Well, truth be known. I've been spying on my sister's blog.
She recently posted a link to the appended blog posting: http://andymoore.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/singles-church/
Good God...
Good God.... just when you thought it was safe to come out and play (edited following Madame Abidemi's comment!)
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Keeping Hope Alive
It was 5am in the morning and my phone rang. “Yes we caaaaaaaaan. Yeeeaaaaah,” the voice on the other side yelled. “Yeeeaaaaah! Wake up! Wake up! Put on the TV. Put on the TV.”
The voice was from Dubai and one of my closest friend in the whole wide world was jubilant. As I heard her husband’s jubilant screams in the background, I knew that change had come to America.
What a day. 4 November 2008.
Even as I did put on my television and I watched thousands of America in Chicago dance for joy as they waited for President-elect Obama to mount the stage to give his victory speech, even I, far away in Lagos, Nigeria, shed tears of immense joy. Tears of rekindled hope and tears of gratitude. Gratitude that we could indeed realise a day such as this. A day when at last the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than the colour of his skin. A day when the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than his religion, and a day when the fullness of the character and tenacity of a person triumphantly saw the realisation of a vision. These are the best of days.
And even better days await us.
As I watched Oprah Winfrey and Jesse Jackson stand in the crowd, awaiting their President-elect, joyous and in tears, I felt that their tears spoke to the hope that they and many other Americans have held on to for many decades. The hope that they feared may never come to pass, but the hope that they nevertheless against all hope dared to hold on to.
And I was reminded of each and everyone of our own personal hope.
Yes, we can
President-elect Obama did more than win the US election the early hours of this morning. He also rekindled the personal hope of many the world over. Yes, we can. Yes, you can. Yes, I can. It's no coincidence that Barack means 'blessed' in Hebrew.
Then my mind and thoughts began to be filled with thoughts of the finest and lead person in my personal hall of fame. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Then I thought of the establishment, the Sadducees and the Pharisees who scorned Him, His Message and His methods. But when He resurrected, they were the one who realised that they had rejected Hope. Luddites that they were, they had demonstrated their weakness in wanting to maintain the status quo and reject hope, even as the evidence of the status quo clearly did not respond to their very needs.
The greatest, most humbling, and most comforting thing about President-elect Obama’s speech was its tempo and content. Temperate and measured, he spoke to America and the world all over about the importance of the values of democracy in this very twenty first century, about service to and for all, and the need to work together for the good of all. He gave thanks to his supporters for their contributions in kind and in currency, and demonstrated that he understood that they had supported his campaign not for him per se, but in a cry out for change.
Change that the world might be a better place again with America’s changed leadership. Change that the ideals which the American founding fathers fought for would once again stand true in America’s government of their nation and leadership of the world; and change that once more America and Americans might gain acceptance in this global village that we all live in.
The Appointed Time
And at quiet time this morning I must say I said a prayer for President-elect Obama. For his family and for his government. That our Father and our Lord would give him and his government wisdom to govern. Wisdom to govern well and to govern right. Wisdom to govern for the people and for the world. Wisdom to serve and wisdom heal the wounds from the past eight years.
Rev Martin Luther King Jnr warned that he may not get to the promised land with us, but he had a dream that we would get there. Whoa. What a day.
There is a time for everything. A season for everything under the sun. The Appointed Time. An appointed time comes to all of us. A season of change. And better grab that for the rekindling and manifestation of your own personal hope - and coming glory. Oh, yes. In Christ Jesus.
God bless America.
The voice was from Dubai and one of my closest friend in the whole wide world was jubilant. As I heard her husband’s jubilant screams in the background, I knew that change had come to America.
What a day. 4 November 2008.
Even as I did put on my television and I watched thousands of America in Chicago dance for joy as they waited for President-elect Obama to mount the stage to give his victory speech, even I, far away in Lagos, Nigeria, shed tears of immense joy. Tears of rekindled hope and tears of gratitude. Gratitude that we could indeed realise a day such as this. A day when at last the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than the colour of his skin. A day when the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than his religion, and a day when the fullness of the character and tenacity of a person triumphantly saw the realisation of a vision. These are the best of days.
And even better days await us.
As I watched Oprah Winfrey and Jesse Jackson stand in the crowd, awaiting their President-elect, joyous and in tears, I felt that their tears spoke to the hope that they and many other Americans have held on to for many decades. The hope that they feared may never come to pass, but the hope that they nevertheless against all hope dared to hold on to.
And I was reminded of each and everyone of our own personal hope.
Yes, we can
President-elect Obama did more than win the US election the early hours of this morning. He also rekindled the personal hope of many the world over. Yes, we can. Yes, you can. Yes, I can. It's no coincidence that Barack means 'blessed' in Hebrew.
Then my mind and thoughts began to be filled with thoughts of the finest and lead person in my personal hall of fame. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Then I thought of the establishment, the Sadducees and the Pharisees who scorned Him, His Message and His methods. But when He resurrected, they were the one who realised that they had rejected Hope. Luddites that they were, they had demonstrated their weakness in wanting to maintain the status quo and reject hope, even as the evidence of the status quo clearly did not respond to their very needs.
