Walking on Water

Ayanda & Dambudzo

“Walking on Water” is a slice-of-life blend of social commentary, theological reflection and off-the-cuff punditry about all things Mzansi (South Africa) through the eyes of hosts Ayanda Nxusani and Dambudzo Mushambi and their guests as they walk in the Way of Jesus. Support the podcast: paypal.me/walkingonwatermzansi

  1. 10/21/2020

    On Impostor Syndrome

    Have you ever had the feeling that everyone else is ‘crushing it’ except you? Or a nagging thought when you’ve accomplished something amazing and yet you feel it only happened due to sheer luck or being helped by other people? If every external indicator is that you earned your success, and yet you feel like you've faked your way into the room, you may be struggling with 'impostor syndrome'. Impostor syndrome is at work when you feel you somehow don’t deserve to be where you find yourself, that you don’t belong, whether it’s at a university, as a manager at your place of work or in a relationship. It produces a deep sense of doubt about your own capability; you feel like you’re a fraud and live with the fear that you’ll be discovered or exposed as incompetent or incapable. Most studies have shown it’s more common in women and disproportionately affects underrepresented minorities and immigrants. This phenomenon can prevent you from taking risks that may jeopardise your current position; it drains your confidence in your ability to achieve your goals and succeed in life; you end up either overworking to prove yourself, or self-sabotaging to avoid feelings of inadequacy; you can’t enjoy success because you feel it’s unearned; you underestimate yourself while overestimating the capacities of others. According to authors Lisa and Richard Orbe-Austin, it can “feed feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and frustration due to the thoughts and behaviors that result.” In this episode, Ayanda and Dambudzo take a layperson's look and dive into the impostor phenomenon, dissecting it and breaking down how it affects people, derailing them from the joy, peace and comfort of the Lord. As we are not professional therapists, if you're struggling with impostor syndrome, or what you think may be impostor syndrome, seek the help of a professional or consult some of the resources recommended below. Resources: Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life. By Drs Lisa Orbe-Austin and Richard Orbe-Austin Unlocking Your Authentic Self: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome, Enhancing Self-confidence, and Banishing Self-doubt. By Dr. Jennifer Hunt Music: Special thanks to Stevener - "Black excellence 600"

    38 min
  2. 09/14/2020

    Life amidst Covid-19 - Part Two (On history, churches and governments)

    In part two of our reflections on living during a pandemic, we look at how churches in Cape Town and South Africa broadly have been responding to the situation. Through a retrospective that looks at past plagues, we learn some of the positives and negatives that people lean into during times such as these. We also delve into how governments have coped during this time, speaking into issues such as corruption over PPE and repression of democratic freedoms. There is much to rejoice over in the responses of individuals and organisations to the Covid-19 crisis; however, there is also much for us to be lamenting over. Personally and collectively, there is much contemplation and action for us to engage in.   Connect with us online:  Email - walkingonwatermzansi@gmail.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/walking_on_water_mzansi/  Links to resources:  Blog post by Vinoth Ramachandra - https://vinothramachandra.wordpress.com/2020/03/  Blogpost on how the Church dealt with plagues in the past - https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2020/how-did-early-christians-respond-to-plagues  On Christian responses to the bubonic plague - https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-49/black-death-christian-response-third-world-died.html  On Beyonce's "Black is King" - https://www.essence.com/entertainment/only-essence/beyonces-black-is-king-criticism/  https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/i-hope-my-ancestors-were-goat-herders-not-kings-and-qu-1844593249  Original music:  Special thanks to Stevener

    34 min
  3. 08/31/2020

    Life amidst Covid-19 - Part One (On loss, gender-based violence and racism)

    Life in 2020 has been dominated by the horizon of Covid-19 which has eclipsed what we would term 'regular' life. While dealing with Covid-19 and the dislocation it's caused, it's not as if everything else in life has slowed down. An uptick of gender-based violence during the lockdown and incidents of racism have also been regular features while we deal with the multi-faceted losses of Covid-19. In this episode, Ayanda and Dambudzo spend some time looking at these intertwined realities and reflect on hope in times like these. Our hope lies in Jesus, our anchor in all seasons of life, especially in turbulent days.  (At the time of recording, incidents such as the alleged police killing of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies from Eldorado Park hadn't occurred, that's why our conversation doesn't reflect on that incident.)   Find us online:  Email - walkingonwatermzansi@gmail.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/walking_on_water_mzansi/  Links to resources:  Podcast on "Ambiguous loss" - https://onbeing.org/programs/pauline-boss-navigating-loss-without-closure/   A father fights back - an inspiring story of a father who brought his daughter's rapist to justice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDp6_9a-rVY   Update on Nathaniel Julies' case - https://ewn.co.za/2020/08/29/two-officers-accused-of-fatally-shooting-nathaniel-julies-to-appear-in-court Article on GBV on the need for action, not more legislation - https://mg.co.za/opinion/2020-07-12-south-africa-has-the-legislation-but-not-enough-action-against-gender-based-violence/  Original Music:  Special thanks to Stevener for Black Excellence 600  Introductory audio clip of Jacob Blake's sister courtesy of MSNBC.

