south africa’s cape town & the power of one . . .

the almighty conceived the cactus plant. if god would choose a plant to represent him, i think he would choose of all plants the cactus. the cactus has all the blessings he tried, but mostly failed, to give to man. let me tell you how.

it has humility, but it is not submissive. it grows where no other plant will grow.
it does not complain when the sun bakes its back or the wind tears it from the cliff
or drowns it in the dry sand of the desert or when it is thirsty.

when the rains come it stores water for the hard times to come. in good times
and bad it will still flower. it protects itself from danger, but it harms no other plant. it adapts perfectly to almost any environment. it has patience and enjoys solitude.

in mexico there is a cactus that flowers only once every hundred years
and at night. this is saintliness of an extraordinary kind, would you not agree?
the cactus has properties that heal the wounds of men and from it come potions that can make man touch – the face of god or stare into the mouth of hell. it is the plant of patience and solitude, love and madness, ugliness and beauty, toughness
and gentleness. of all plants, surely god made the cactus in his own image?

from, the power of one, by bryce courtenay

kirstenbosch’s boomslang tree canopy walkway, south africa . . .

design of kirstenbosch’s boomslang tree canopy walkway . . .

zeitz mocaa, museum of contemporary art africa . . .