The greatest, most humbling, and most comforting thing about President-elect Obama’s speech was its tempo and content. Temperate and measured, he spoke to America and the world all over about the importance of the values of democracy in this very twenty first century, about service to and for all, and the need to work together for the good of all. He gave thanks to his supporters for their contributions in kind and in currency, and demonstrated that he understood that they had supported his campaign not for him per se, but in a cry out for change.
Change that the world might be a better place again with America’s changed leadership. Change that the ideals which the American founding fathers fought for would once again stand true in America’s government of their nation and leadership of the world; and change that once more America and Americans might gain acceptance in this global village that we all live in.
The Appointed Time
And at quiet time this morning I must say I said a prayer for President-elect Obama. For his family and for his government. That our Father and our Lord would give him and his government wisdom to govern. Wisdom to govern well and to govern right. Wisdom to govern for the people and for the world. Wisdom to serve and wisdom heal the wounds from the past eight years.
Rev Martin Luther King Jnr warned that he may not get to the promised land with us, but he had a dream that we would get there. Whoa. What a day.
There is a time for everything. A season for everything under the sun. The Appointed Time. An appointed time comes to all of us. A season of change. And better grab that for the rekindling and manifestation of your own personal hope - and coming glory. Oh, yes. In Christ Jesus.
God bless America.
Tuesday 30 September 2008
Celebrating The Moment
Thanksgiving
Fifteen years and fourteen African countries later, and I am still thankful, still happily and readily learning, and yet still aspiring, longing in fact, for more.
It’s almost fifteen years to the day since I started working and when I think about the journey to the destination of that first paid employment, the remembrance comes with warm yet defiant memories. That first paid employment.
After completing post-graduate studies it was of course time to realise the benefits of all those many years of studying and learning. So, the work hunt, the job hunt began. The journey lasted almost a year.
Yes. Almost twelve whole months.
I was determined to seek and find employment within my field of study and interest, that is, international development, public sector reform, with reference to Africa. Applications were completed day in, day out. Some were completed for posts in the UK, others for posts in Nairobi, Abidjan, Washington or wherever and with whoever else I felt I could work with to pursue that area of professional and personal interest.
Believe me, although I was not counting, I must have completed a thousand odd application forms and/or CVs during that time. The expectation, the wait, the agony, the pain. When? Will I? Could I?
Our greatest fear
These were questions I asked myself day in, day out. Will I? Could I? When will I get that job? Will I, could I even, get that job?
After some two months or so of agonising anxiety and wondering if I really ought not to have completed a degree in Law or Accountancy, I decided to do something useful /add value to my job search by engaging in voluntary work with organisations that work in the sector that I desired to be employed in.
Two offered me positions – oh yes, competition for voluntary work with many organisations is thick and fast.
I found myself engaged in voluntary work twice a week for Oxfam Campaigns, and three times a week for the Institute for African Alternatives, a development policy research institute. I doubled up that three to four times a week by working in the evenings in paid employment as a market researcher. And there were mornings when I hopped on the wrong London Underground train, not quite sure which of my three work stations I was headed for.
Days were good and days were bad. And I kept asking: ‘When?’ And also asking ‘Will I?’
Advice and Counsel
As if the agony of all of that was not enough, some ‘friends’ thought to periodically ‘advise’ me. Scorn at me. Pity party here…!
In not so many words what they were saying was that I may not be quite as intelligent as all those many university degrees that I held suggested. Otherwise, why would one graduate from two of the UK’s top universities and then embark on voluntary work?
Well, foolish as I may have seemed, the strategy was that since I was determined to work in my sector of interest and yet paid employment was not yet forthcoming, rather than either
(i) sit at home and be depressed whilst I complete five job application forms a day, or
(ii) take up paid employment in a sector not of primary interest but which would give me an income
I chose to offer my knowledge and skills as a volunteer worker in the hope that the experience gained would eventually propel me to attaining employment in that sector of preference.
And that is exactly what happened.
Fifteen years later
I have worked with three major global organisations, enjoying a satisfying career, and have made some lifelong friendships on the circuit. In addition, my remuneration has increased over that time by some 900%, inflation adjusted and all.
Now, tell me, should I not be celebrating the moment?
So in celebrating I pray:
(i) May the work of our hands always be blessed: Deuteronomy 33v9
(ii) May The Lord teach us to profit and lead us in the way that we should go.
(iii) May the plans that The Lord has for us, good plans and plans that are not of evil, plans to give us a hope and a blessed outcome, come to pass in each of our lives
(iv) May The Lord continue to turn around our captivity, as He did that of Zion. So that we would be like those who dreamed. Then our mouths would fill with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then we would say among the nations, ‘the Lord has done great things for us.’ The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad. Psalm 126 v 1-4
(v) In the midst of difficult times may we be able to be still and know that He is Lord. May we be able to stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord, which He will accomplish for us today, for the Egyptians we see today, we shall indeed see them no more! Exodus 1 v 13
Fifteen years and fourteen African countries later, and I am still thankful, still happily and readily learning, and yet still aspiring, longing in fact, for more.