    23 min
  4. 07/10/2020 ·  Bonus

    Part 3: On #BLM, responses by churches and challenging our theologies

    People may have forgotten that apartheid in South Africa and the trans-Atlantic enslavement of peoples were justified and authorised not only politically, but theologically as well. The theologians who did this work were not on the fringes, but 'pillars' of the establishment - a number of their works are still required reading in seminaries. While some have examined and repented of the roots and fruit of these and other dangerous theologies, others have uncritically continued to hold to theologies and practices that at best passively, and at worst actively, support ongoing unjust and ungodly configurations of Church and society. What does the prophetic witness of the Church look like in this season of protests against police brutality and apparent disregard for black and brown lives across many societies? What does the voice of God through the Scriptures say to us, and is our theology robust enough to sustain us as we navigate these waters? In this clip, Dambudzo and Ayanda look at how deficiencies in our theology can leave us being merely reactive and unprepared in times such as these, and how we need deeper readings of Scripture combined with Spirit-led truth-telling and lament for us to live up to our vocation as the multicultural and global people of God. Find us: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/walking_on_water_mzansi/ Email - walkingonwatermzansi@gmail.com Links to resources: N.T. Wright on 'Undermining racism' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwohWaJHOp0 Article by Mmusi Maimane on the church and its prophetic voice - https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-06-09-as-the-voice-of-the-oppressed-the-church-should-be-preaching-black-lives-matter-the-loudest/#gsc.tab=0 Book by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah - "Unsettling Truths: The ongoing, dehumanizing legacy of the doctrine of discovery"  Book by Jemar Tisby - "The color of compromise - The truth about the American Church's complicity in racism" Book by John W. de Gruchy and Charles Villa Vicencio - "Apartheid is a heresy" Music: Stevener - Black Excellence 600

    16 min
  5. 07/06/2020 ·  Bonus

    Part 2: On #BLM, police brutality and hypocrisy

    As the Black Lives Matter protests unfolded in the United States and across the world after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police, politicians and other leaders here in South Africa echoed the hashtag and decried police brutality. When we witnessed scenes of protestors in the US being beaten, teargassed and pepper-sprayed by police while protesting peacefully, our minds and eyes were drawn closer to home. What does Black Lives Matter mean in South Africa? Does it have resonance here, and are politicians and leaders being truthful and consistent about honouring the lives of their fellow black citizens and Africans as their hashtag activism would have us believe? In this clip, Ayanda and Dambudzo try to push beyond the rhetoric and look at many instances of police misconduct and excessive use of force that raise questions about policing in South Africa and our commitment to honouring the marginalised. Find us: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/walking_on_water_mzansi/ Email - walkingonwatermzansi@gmail.com Links to resources: - Article on Collins Khosa and his death at the hands of the SANDF - https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/sandf-report-on-the-death-of-collins-khosa-a-sham-49083492 - Article on statistics of police misconduct based on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) - https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-10-02-ipid-paints-a-grim-picture-in-2017-18-558-deaths-from-police-action-and-201-deaths-in-custody/#gsc.tab=0 - Article on alleged police brutality - https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/saps-rape-gender-based-violence-langa-khayelitsha-gbv-30-june-2020/ - Article on statistics concerning police officers killed while on or off duty - https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-09-12-crimestats-police-murders-down-most-cops-are-killed-while-off-duty/ - Article on police and use of deadly force - https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/use-deadly-force-to-protect-yourselves-against-criminals-cele-tells-cops-20191224 Music: Stevener - Black Excellence 600

    17 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

“Walking on Water” is a slice-of-life blend of social commentary, theological reflection and off-the-cuff punditry about all things Mzansi (South Africa) through the eyes of hosts Ayanda Nxusani and Dambudzo Mushambi and their guests as they walk in the Way of Jesus. Support the podcast: paypal.me/walkingonwatermzansi