Eulogy: Jurgens Johannes Pieterse

20 August 1938 – 14 August 2013

Jurgens Johannes Pieterse was my father, he was married with Susanna Magaretha and he has two daughters Tersia and Beredina. My father’s life left a rich legacy to all that will continue to inspire.  Jurgens Johannes Pieterse was a craftsman, a family man and a dependable husband.

Born on on 20 August 1938, just after the great depression of 1930, my father’s stories of his childhood recalled days when he, as a young boy,  went out to look after cattle. Herding them around the town where he lived for long distances. Due to poverty, the early death of his father and difficult political circumstance he was obliged to leave school at the age of 16 to help support his family. These years of struggle provided a foundation for a life that would be based on hard work.  Work was a way to independence and the ability to provide for your loved ones.  Industriousness was a virtue that characterized my father’s life and which left a permanent imprint on us as children. But for my father it was not hard work – for him it was a love to produce something of quality. He qualified himself as a craftsman, a tool maker, early in his life.  Hard work was insufficient for my dad, he focused on delivering quality. His ability to work with precision, measured in microns,  and conceptualize an end product made him a type of miracle worker with steel. There was a general believe that my father was able to make anything he wanted from steel.  The testimony to my father’s workmanship is that his services were in demand until the day of his death.  He transformed himself over a life time from a boy herding cattle to a successful business man with his own business.  

I am certain my father has already reported for duty at the gates of heaven with a oil can ready to oil the heavenly gates so that they work a little bit smoother. It is people like my father that found joy in his work that made heaven wherever he was.

My father’s work environment was always kept pristine, ordered and organized.  He was proud of his achievements.  He loved his cars and nurtured them with great personal care.  He improved on his houses and made it a better habitat for his family. Most importantly for my father was that he did not die poor but that he had accumulated funds of money in his bank to leave to my mother. It was not a matter of having money to spend but about reaching the end of his life not as a poor man. Poverty was my father’s worst fear and seeing his personal wealth grew was his comfort.  

My earliest memory was that of my father smoking pipe. When my father went to work and forgot his pipe at home there was consternation in the house. He could not go a day without his pipe.  But one day father decided to put the pipe and cigarettes aside and stop smoking. He never touched Tabaco ever again in his life. That is witness to the will power Jurgens had when he decided on something. I see daily how many people with good intention fail to stop the same addiction and then I realize why my father kept firmly on the course he set for himself. He was never somebody to give up. As his son I had to assist often in his workshop while he was working on a car or repairing something. Many times challenges frustrated him to the degree where he really got angry with desperation…but he never gave up. Somehow my father always made a plan, he always found a way and a solution.  My father was a man of action and doing. He hated standing in any queue and never accepted bad service without reprimanding the guilty party. Wasting time was not for my dad…for life was something that must be lived.  

The work ethic of my father never kept him from also being a family man. My earliest childhood memories are that of my father first as a deacon and later as an elder in the Dutch Reformed church.  He never preached to us, as his children, but he always set the example through his commitment. He made sure that we attend church and Sunday school regularly and without fail. By doing so his example equipped us with a deep spiritual awareness that is visible in the conduct of all his children.  Dad could also relax with his family. With regular intervals the tools and work clothes were set aside to take his family on a well-deserved caravan vacation.  Doing this Jurgens left his children a treasure chest of good memories….times next to the sea, fishing competitions, racing pigeons are all images of a father that can also enjoy life with his family. Through everything he ensured that his children are equipped to stand their own ground in life with confidence.  

My father was a good husband to my mother for 52 years. He was the provider of the house and ensured that my mother never had any lack; he always gave her his love and devotion and remained faithful throughout his life.  I can recall a whole life time of seeing my parents holding hands confident in the security they had in each other’s life.  That is probably the greatest legacy my father left his children.  

My father was keenly aware of his politics, the economy and environment. His deeper thinking side he kept for private conversations. Few people saw the deeper thinking side of my father but I had the privilege of remembering several conversations when we were alone where I stood amazed by the depth of my father’s insights into life.  His insight was evident in key life decisions he made in his life just at the right time, every time.  I am sure that he knew the time to depart has come and that he chose his time to the best of his ability. He said to the pastor the day before his death: “I am not afraid” His only regret will be that he is leaving my mother behind to fend for herself.  All that remains to be said is: “The work is done…Now my father can rest in peace”

I can never fully praise my father’s quality, wisdom and impact in our lives with a few short words. My hope is that with his death all who was touched by him will remember the unique impact his life had on them.  My hope is that they will take the best from his life and make something of his life their own.  By embracing my father’s virtues in our lives, my father’s legacy will continue to inspire people to be industrious, to be committed, to be faithful and above all to live life to its fullest.

My father died this morning at 4:00. He will no longer suffer the pain of cancer.

His work is completed

May he rest in peace

I woke up this morning after a good night’s rest.  I turned on my back, placed my hands left hand beneath my navel, right hand on top of the left and breathed deeply.  With each breath I forgot a bit of the world and returned inward, inwards towards my own self and its eternal expression. Continuous flowing breaths of air that gently arouses energy within my being.  Gently the world returned as I left the world of thoughts behind.

I reached out to pick up my spiritual journal. A journal where I write by hand the best of writing I could find in ancient manuscripts, holy books or even modern pop psychology. The journal’s leather felt warm in my hands, still energized.  I slowly opened the thick pages almost like a ritual. The bookmark is a poem I wrote called: “Initiation into the mystery”. I read it first for in a way it is still a road map for me into a deeper world. I entered a space of contemplation.