It’s almost fifteen years to the day since I started working and when I think about the journey to the destination of that first paid employment, the remembrance comes with warm yet defiant memories. That first paid employment.
After completing post-graduate studies it was of course time to realise the benefits of all those many years of studying and learning. So, the work hunt, the job hunt began. The journey lasted almost a year.
Yes. Almost twelve whole months.
I was determined to seek and find employment within my field of study and interest, that is, international development, public sector reform, with reference to Africa. Applications were completed day in, day out. Some were completed for posts in the UK, others for posts in Nairobi, Abidjan, Washington or wherever and with whoever else I felt I could work with to pursue that area of professional and personal interest.
Believe me, although I was not counting, I must have completed a thousand odd application forms and/or CVs during that time. The expectation, the wait, the agony, the pain. When? Will I? Could I?
Our greatest fear
These were questions I asked myself day in, day out. Will I? Could I? When will I get that job? Will I, could I even, get that job?
After some two months or so of agonising anxiety and wondering if I really ought not to have completed a degree in Law or Accountancy, I decided to do something useful /add value to my job search by engaging in voluntary work with organisations that work in the sector that I desired to be employed in.
Two offered me positions – oh yes, competition for voluntary work with many organisations is thick and fast.
I found myself engaged in voluntary work twice a week for Oxfam Campaigns, and three times a week for the Institute for African Alternatives, a development policy research institute. I doubled up that three to four times a week by working in the evenings in paid employment as a market researcher. And there were mornings when I hopped on the wrong London Underground train, not quite sure which of my three work stations I was headed for.
Days were good and days were bad. And I kept asking: ‘When?’ And also asking ‘Will I?’
Advice and Counsel
As if the agony of all of that was not enough, some ‘friends’ thought to periodically ‘advise’ me. Scorn at me. Pity party here…!
In not so many words what they were saying was that I may not be quite as intelligent as all those many university degrees that I held suggested. Otherwise, why would one graduate from two of the UK’s top universities and then embark on voluntary work?
Well, foolish as I may have seemed, the strategy was that since I was determined to work in my sector of interest and yet paid employment was not yet forthcoming, rather than either
(i) sit at home and be depressed whilst I complete five job application forms a day, or
(ii) take up paid employment in a sector not of primary interest but which would give me an income
I chose to offer my knowledge and skills as a volunteer worker in the hope that the experience gained would eventually propel me to attaining employment in that sector of preference.
And that is exactly what happened.
Fifteen years later
I have worked with three major global organisations, enjoying a satisfying career, and have made some lifelong friendships on the circuit. In addition, my remuneration has increased over that time by some 900%, inflation adjusted and all.
Now, tell me, should I not be celebrating the moment?
So in celebrating I pray:
(i) May the work of our hands always be blessed: Deuteronomy 33v9
(ii) May The Lord teach us to profit and lead us in the way that we should go.
(iii) May the plans that The Lord has for us, good plans and plans that are not of evil, plans to give us a hope and a blessed outcome, come to pass in each of our lives
(iv) May The Lord continue to turn around our captivity, as He did that of Zion. So that we would be like those who dreamed. Then our mouths would fill with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then we would say among the nations, ‘the Lord has done great things for us.’ The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad. Psalm 126 v 1-4
(v) In the midst of difficult times may we be able to be still and know that He is Lord. May we be able to stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord, which He will accomplish for us today, for the Egyptians we see today, we shall indeed see them no more! Exodus 1 v 13
Monday 22 September 2008
Promotion
“So, did you plan for this promotion then? You know, late nights, corporate socialising and so on?”
“No, actually, I did nothing of the sort.”
After yelling in celebratory excitement at the news of a friend’s recent promotion the other day (and very senior level promotion, I might add), I settled down, comforted that it is indeed well.
You know that verse that says that he that is diligent with his work will sit before kings? In the book of Proverbs, I think. Talk about it. I was reminded that my quiet time should be more affectionate and less of a religious requirement.
Imagine walking into your office one day and being asked by senior management if you wanted the senior most position in your department? Imagine being told that senior management believed that you had the very capability to excel in the position, but are willing to give you some time to try out the position and if you didn’t like it, if you felt that it was too demanding, you could go back to your old position in a few months? Imagine.
Well, that’s exactly what happened. The position had unexpectedly become vacant and immediately my friend came into remembrance. of those in her workplace who could change he story there for good. Hmm. May we all come into the remembrance of those who can change our stories for good.
The most curious and amusing part of this for me was the reaction of another who was relayed this good news. Their innocent and blameless question was as I quoted at the top the page:
“So, did you plan for this promotion then? You know, late nights, corporate socialising and so on?”
My friend’s response was simply that The Lord has ordered her steps. No, don’t scorn. Hear me out.
Imagine working well and working late. Working diligently. Determined to conscientiously work well. Imagine wondering why your senior had that position and not you, given that you so obviously are performing better in the position than they are. Imagine asking your Creator, The Creator of the universe when your lot is going to change, over and over again.
Imagine just from nowhere, you also start to progessively change your corporate wardrobe. Less smart casual. More corporate, business wear. Imagine, unbeknown to you, beginning to look the part, even if you did not know what the part was.
