Dr. Johan Swartz, aged 65, died at the Highway Hospice, on Saturday, June 30 2012.

I consider myself honoured to have known him as a mentor and friend. He was a man of great integrity and a renowned educator and  researcher in the field of Cognitive Science – the study of human intelligence and the enhancement of learning. I can think of no better way to pay tribute  to his memory than to publish a poem that he penned in his last days. (Grateful thanks for the permission to do so is due to his son Deon)

CONVICTION

In gratitude to Jesus Christ  Johan Swartz
I wonder when I finally knew
(When mist had cleared, and sun shone through)
The fallacy of youthful dreams
Belief in things that prove untrue:
Pursuit of wealth, of trivial pleasure--
Of artifice and worthless treasure.
I wonder was it my decision
To consciously transform my vision
To surgically expose my heart
To God’s most merciful incision--
So cocooned worms could crystallize
Into a blaze of butterflies.
I wonder was it THOUGHT alone
That made me question the unknown-
Or insight, brought about by chance
The confluence of circumstance?
How was it that I found the way
From stumbling night to brilliant day?
I had no great Epiphany
That opened up my eyes to see.
I plodded on in unconcern
And felt no need for piety.
Though justified to close the door
Instead God chose to love me more.
I know NOW it was not MY doing
That kept God patiently pursuing
By gradual and mysterious ways
To change my curses into praise:
His Spirit, gently guiding me:
From conflict to tranquillity.
I wonder now—safe in His clasp-
WHEN, by His grace, He made me GRASP
That tale of brutal savagery
Of sacrifice on Calvary-
That MY OWN suffering He’d employ
To change despair into such JOY.

Read a recent outspoken article of his

Posted in Contributors Education South Africa Theology
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