Ukukhanya Njengezinkanyiso EDolobheni Lokukhanya

Fluctuat nec mergitur, noma “Lishaywa amagagasi, kodwa aliziki,” yisiqubulo sedolobha laseParis.

NJENGOMKHUMBI, eminyakeni engu-2 000 edlule iParis iye yabhekana ngesibindi nezivunguvungu zokuhlaselwa amazwe amaningi angaphandle nemizamo yokuvukela yangaphakathi ukuze ingaziki. Manje iParis, engelinye lamadolobha amahle kakhulu emhlabeni, iyathandwa ngobungcweti bokwakhiwa kwezindlu zayo, imigwaqo ekakwe yizihlahla neminyuziyamu edumile emhlabeni wonke. Abanye bacabanga ngayo njengendawo yokuhlala ethandwa izimbongi, abadwebi nezazi zefilosofi. Abanye bajabulela ukudla kwayo okuconsisa amathe futhi bahlonipha izingcweti zakhona zemfashini nezokwakha.

Ngokomlando, iParis yayiyinsika yobuKatolika. Eminyakeni engamakhulu amabili edlule, ngenxa yendima yayo ebalulekile enhlanganweni yezazi zaseYurophu eyayaziwa ngokuthi i-Enlightment, iParis yabe seyaziwa ngokuthi iDolobha Lokukhanya. Namuhla, wazi noma ungazi, abantu abaningi baseParis bathonywe kakhulu yifilosofi esukela kuleso sikhathi kunokuthonywa yinkolo.

Nokho, ukuhlakanipha komuntu akukukhanyiselanga ukuphila kwabantu njengoba kwakulindelwe. Abaningi namuhla bakufuna emthonjeni ohlukile ukukhanyiselwa. Sekuyiminyaka engu-90 manje oFakazi BakaJehova ‘bekhanya njengezinkanyiso’ eParis. (Filipi 2:15) Njengamatilosi  anekhono, kuye kwadingeka bavumelane njalo nezimo noma izenzakalo ezishintshayo ukuze bagibelise emkhunjini ‘okunxanelekayo kwazo zonke izizwe.’—Hagayi 2:7.

Idolobha Eliyinselele

Emuva ngawo-1850, iParis yayihlala abantu abangu-600 000. Abantu banamuhla, abahlanganisa abahlala emaphethelweni edolobha, bangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-9. Lokhu kukhula kuye kwaphumela ekubeni kweParis idolobha laseFrance elinabantu abahlukahlukene kunawo wonke. Iyisikhungo somhlaba semfundo esezingeni eliphakeme, ineyunivesithi endala kakhulu emhlabeni futhi iyikhaya labafundi abangu-250 000. Ezinye izindawo zaseParis, ezinamafulethi amaningi adume ngobulelesi nangokuba nentsha engasebenzi, abonisa uhlangothi olungajabulisi lweParis. Akungabazeki ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova badinga ikhono nokuzivumelanisa nezimo ukuze badlulisele izindaba ezinhle ngendlela ekhangayo kuzo zonke izinhlobo zabantu.—1 Thimothewu 4:10.

Izihambeli ezingaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-20 zivakashela iParis unyaka ngamunye. Bangase bagibele i-Eiffel Tower ngelikhulu isasasa, bahambahambe maduze nomfula iSeine noma bazizulele emigwaqweni yezitolo zekhofi namabistro,  bajabulele umuzwa wokuba lapho. Nokho, ukuphila kwansuku zonke kwabantu baseParis kushesha ngempela. UChristian, isikhonzi sesikhathi esigcwele uyachaza: “Abantu bahlala begijima. Uma bebuya emsebenzini, basuke bekhathele beyingcuba.” Ukukhuluma nalaba bantu akulula.

Nokho, enye yezinkinga ezinkulu oFakazi BakaJehova ababhekene nayo eParis ukuthola abantu emakhaya abo. Ezinye izakhiwo zinama-intercom. Nokho, ngenxa yokwanda kobugebengu, izindlu eziningi zokuhlala kungenwa kuzo ngokuciphiza izinamba ezithile zokungena, futhi kunzima ukungena. Akungabazeki ukuthi lokhu kwezinye izindawo kubangela ukuba uFakazi oyedwa kudingeke ashumayele kubantu abangu-1 400. Ngakho-ke, ukufakaza ngocingo nokufakaza ngokwethukela kusetshenziswa kakhulu. Zikhona yini ezinye izindlela oFakazi BakaJehova abaye bakwazi ‘ukukhanya’ ngazo?—Mathewu 5:16.