So when the corporate lawyer asked my friend how she has planned the promotion, the only answer she could give was that The Lord had ordered her steps. Being in the fierce corporate legal world, he was used to hostile takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, boardroom dramas. To him, you get by in life only through skilful cerebral, intellectual strategy. Imagine his shock to hear that none such deliberate strategy had been planned.
Fear not my child, I am with you always
“No, actually, I did nothing of the sort.”
After yelling in celebratory excitement at the news of a friend’s recent promotion the other day (and very senior level promotion, I might add), I settled down, comforted that it is indeed well.
You know that verse that says that he that is diligent with his work will sit before kings? In the book of Proverbs, I think. Talk about it. I was reminded that my quiet time should be more affectionate and less of a religious requirement.
Imagine walking into your office one day and being asked by senior management if you wanted the senior most position in your department? Imagine being told that senior management believed that you had the very capability to excel in the position, but are willing to give you some time to try out the position and if you didn’t like it, if you felt that it was too demanding, you could go back to your old position in a few months? Imagine.
Well, that’s exactly what happened. The position had unexpectedly become vacant and immediately my friend came into remembrance. of those in her workplace who could change he story there for good. Hmm. May we all come into the remembrance of those who can change our stories for good.
The most curious and amusing part of this for me was the reaction of another who was relayed this good news. Their innocent and blameless question was as I quoted at the top the page:
“So, did you plan for this promotion then? You know, late nights, corporate socialising and so on?”
My friend’s response was simply that The Lord has ordered her steps. No, don’t scorn. Hear me out.
Imagine working well and working late. Working diligently. Determined to conscientiously work well. Imagine wondering why your senior had that position and not you, given that you so obviously are performing better in the position than they are. Imagine asking your Creator, The Creator of the universe when your lot is going to change, over and over again.
Imagine just from nowhere, you also start to progessively change your corporate wardrobe. Less smart casual. More corporate, business wear. Imagine, unbeknown to you, beginning to look the part, even if you did not know what the part was.
So when the corporate lawyer asked my friend how she has planned the promotion, the only answer she could give was that The Lord had ordered her steps. Being in the fierce corporate legal world, he was used to hostile takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, boardroom dramas. To him, you get by in life only through skilful cerebral, intellectual strategy. Imagine his shock to hear that none such deliberate strategy had been planned.
Fear not my child, I am with you always
Tuesday 9 September 2008
Girl, Look at You!
Celebrating Gender Female
This one is particularly for my lady subscribers: this landed on my inbox this morning - I just had to share it.
Girl, just look at you, with your pretty self. You are so beautiful! Not only are you beautiful, but you have the nerve to be talented and gifted by God. Hold your head up Girl and know that you are loved and appreciated. Don't give the enemy any place to cause you to have low self-esteem or doubt. You are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. This is your year to decree it and speak it!
This is the year of new beginnings. So get your step on Girl, because God is faithful to perform all that He has promised to you! Be confident in Him and His word. The words you speak from your mouth determine your outcome. Why not speak good and positive things over your life Girl? You are not defeated but rather you are more than a conqueror. You have been through a lot in your life and look at you now, just as pretty and as strong as ever!
Oh, how blessed you are. Look what God has done and look where He has brought you from. Begin to bless God and praise Him for all that He has done, and for making you so beautiful! He had you in His precious hands all the time. Your life is orchestrated by Him. He knows you and what is best for you. Believe that He has even greater things in store for you and your family. Girl, get over the silly stuff and grab hold of faith. Seek God as never before. Sure, times are hard, but God is Good! Learn to love who He has made you to be. There is no one like YOU. -Author Unknown
Celebrating the love of Christ, The King
This one is particularly for my lady subscribers: this landed on my inbox this morning - I just had to share it.
Girl, just look at you, with your pretty self. You are so beautiful! Not only are you beautiful, but you have the nerve to be talented and gifted by God. Hold your head up Girl and know that you are loved and appreciated. Don't give the enemy any place to cause you to have low self-esteem or doubt. You are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. This is your year to decree it and speak it!
This is the year of new beginnings. So get your step on Girl, because God is faithful to perform all that He has promised to you! Be confident in Him and His word. The words you speak from your mouth determine your outcome. Why not speak good and positive things over your life Girl? You are not defeated but rather you are more than a conqueror. You have been through a lot in your life and look at you now, just as pretty and as strong as ever!
Oh, how blessed you are. Look what God has done and look where He has brought you from. Begin to bless God and praise Him for all that He has done, and for making you so beautiful! He had you in His precious hands all the time. Your life is orchestrated by Him. He knows you and what is best for you. Believe that He has even greater things in store for you and your family. Girl, get over the silly stuff and grab hold of faith. Seek God as never before. Sure, times are hard, but God is Good! Learn to love who He has made you to be. There is no one like YOU. -Author Unknown
Celebrating the love of Christ, The King
Saturday 23 August 2008
Whose hope The Lord is
And life continues to be eventful even as it is exciting.
I am consistently fascinated by the richness and diversity of the people that I come into contact with day in, day out; and as I reflected on this feature this morning and I thought to myself: what a wonderful world.
