This was a public holiday to mark Human Rights Day here in South Africa. It was also the day the new Green Point Football (soccer) stadium got a blessed test as more than 50,000 people almost filled the arena to pray for the city. I smiled from the time I got there to my departure about four three hours later when I finally located my car. With my friend I sat in row number four, a forty dollar seat that will probably sell for ten times as much since we had a close up view of the grass field. The facility is huge and unadorned, but has a comfy feel to it. Today it was perfect as I looked up at the soft blue sky that circled the impressive retractable clear roof designed for use if the Cape Town weather proves contrary during one of the World Cup games. Since this was another readiness test, we were overrun with police and security and all manner of officials but there was nothing heavy handed about it at all . Unfairly perhaps I compared it to last years inauguration of our President and the stifling security we happily endured. Every one was at their friendliest. We had about six enquiries to help us find our place and when at the end, I was lost because I exited at the wrong entrance, the police, who did not seem familiar with the place, walked with my friend, and we chatted all the way until at last we came to the car. It was a great place to see friends in person and on the giant screens, to pray for the city and South Africa and to be inspired by featured speaker, Angus Buchanan who told us that "this is a time of opportunity for South Africa." It was refreshing to hear him shout his love for his country. "Jesus is smiling on South Africa." he said as he urged all of us to "start speaking life and not death to South Africa."
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