Maningi amathuba nezindawo zokufakaza ngokwethukela. UMartine wabona owesifazane owayebukeka ekhathazekile eme esitobhini sebhasi. Lona wesifazane wayesanda kushonelwa ukuphela kwendodakazi yakhe. UMartine wamnika incwajana equkethe ithemba leBhayibheli eliduduzayo lovuko. Akabange esaxhumana naye izinyangana ezimbalwa. Lapho uMartine ephinda embona lona wesifazane, wakwazi ukuqala naye isifundo seBhayibheli. Naphezu kokuphikiswa ngumyeni wakhe, lona wesifazane waba nguFakazi.

Ukufakaza Ngokwethukela Okuthelayo

Indlela yokuhamba ngezinto zomphakathi eParis ingenye yeziphumelela kakhulu emhlabeni. IMetro yakhona edumile ithwala abagibeli abangu-5 000 000 nsuku zonke. Isiteshi saseParis esiyinhloko esingaphansi komhlaba i-Châtelet-Les-Halles, kuthiwa sikhulu kunazo zonke emhlabeni futhi simatasa ukuzedlula zonke. Maningi amathuba okuhlangana nabantu lapho. U-Alexandra uhamba ngeMetro ukuya emsebenzini nsuku zonke. Ngolunye usuku waxoxa nensizwa ethile eyayigulela ukufa iphethwe i-leukemia. U-Alexandra wayinika ipheshana elikhuluma ngethemba lePharadesi. Kwaba nengxoxo yeBhayibheli eyathatha amasonto ayisithupha ngesikhathi esifanayo nasendaweni efanayo, usuku ngalunye. Suku lumbe, indoda ayifikanga. Ngemva nje kwalokho, umkayo washayela u-Alexandra ucingo wamcela ukuba eze esibhedlela, njengoba umyeni wakhe ayebangwa nezibi. Ngokudabukisayo, u-Alexandra wafika sekwephuzile. Ngemva kokufa kwayo, inkosikazi yale ndoda yathuthela eBordeaux, eningizimu-ntshonalanga yeFrance, lapho yavakashelwa khona ngoFakazi balapho. Yeka ukuthi kwaba izindaba ezimnandi kanjani lapho u-Alexandra ezwa ngemva konyaka ukuthi lowo mfelokazi wayebe nguFakazi KaJehova ongumKristu ozinikezele, futhi onethemba lokubona umyeni wakhe evuswa!—Johane 5:28, 29.

Owesifazane osekhulile ongumKristu wakhuluma noRenata esitimeleni esasisuka eParis siya eLimoges, enhloko-dolobha yeFrance. Ngolimi lwakhe lwesiPolish, uRenata wayefunde imfundo yezenkolo, isiHeberu nesiGreki iminyaka emihlanu kodwa wayelahlekelwe ukholo. Ezinyangeni ezintathu ngaphambili, wathandaza kuNkulunkulu. Nakuba ayengenasithakazelo ngempela kulokho okwakushiwo ngudade osekhulile futhi engacabangi ukuthi babeyophinde babonane futhi, uRenata wamnikeza inombolo yakhe yocingo. Nokho, udade waphikelela futhi waqiniseka ukuthi ngokushesha nje uRenata uyavakashelwa. Lapho umbhangqwana woFakazi ufika uzombona, uRenata wacabanga, ‘Yini abazongifundisa yona nje?’ Naphezu kwemfundo yakhe kwezenkolo, uRenata ngokuzithoba wakhangwa iqiniso leBhayibheli. Uyachaza: “Ngaqonda zisuka nje ukuthi kwakuyiqiniso.” Manje uyajabula ngokuhlanganyela isigijimi seBhayibehli nabanye.

UMichèle wayefundela ukushayela. Abanye abafundi ekilasini ayekulo baqala ukukhuluma ngokuhlanganyela ubulili ngaphambi komshado. UMichèle wazwakalisa ukungavumelani nabo. Ngemva kwesonto elilodwa, umfundisi wokushayela, uSylvie, wambuza: “Ingabe ungomunye woFakazi BakaJehova?” USylvie wahlatshwa umxhwele umbono kaMichèle osekelwe eBhayibhelini. Isifundo seBhayibheli saqalwa, futhi ngemva konyaka kamuva, uSylvie wabhapathizwa.

Amapaki amaningi nezingadi zaseParis zinezindawo ezihleleke kahle zokuxoxa nabantu. Esebenzisa isikhathi sekhefu, uJosette waya epaki lapho intombi endala, u-Aline yayizihambahambela khona. UJosette wayichazela ngezithembiso ezimangalisayo ezitholakala eBhayibhelini.  Kwalungiselelwa isifundo seBhayibheli, futhi u-Aline ngokushesha wathuthukela obhapathizweni. Manje, njengoba eneminyaka engu-74, u-Aline uyisikhonzi esiyiphayona elivamile esikhiqizayo, esijabulela ukuhlanganyela amaqiniso obuKristu nabanye.