I remain exuberantly expectant.
Exuberantly expectant of friendships yet to be made; the business networks yet to be built; and the concomitant great and wonderful experiences to be enjoyed in concert. The knowledge to be shared, the knowledge to be developed. I am grateful for these times.
Leadership, teamwork and excellence happen to be our organisational values. I put it to you that leadership and excellence is remote without teamwork, and I suppose even as I go on about this wonderful world what I am actually celebrating is the value of teamwork, the value of the coming together of people, the coming together of ideas, of experience – and then the makings of creativity, innovation and prosperity.
Moses couldn’t go it alone. His father-in-law advised him to nominate helpers. Jesus, with all His infinite wisdom and omniscience chose not to go it alone and nominated His own fishers of men. God Himself said that it is not good for man to be alone – that he needed a helpmate. He also said that two cannot walk together unless they agree.
No man is an island, and we need relationships to strengthen us, challenge us, celebrate us, and connect us into His purpose. I am learning not to judge on face value but rather to continually commit my days into The Lord’s miracle working hands so that each day brings with it its own discoveries, the makings of fresh friendships and of bright business relationships of His making, even as I nurture those that have been established through His making in times past. And I repeat again, it’s a wonderful world.
One of my favourite passages in the Christian Scriptures is Jeremiah 17:7 which reads: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord – whose hope The Lord is.
For me these words stem goose-pimpling excitement. I am anticipating exhilarating times ahead. Strangely enough, I am also expecting that these times ahead might be demanding times – demanding of my intellect, my prayer life, my faith, my relationships.
But it’s all good, for that is the rhythm of life. I have learnt that all things work together for the good of them that love The Lord, for them who are called according to His purpose. Since all things will work together for our good, the hard drive of my mind is formatted to be convinced that it IS a wonderful world.
I am consistently fascinated by the richness and diversity of the people that I come into contact with day in, day out; and as I reflected on this feature this morning and I thought to myself: what a wonderful world.
I remain exuberantly expectant.
Exuberantly expectant of friendships yet to be made; the business networks yet to be built; and the concomitant great and wonderful experiences to be enjoyed in concert. The knowledge to be shared, the knowledge to be developed. I am grateful for these times.
Leadership, teamwork and excellence happen to be our organisational values. I put it to you that leadership and excellence is remote without teamwork, and I suppose even as I go on about this wonderful world what I am actually celebrating is the value of teamwork, the value of the coming together of people, the coming together of ideas, of experience – and then the makings of creativity, innovation and prosperity.
Moses couldn’t go it alone. His father-in-law advised him to nominate helpers. Jesus, with all His infinite wisdom and omniscience chose not to go it alone and nominated His own fishers of men. God Himself said that it is not good for man to be alone – that he needed a helpmate. He also said that two cannot walk together unless they agree.
No man is an island, and we need relationships to strengthen us, challenge us, celebrate us, and connect us into His purpose. I am learning not to judge on face value but rather to continually commit my days into The Lord’s miracle working hands so that each day brings with it its own discoveries, the makings of fresh friendships and of bright business relationships of His making, even as I nurture those that have been established through His making in times past. And I repeat again, it’s a wonderful world.
One of my favourite passages in the Christian Scriptures is Jeremiah 17:7 which reads: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord – whose hope The Lord is.
For me these words stem goose-pimpling excitement. I am anticipating exhilarating times ahead. Strangely enough, I am also expecting that these times ahead might be demanding times – demanding of my intellect, my prayer life, my faith, my relationships.
But it’s all good, for that is the rhythm of life. I have learnt that all things work together for the good of them that love The Lord, for them who are called according to His purpose. Since all things will work together for our good, the hard drive of my mind is formatted to be convinced that it IS a wonderful world.
Saturday 2 August 2008
Exercising my Christian Faith
Surrounded by the huge rocks and mountains which distinct the Abuja landscape as we travelled to Kaduna by road from Federal Capital Territory a few days ago, I remembered the Aburi mountains in Ghana. I remembered my early morning running expeditions to the Aburi mountains and for a moment and so very concurrently I missed Ghana and desired to reside in Abuja forever. The clean air; the calming and fascinating landscape; even the excitement of running to the peak of any one of these rocks and mountain.....
And I thought that the God who created me out of mud must Himself be a runner.
There is something absolutely and definitively exhilarating about running, or should I say, exercising per se. Physical exercise uplifts your mood, keeps you fit, makes you stronger physically, promotes mental agility, lowers your stress levels, and, quite frankly, makes you feel so, so, so very goooooooood. And then for a moment all I wanted to do was run.
Reducing stress levels with running focused retail therapy
And that is exactly what I did when I returned to base.
With my stress level threatening to reach boiling point as we worked on spreadsheets all day without our figures correlating , I out went in the late afternoon for a bit of retail therapy at the nearby Nike retail store.
Running shoes, running wear, even a mobile phone holder for my running gear so I could take those all important telephone calls even as I run to reach the peak of Abuja’s exhilarating mountain heights. Without so much as any form of food having passed through my mouth the whole day in the midst of work demands, when I returned to the office from my retail adventure, we somehow managed to reconcile our figures. I think it was the anticipation of the run that did it. I was ready for my run.
