Brunsvigia pulchra in a rock citadel

A sudden encounter of this nature is rarely forgotten. The chance of seeing Brunsvigia pulchra flowering like this in Namaqualand is a rare reward for sweat and stumbling over uneven terrain. Those who walk patiently, far and not too fast, receive repeated proof that miracles happen in the veld.

Stepping in a hole or on a snake is the other kind of life-changing surprise, not often added to the list of life-enhancing miracles and rather, preferably forgotten.

A camera helps for revisiting peak experiences, although the photo cannot regenerate the rush of adrenaline that happened in the moment. Fond memories can be relived, however, also embellished by unremembered fantasising about size, colour and the circumstances of that day.

A good picture allows for sharing with those that were not there, as the telling of a story brings experiences of the explorer and visions of the writer to fellow human beings. The gaps between the consciousness of individuals are overcome by sharing of humanity’s ubiquitous narrative, the interpersonal bridges built by art and the major moments of life that speak to fellow beings.

Vicarious sharing draws together, builds kinship among all those who shared memorable moments, in spite of differences that grow distance. These forces continually make friends and enemies among us.

All those who read Shakespeare, Goethe and Dostoevsky, internalised the works of Michelangelo and Raphael, memorised touching lines from the holy books of their tribes, are brothers at the first step of building the brotherhood.