Ukukhanya Kuzo Zonke Izizwe

OFakazi baseParis akudingeki baye kwezinye izindawo ukuze bajabulele ingxube yokuhlukahluka kwamasiko. Cishe amaphesenti angu-20 abantu ayizifiki. Kunamabandla obuKristu namaqembu ngezilimi ezingu-25 ezihlukahlukene.

Ikhono nokucabanga ngokuvamile kuyanikela emiphumeleni emihle kulesi sabelo esikhethekile sobuvangeli. Omunye uFakazi wasePhilippines waqala eyakhe insimu ekhethekile. Lapho ethenga, wakwazi ukuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningana ngokuqala ingxoxo nabanye abantu basePhilippines ezitolo.

Kuyavuza ukuthatha isinyathelo sokushumayela kuqala. Ngo-December 1996, ngemva kokuzwa ukuthi isekisi elidume umhlaba wonke lalizofika edolobheni, oFakazi kwelinye ibandla labakhuluma ulimi lwakwelinye izwe banquma ukuzama ukuxhumana nabadlali basesekisini. Ngobunye ubusuku ngemva kombukiso, bakwazi ukukhuluma nabadlali abathile abase bebuyela emahhotela ababehlala kuwo. Lesi sinyathelo saphumela ekuhanjisweni kwamaBhayibheli angu-28, izincwadi zobuKristu ezingu-59, izincwajana ezingu-131 nomagazini abangu-290. Ngemva kokuhlala amasonto amathathu, omunye wabavocavoci wabuza: “Ngingaba kanjani ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova?” Omunye wathi: “Ngiyoshumayela ezweni lakithi!”

Amagugu Afihliweyo Okumelwe Atholwe

Nomaphi lapho zibheka khona, izivakashi zaseParis zithola amagugu amahle okwakhiwa kwezakhiwo zangesikhathi esidlule. Nokho, okuyigugu nakakhulu kusalindele ukutholwa. U-Aniza weza eFrance nomalume wakhe ongusomaqhinga ekubonisaneni namazwe. Wayevame ukufunda iBhayibheli ekhaya. Ngolunye usuku njengoba ayephuma endlini esegijima, iphayona lamnika ipheshana elithi Isizathu Sokuba Uthembe IBhayibheli. Bahlela ukubonana ngesonto elilandelayo, kwaqalwa isifundo seBhayibheli. U-Aniza wabhekana nokushushiswa okukhulu komkhaya. Wathuthuka esifundweni sakhe waze wabhapathizwa. Ulibheka kanjani ilungelo analo lokuhlanganyela iqiniso nabanye? “Ekuqaleni, umsebenzi wokushumayela wawunzima ngoba nginamahloni. Nokho, lapho ngifunda iBhayibheli, liyangikhuthaza. Ngeke ngikhululeke uma ngingenzi lutho.” Leso simo sengqondo sibonakalisa oFakazi abaningi baseParis, ‘abanokuningi kokukwenza emsebenzini weNkosi.’—1 Korinte 15:58.

Iqiniso leBhayibheli likhanya nasezindaweni okwakhiwa kuzo izindlu ezisemaphethelweni eParis, okwembula amanye “amagugu.” Eqonde ukuyoboleka amarekhodi athile omculo, uBruce wahamba wayovakashela umngane wakhe owayesanda kuba ngomunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Lapho ethola umngane wakhe exoxa ngeBhayibheli nabanye babangane bakaBruce, uBruce wabeka indlebe kule ngxoxo. Wamukela isifundo seBhayibheli kodwa waba nezinkinga ezithile. “Ngangaziwa kakhulu endaweni. Umfowethu omdala wayehlala elwa njalo, futhi ngangihlela amaphathi okudansa anomsindo. Abantu babeyolamukela kanjani iqiniso lokuthi sengifuna ukuba uFakazi?” Naphezu kwezicelo ezingapheli zokuba ahlele amaphathi, uBruce wawuyeka lo msebenzi. Ngemva kwenyanga eyodwa, waqala ukushumayela: “Bonke endaweni babefuna ukwazi ukuthi kungani ngibe uFakazi.” Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho wabhapathizwa. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, waba nelungelo lokuya eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo.

Ukufuna amagugu kungathatha umzamo omkhulu. Nokho, yeka ukuthi kuba injabulo kanjani lapho umsebenzi usuthela! UJacky, uBruno noDamien babengababhaki eParis. UJacky uyachaza: “Kwakunzima ukuba abantu basivakashele ngoba sasisebenza ngaso sonke isikhathi futhi sasingahlali ekhaya.” UPatric, iphayona elivamile, wabona ukuthi kwakunamakamelo amancane ngaphezu kwesakhiwo esithile futhi waphetha ngokuthi cishe elilodwa lala makamelo lalinomuntu. Imizamo yakhe yokuphikelela ukuthola abantu abahlala lapho yaletha imiphumela emihle lapho ngenye intambama egcina ethola uJacky owayehlala lapho isikhashana. Waba yini umphumela? Bobathathu laba bangane baba ngoFakazi futhi bakwazi ukuthola eminye imisebenzi eyayibenza babe  nengxenye egcwele emsebenzini ongokwasezulwini.