One of my colleagues suggested that we should get something to eat since we had not eaten all day. Not me, I said. I need my exercise elixir.
So go running I did. Did I sleep well that night or did I sleep well that night. And it did not stop there. I woke up the next morning all so very upbeat. Throughout the day Ms ArtofLiving was on high alert at the client site. The MBA assignment that I could not even bear to look at let alone attempt to start over the past few weeks began to see the light of day of my thought and consideration.
Oh, the joys of exercise
And then I thought, this thing must be genetic. When I was a child my mother often took me along with her for her sundown walks. One of my sisters, yes, the one I often write about, Ms Christian Writer UK, is a running freak….even worse than me, I think – she buys athlete magazines…!.
Well, genetic or not, I resolved that exercising my Christian faith requires me to exercise my physical body, my intellectual mind and my spiritual soul. Then I went to my road map, the Christian Scriptures, for answers.
Well, I did not find that the Holy Bible preaches directly that we exercise, but it definitely advises us that we stay healthy, and exercise is mentioned as one of those avenues for staying healthy. Try this:
Take good care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Ephesians 5:29 tells us, "After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it..."
And the first part of 1 Timothy 4:8 informs us, “For physical training is of some value…”
Even as I write, someone very close to me lies on a hospital bed suffering from a mild stroke, the outcome of diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle and inappropriate eating habits.
So I thought to myself: the Art of Living the Christian lifestyle– exercise your soul in worship of Christ our Saviour, exercise your mind through intellectual engagement [read, read and then after that read some more], and exercise your physical body even so that you can enjoy the fruit of the exercise of your soul and the exercise of your mind.
And I thought that the God who created me out of mud must Himself be a runner.
There is something absolutely and definitively exhilarating about running, or should I say, exercising per se. Physical exercise uplifts your mood, keeps you fit, makes you stronger physically, promotes mental agility, lowers your stress levels, and, quite frankly, makes you feel so, so, so very goooooooood. And then for a moment all I wanted to do was run.
Reducing stress levels with running focused retail therapy
And that is exactly what I did when I returned to base.
With my stress level threatening to reach boiling point as we worked on spreadsheets all day without our figures correlating , I out went in the late afternoon for a bit of retail therapy at the nearby Nike retail store.
Running shoes, running wear, even a mobile phone holder for my running gear so I could take those all important telephone calls even as I run to reach the peak of Abuja’s exhilarating mountain heights. Without so much as any form of food having passed through my mouth the whole day in the midst of work demands, when I returned to the office from my retail adventure, we somehow managed to reconcile our figures. I think it was the anticipation of the run that did it. I was ready for my run.
One of my colleagues suggested that we should get something to eat since we had not eaten all day. Not me, I said. I need my exercise elixir.
So go running I did. Did I sleep well that night or did I sleep well that night. And it did not stop there. I woke up the next morning all so very upbeat. Throughout the day Ms ArtofLiving was on high alert at the client site. The MBA assignment that I could not even bear to look at let alone attempt to start over the past few weeks began to see the light of day of my thought and consideration.
Oh, the joys of exercise
And then I thought, this thing must be genetic. When I was a child my mother often took me along with her for her sundown walks. One of my sisters, yes, the one I often write about, Ms Christian Writer UK, is a running freak….even worse than me, I think – she buys athlete magazines…!.
Well, genetic or not, I resolved that exercising my Christian faith requires me to exercise my physical body, my intellectual mind and my spiritual soul. Then I went to my road map, the Christian Scriptures, for answers.
Well, I did not find that the Holy Bible preaches directly that we exercise, but it definitely advises us that we stay healthy, and exercise is mentioned as one of those avenues for staying healthy. Try this:
Take good care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Ephesians 5:29 tells us, "After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it..."
And the first part of 1 Timothy 4:8 informs us, “For physical training is of some value…”
Even as I write, someone very close to me lies on a hospital bed suffering from a mild stroke, the outcome of diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle and inappropriate eating habits.
So I thought to myself: the Art of Living the Christian lifestyle– exercise your soul in worship of Christ our Saviour, exercise your mind through intellectual engagement [read, read and then after that read some more], and exercise your physical body even so that you can enjoy the fruit of the exercise of your soul and the exercise of your mind.
Monday 28 July 2008
Risk and Return: the Law of Attraction
The Yorubas have a proverb which warns "let your thoughts and words spell prosperity and goodness for yourself". Gourmet food for thought.
I sat across the table interviewing prospective managers for a friend's SME, and I was traumatised to learn of the extent to which the interviewees were prepared to toy and take terrible risks with their future. Why? Well, could you imagine being asked the details of your preferred salary at the end of an interview and you answering: "well, Sir, please, I prefer not to talk about money at this stage. " Or, "well, Sir, anything you give me, please"
Does that mean you could consider a salary cut? "I could, sir. This is a great company."
If I give you a salary cut you will take it, my friend asked, visibly annoyed. "Sir, don't be angry, please. I don't want to sound greedy by asking for something that is too high."
