sanquma ukungabi nethelevishini, futhi njalo sasimemela amaKristu esikanye nawo ashisekayo ekhaya lethu ukuze izingane zethu zizuze kokuhlangenwe nakho nasekushisekeni kwawo. Sasicophelela ukuba sigweme izinkulumo ezilimazayo nokugxeka abanye. Uma othile onile, sasiyixoxa indaba futhi sibheke izimo ezibangela ukuba simbonelele onecala. Sazama ukusiza izingane zethu ukuba zibheke izimo ngomqondo ohluzekile nonobulungisa. Sasiqaphela ukuba sigweme ukuziqhathanisa nenye intsha. Futhi sakubona ukubaluleka kokuba abazali bangazitotosi izingane noma bazivikele emiphumeleni yezenzo zazo.—IzAga 29:21.

Nokho, ukukhulisa izingane zethu kwakunazo izinkinga. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesinye isikhathi, ababefunda nazo baziyengela ekuthatheni amaswidi esitolo ngaphandle kokuwakhokhela. Lapho sithola ukuthi kwakwenzekeni, izingane zethu saziphindisela esitolo ukuze ziwakhokhele futhi zixolise. Kwazibangela amahloni, kodwa zafunda isifundo sokwethembeka.

Kunokuba simane siphoqelele izingane zethu ukuba zihambe nathi emsebenzini wokushumayela, sasibeka isibonelo ngokunika lowo msebenzi indawo yokuqala. Izingane zabona ukuthi sasibeka imihlangano nenkonzo yasensimini ngaphambi komsebenzi okwakudingeka wenziwe epulazini. Imizamo yethu yokukhulisa izingane zethu ezingu-8 ngendlela kaJehova yabusiswa ngempela.

Indodana yethu endala, uJosef, ingumdala ongumKristu futhi iye yakhonza iminyaka eminingana nomkayo ehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova eSwitzerland. UThomas ungumdala, futhi yena nomkakhe bangamaphayona, njengoba izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zibizwa kanjalo. UDaniel, owayeka umsebenzi wakhe wokuba umgibeli wamabhayisikili, ungumdala, futhi yena nomkakhe bangamaphayona kwelinye ibandla. UBenno nomkakhe bayizikhonzi ezikhuthele enkabeni yeSwitzerland. Indodana yethu yesihlanu, uChristian, ukhonza njengomdala ebandleni esikulo. Ushadile futhi unezingane ezimbili. UFranz uyiphayona futhi ungumdala ebandleni laseBern, kanti u-Urs, owake wakhonza ehhovisi legatsha eSwitzerland, ushadile futhi uyiphayona. URachel, owukuphela kwendodakazi yethu, nomyeni wakhe babengamaphayona iminyaka eminingana.

Nami ngiye ngalandela isibonelo sezingane zami ngangenela ubuphayona lapho ngithatha umhlala-phansi ngo-June 1990. Uma ngibheka emuva ekuphileni kwami nokomkhaya wami, ngingasho ngokuqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uye wayihlelemba indlela yethu futhi wasilethela izibusiso ‘ngokwaneleyo.’—Malaki 3:10.

Umbhalo weBhayibheli umkami othandekayo awuthanda kakhulu yilona: “Phonsa phezu kukaJehova umthwalo wakho, uzakukuphasa: akayikuvuma naphakade ukuba olungileyo azanyazanyiswe.” (IHubo 55:22) Kanti owami yilona: “Zithokozise ngoJehova, yikhona ezakukunika okufiswa yinhliziyo yakho.” (IHubo 37:4) Sobabili siye sakubona ukuba yiqiniso kwalamazwi amahle. Umgomo wethu uwukudumisa uNkulunkulu, uJehova, phakade, kanye nabantwana bethu nemikhaya yabo.—Njengoba ilandiswa nguJosef Heggli.