My journal is far from being finished. It contains 24 articles at present. I paid a fortune for the book and selected each piece in it with care. I sat down and wrote each copying it as truthfully as possible. I learned to copy with minimal mistakes. I only write in it when I feel unusually awake with clarity of mind and when I can fully focus on the task at hand.  Nothing contained in the journal is my own original writing but in combination it  reflects me in all authenticity. My own writing I keep separate in a different manual. What is in my journal is what resonates with my soul, my ideals and my spirit. It uplifts me when I read it, it inspires me and it change me within.

I can not give it as dogma to anybody else. Few will be able to relate to all for it is not a general revelation but a specific revelation to me of not just me but of the full potential that I could be and whom I am becoming.  The spiritual journal has been the single most powerful source in my own spiritual growth. The time and effort to select and copy what I value onto the pages worth more than what money can buy.

I sat upright on my bed, cushion tucked behind my back for support and I read each article slowly, absorbing the words and allowing it to integrate into my being.  I felt each word’s edifying impact on my inner constitution.  Finally as my eyes glanced off the last words, I closed the journal.  My day will begin with a deeper mindfulness today.

I am awake.

My credit card was billed. It is past the deadline and Xanga is still breathing. Waiting with great anticipation to be transcended from a 2D world to a 3D world….

Xanga 1.0 is still running and I am waiting for Xanga 2.0. Things looks promising and I hope that we can make Xanga 2.0 a sustainable migration. I am willing to help where I can to help rebuild the community.

Good bye and thank you for all the fish………… ……….. …….. …… ……. …. … .. .

I went to visit my father on Sunday. He is weakening rapidly. The flame of vitality seems to be burning at a slower pace and he is in the toughest time period of his whole life. All I could do was to try and maintain a positive and harmonious disposition while visiting. The positive was that we were all together again me with my two sisters and my parents. There must be some truth to the saying that blood is thicker than water. Family remains family irrespective of what is happening or how far one is from your family. My mother is probably suffering the most at present as she is the one that is jumping at my father’s every request. I have great respect for her tenacity in being there for my father. My father is by his full mental capability but has difficulty speaking and often has to repeat himself before he is correctly understood. He can not swallow food and it is pumped directly into his stomach through a pipe. I have seldom seen my father being sick so it is strange to see him timid and dependent on others to help him. He is still the same proud man, yet accepts his weakening state with grace. There were times when he showed signs of frustration but given the situation, he is doing the best he can. 

It would have been very helpful if Xanga communicated on a regular basis on the progress of their plans. I would like to see more of that community spirit not in Xanga 2.0 but also that is manifests in the current Xanga. Why not ask for  input and create an excitement and momentum for Xanga 2.0? Xanga can not be just the product of Technical developers but should have input into group psychology in order to develop an even deeper community. A once in every month communication from the Xanga team is absolutely unacceptable and does not bode well for Xanga 2.0

The only spark of hope is @edlives who has really been doing his part of promoting and supporting the Xanga cause. However he is also left in the dark and unsupported. Xanga 2.0 can be sustainable and it can be a success story but for that to happen the Xanga Team has to get out of the jungle and start to engage with the community that is supporting and pledging to keep Xanga 2.0 going. Xanga 2.0 will start with some die hard supporters, but that is not a sustainable situation. To be sustainable, Xanga must have a growth strategy and a strategy that makes all its members willing contributors to the brand name of Xanga. However Xanga must be consistent with that brand and what the brand stand for – which I believe is primarily standing for a unique community of bloggers. If it is a community of bloggers the Xanga team can not stand seperated from the community but has to be fully part of that community.

I have finally decided to support the Xanga relaunch. I have started up my WebPress accounts and will probably continue to blog at WebPress in terms of particular themed blogs which seems to be working much better than the single blog approach I have followed on Xanga. I made my preparations for the worst case scenario and informed all my Xanga subscribers where to find me should Xang fail to relaunch.

However, I had been a life member, premium member of Xanga since 2004  when I joined Xanga and I enjoyed Xanga’s community for almost nine years. Xanga badged me a as a True member. Like everybody else I gained much from the community, made some good friends, seen some good times and bad times on Xanga. The best of my writing is within my Xanga archive as well as the worst of my writing. Like most Xangans I was disappointed when hearing that Xanga might close down.

However having contemplated the time spend with Xanga, the time of blogging and interacting, I decided today to pledge my support of 1 year for Xanga! Given that Xanga had been a reliable platform for my blogging for such a long time, it is time to give at least something back and contribute to Xanga 2.0. It is a way to thank Xanga for what they have done by providing a blogging platform and for keeping my memories alive for nine year. I sincerely hope Xanga will continue and that the memory of all Xangans will continue.

My disappointment has shifted in seeing that only about 500 Xangans have pledged to support the relaunch. Even at 1$ every Xangan can do his or her bit to assist in Xanga going forward. Everybody wants to know which bloggers Xanga will take over but so few are willing to truly put a hand into their pockets to support Xanga. Given what Xanga has already done for its members and the many free sites that was supported by Xanga I am of the firm believe that everybody can make a contribution. Does Xanga really have only 500 active and committed members? If all the bloggers of Xanga pledge a 1$ the target they need for the relaunch can easily be attained. It takes a little bit from everybody to make a difference.

If you agree with me then please recommend this blog entry and get it on the front page of Xanga.

Before you recommend – add your 1$ to the Xanga relaunch effort.

It is time for that final push where everybody is needed to put their weight behind the effort. It is not an argument about what Xanga can do for you in the future but what Xanga has done for all of us in the past. Lets pull together and make a difference. Let this be another one of the memories we all share of the time when Xanga launched Xanga 2.0. I would like to remember this time as a time of victory for Xangans.