Indeed.
Whatever happened to the notion of having a vision and running with it? Whatever happened to the notion of self value? Whatever happened to the notion of wanting a return for the risk you/your parents took in paying for that first and or second university degree? Yes, we were interviewing first and second degree holders, and needless to say none of the candidates who magnanimously offered to receive a salary cut made it to the second round of interviews. The law of attraction was definitely at work - we were not attracted to desperation, or generous humility on that day. No, not us.
And yet these are the very same people who religiously attend church week in week out and pray for prosperity. Yet these are the very same people who pay tithes and offering and ask God in prayer to pour me out a blessing - good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. Was it St Paul that said that?
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. King David, right?
I think God is in the business of rewarding the risk of faith with bountiful return, when your thoughts and your words align with His, returning prosperity and goodness.
I also think, with that proverb, the Yorubas are a special people, no?
I sat across the table interviewing prospective managers for a friend's SME, and I was traumatised to learn of the extent to which the interviewees were prepared to toy and take terrible risks with their future. Why? Well, could you imagine being asked the details of your preferred salary at the end of an interview and you answering: "well, Sir, please, I prefer not to talk about money at this stage. " Or, "well, Sir, anything you give me, please"
Does that mean you could consider a salary cut? "I could, sir. This is a great company."
If I give you a salary cut you will take it, my friend asked, visibly annoyed. "Sir, don't be angry, please. I don't want to sound greedy by asking for something that is too high."
Indeed.
Whatever happened to the notion of having a vision and running with it? Whatever happened to the notion of self value? Whatever happened to the notion of wanting a return for the risk you/your parents took in paying for that first and or second university degree? Yes, we were interviewing first and second degree holders, and needless to say none of the candidates who magnanimously offered to receive a salary cut made it to the second round of interviews. The law of attraction was definitely at work - we were not attracted to desperation, or generous humility on that day. No, not us.
And yet these are the very same people who religiously attend church week in week out and pray for prosperity. Yet these are the very same people who pay tithes and offering and ask God in prayer to pour me out a blessing - good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. Was it St Paul that said that?
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. King David, right?
I think God is in the business of rewarding the risk of faith with bountiful return, when your thoughts and your words align with His, returning prosperity and goodness.
I also think, with that proverb, the Yorubas are a special people, no?
Friday 25 July 2008
Remember Me?
Erm, hellooooo. Remember me? Miss ArtoflivingRuka has been pre, pre, pre-occupied.
Blog subscribers forgive. I beg.
Let's just say the second half of 2008 has started with a bang. But...my ever funny, ever inspiring sister posted an inspirational piece on her blog a few days ago. It's a must read, must reflect on piece. Anglian or Catholic trapped in a Pentecostal body I may not be, but there are some home truths in this.
Promise to post my own original piece before the end of July 2008. Yes. Promise!
Blog subscribers forgive. I beg.
Let's just say the second half of 2008 has started with a bang. But...my ever funny, ever inspiring sister posted an inspirational piece on her blog a few days ago. It's a must read, must reflect on piece. Anglian or Catholic trapped in a Pentecostal body I may not be, but there are some home truths in this.
Promise to post my own original piece before the end of July 2008. Yes. Promise!
Sunday 8 June 2008
Living Differently
I had arrived early at the mall and thought to use my time efficiently by purchasing a book. I was some 20 minutes early for my rendezvous with a friend. I couldn’t just sit at the café, staring into the open space and wait for my friend to come in through the doors, could I? Better find something useful to do as you wait.
So I went upstairs to the Nu Metro bookstore. Up and down the aisles, looking for an inspirational title. I picked this one up: The Life@Work Book – Sixteen Respected Leaders Talk About Blending Biblical Wisdom and Business Excellence. Very well.
It wasn’t even a few minutes after I had sat down at the table in the café that my friend arrived. I never did get a chance to look purposefully engaged as I sat and read a book waiting for my friend.
Easy like Sunday Morning
I got the chance to start reading the book this morning. Maybe it’s part being rebellious, part being an avid reader who dislikes book introductions, I exercised my prerogative of starting the book from any chapter of my choice. Chapter 9 stared me in the face as I flicked the book open.
Chapter 9
Vision: Seeing Beyond the Majority from Living Above the Level of Mediocrity by Charles R Swindell.
Coincidence? God-Incidence? Well, I never. I begin to read.
The introduction to chapter nine reads like this:
“Charles Swindoll was taking stock of the attitudes of Americans, and he could not help but notice a disturbing reality: People settle. When they could be great, they accept being good – or perhaps just being OK. When they could shine like the brightest star, they opt to put forth only enough enragy for the required soft glow. They settle.”
“Worse,” the introduction goes on, “this acceptance of mediocrity is just as common among followers of Christ – perhaps more common – as it is among unbelievers. Swindoll began to wonder: As believers in the God of the universe – the God that defines perfection – shouldn’t we soar like eagles instead of crawling like worms?”
As I began to read the core of chapter 9 itself, it becomes clearer how Charles Swindoll ascertains that one should live beyond mediocrity: with vision, determination, priorities and being accountable.
