Sandwiches, toebies, sarmies... Any genuine South African should be well familiar with these. Whether your favourite variety is as genuinely simple as Marmite on brown bread, as patriotic as tomato and cheese grilled on the fire, or as sophisticated as salmon and goat’s cheese on rye bread, there is one thing all sandwiches have in common: There has to be a top and a bottom.
Otherwise, it is not a sandwich.
Open sarmies fall under a whole new heading.
Many years ago, one of my biggest treats as a medical rep in Bloem running into Caramello's in Mimosa Mall for their chicken and mayonnaise between two slices of dark, seeded bread. What made this one unique was the generous addition of peppadews and gherkins to the standard mix. That, and layer of crisp lettuce as a bottom sheet.
One less pleasant part of my job is having disciplinary discussions with colleagues. There is a reason why HR has never seemed appealing to me...
But, thanks to the providence of the Lord, that morning I remembered the sandwich principle: To start each such conversation with positive feedback, then point out the possible area of improvement, and then close it with a positive plan on how to address it practically.
Cousin Paul was quite a big supporter of this technique, as I found out.
In 1 Corinthians 1:4 - 9, Paul begins by thanking the Lord for their faith and that He makes Himself so visible in their daily actions. From verse 10, however, he does not hesitate to address his concerns about their infighting, but finally he closes with encouragements and exhortations for unity and love in 1 Cor 16.
In Galatians we see much the same pattern, feel free to look it up for yourself.
And then in Philippians he begins again by talking gratefully and full of joy about the Philippians' devotion to the Good News they have heard. Only then does he address some concerns and issues, and finally ends with a list of positive instructions and blessings, Philippians 4:4-9.
It's Sunday evening, February 2024.
And the practical help from the Word of the Lord is just as much of a help to me as it was to the first Christians 2,000 years ago.
The world is hungry,
but they are afraid of being kicked.
May I not underestimate the nourishing power of the simple word sarmie this week.
“Sharp words cut like a sword,
but words of wisdom heal.”
Proverbs 12:18 CEV
Your inspiration for the week: How far
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