Ukuthulisa Isiphepho

Muva nje, eminye imithombo yezindaba yaseFrance iye yaveza oFakazi BakaJehova njengehlelo lenkolo eliyingozi. Ngo-1996, oFakazi bahlanganyela ngenhliziyo yonke ekusakazeni amakhophi angaphezu kwayizigidi ezingu-9 epheshana elikhethekile elinesihloko esithi Jehovah’s Witnesses—What You Need to Know. Imiphumela yaba mihle kakhulu.

Kwenziwa umzamo okhethekile ukuze kufinyelelwe wonke umuntu. Izikhulu eziningi zababonga oFakazi. Omunye umeluleki kamasipala wabhala: “OFakazi BakaJehova benze kahle kakhulu ngokusakaza leli pheshana. Liqondisa izinto.” Udokotela waphawula: “Sekuyisikhathi eside ngikulindele lokhu!” Enye indoda ehlala eFrance yabhala: “Ngalifunda ngingaqondile ipheshana elithi Jehovah’s Witnesses—What You Need to Know. Ngingathanda ukwazi okwengeziwe futhi ngingakujabulela ukuba kuze othile emzini wami azongiqhubela isifundo seBhayibheli samahhala.” Omunye wabhala: “Ngiyanibonga ngokwethembeka kwenu.” Owesifazane othile ongumKatolika watshela oFakazi: “Hawu, kwaze kwakuhle ukuthi ekugcineni nize nawathathela isinyathelo la manga!”

Okwayijabulisa ngokukhethekile intsha eningi yoFakazi endaweni yaseParis kwakuwumkhankaso wokushumayela owawuhlelelwe isikhathi seziNsuku ZamaKatolika Zentsha Yezwe Lonke ngo-1997. Nakuba amazinga okushisa ayengaphezu kuka-35° C., cishe oFakazi abangu-2 500 baba ne-ngxenye. Ngezinsuku ezimbalwa nje, bahambisa amakhophi angu-8 000 encwajana ethi Incwadi Yabo Bonke Abantu kubantu abasebasha ababevela kuwo wonke amagumbi omhlaba. Ngaphezu kokunikeza ubufakazi obuhle egameni likaJehova nokutshala imbewu yeqiniso, lo mkhankaso wayinika umdlandla intsha yoFakazi. Udade othile osemusha owasheshe wabuya eholidini ukuze abe nengxenye egcwele kulo mzamo okhethekile, wabhala: “UJehova unabantu abajabulayo emhlabeni, abasebenzisa amandla abo ukuze badumise igama lakhe. Ngempela kwakungafaneleka ukuthi umuntu ancame wonke amaholide angawathatha kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe ngenxa nje yalezi zinsuku ezimbili ezazenelisa futhi zicebisa! (IHubo 84:10)”

U-February 28, 1998, wahlanganisa iminyaka engu-65 selokhu uHitler akhipha isimemezelo sokuvimbela oFakazi BakaJehova eJalimane. OFakazi eFrance basebenzisa lolo suku ukuze kuboniswe umphakathi emahholo abawaqasha i-video ethi Jehovah’s Witnesses Stand Firm Against Nazi Assault, eningiliza ngokushushiswa abantu bakaJehova ababhekana nakho. Kwasakazwa izimemo ezingaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-7. Izazi zomlando nababekade benoFakazi emakamu banikeza ubufakazi obushukumisayo. Endaweni yaseParis, cishe abangu-5 000 baba khona kuhlanganise nabaningi abangebona oFakazi.

Abaningi eParis bayakwazisa ukukhanya okungokomoya, futhi bayajabula ukuthi abamemezeli boMbuso bakhanya bha njengezinkanyiso. Kunjengoba uJesu asho: “Ukuvuna kukhulu, kodwa izisebenzi zimbalwa.” (Mathewu 9:37) Umoya woFakazi BakaJehova wokuzimisela ukunqoba izinselele zokushumayela edolobheni uye wenza iParis yaba yiDolobha Lokukhanya ngomqondo okhethekile, kwaba udumo kuJehova.

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IHholo Ledolobha

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ILouvre Museum

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I-Opera Garnier

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Ukuhlanganyela isigijimi seBhayibheli nabantu abamatasa nomaphi lapho betholakala khona