Returning to Ascension
I begin to think of the likes of Obama, Kola Karim and the likes of Hilary Clinton. What am I saying, I even begin to think about dear friends and family members to whom all manner of misfortune have collided with but yet they remained determined to ascend, remained committed to their goal and vision (“that’s all I know to do. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” I have often heard), and charted out their priorities, even if it meant separating yourself from the crowd and being classified as ‘deep and boring.’
Never mind them, I say. When you get to the other side you will fly your collar and they will say, “I knew her. I knew him. We worked with the same organisation some years back in Kalakuta.”
Attributes of vision
Swindoll went on to describe the attributes of vision – attitude, belief, capacity, determination and enthusiasm.
Attitude: when you have a vision, it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than being negative… “not foolishly positive, as though in fantasy, for you are reading God into your circumstances.” The ever present G-factor that must drive our hopes and our dreams.
Belief: refuse to give into temptation and doubt. Maintain a strong belief in the power of God, confidence in yourself by the grace of God and confidence in those around you who are in similar battles
Capacity: a willingness to be stretched. Allowing your capacity to be invaded by His power. I hear that loud and clear. There has been many an occasion when I found myself saying: “Father, I have done all that I know to do.” His response? “Remember My Word that says, “Having done all, stand,”.”
Determination: that speaks for itself, right?
Enthusiasm – need I say more?
June 08
I had determined to centre my prayers and quiet thoughts during this month of June on the issue of purpose, the manifestation of purpose, and for the closing of the gap between the here and now and of destiny.
I think it no surprise therefore that I ‘coincidentally’ picked up The Life@Work Book.
So I went upstairs to the Nu Metro bookstore. Up and down the aisles, looking for an inspirational title. I picked this one up: The Life@Work Book – Sixteen Respected Leaders Talk About Blending Biblical Wisdom and Business Excellence. Very well.
It wasn’t even a few minutes after I had sat down at the table in the café that my friend arrived. I never did get a chance to look purposefully engaged as I sat and read a book waiting for my friend.
Easy like Sunday Morning
I got the chance to start reading the book this morning. Maybe it’s part being rebellious, part being an avid reader who dislikes book introductions, I exercised my prerogative of starting the book from any chapter of my choice. Chapter 9 stared me in the face as I flicked the book open.
Chapter 9
Vision: Seeing Beyond the Majority from Living Above the Level of Mediocrity by Charles R Swindell.
Coincidence? God-Incidence? Well, I never. I begin to read.
The introduction to chapter nine reads like this:
“Charles Swindoll was taking stock of the attitudes of Americans, and he could not help but notice a disturbing reality: People settle. When they could be great, they accept being good – or perhaps just being OK. When they could shine like the brightest star, they opt to put forth only enough enragy for the required soft glow. They settle.”
“Worse,” the introduction goes on, “this acceptance of mediocrity is just as common among followers of Christ – perhaps more common – as it is among unbelievers. Swindoll began to wonder: As believers in the God of the universe – the God that defines perfection – shouldn’t we soar like eagles instead of crawling like worms?”
As I began to read the core of chapter 9 itself, it becomes clearer how Charles Swindoll ascertains that one should live beyond mediocrity: with vision, determination, priorities and being accountable.
Returning to Ascension
I begin to think of the likes of Obama, Kola Karim and the likes of Hilary Clinton. What am I saying, I even begin to think about dear friends and family members to whom all manner of misfortune have collided with but yet they remained determined to ascend, remained committed to their goal and vision (“that’s all I know to do. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” I have often heard), and charted out their priorities, even if it meant separating yourself from the crowd and being classified as ‘deep and boring.’
Never mind them, I say. When you get to the other side you will fly your collar and they will say, “I knew her. I knew him. We worked with the same organisation some years back in Kalakuta.”
Attributes of vision
Swindoll went on to describe the attributes of vision – attitude, belief, capacity, determination and enthusiasm.
Attitude: when you have a vision, it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than being negative… “not foolishly positive, as though in fantasy, for you are reading God into your circumstances.” The ever present G-factor that must drive our hopes and our dreams.
Belief: refuse to give into temptation and doubt. Maintain a strong belief in the power of God, confidence in yourself by the grace of God and confidence in those around you who are in similar battles
Capacity: a willingness to be stretched. Allowing your capacity to be invaded by His power. I hear that loud and clear. There has been many an occasion when I found myself saying: “Father, I have done all that I know to do.” His response? “Remember My Word that says, “Having done all, stand,”.”
Determination: that speaks for itself, right?
Enthusiasm – need I say more?
June 08
I had determined to centre my prayers and quiet thoughts during this month of June on the issue of purpose, the manifestation of purpose, and for the closing of the gap between the here and now and of destiny.
I think it no surprise therefore that I ‘coincidentally’ picked up The Life@Work Book.
Friday 6 June 2008
Ascension
History is indeed for each and every one of us to make, and even as I remain totally and absolutely thrilled at the nomination of Barack Obama as the Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate I am reminded that Obama’s ascension is simply a result of his pursuit of purpose.
Never mind what they tried to associate him to in the teaching and preaching of Rev. Wright. Never mind that some have said “not in my lifetime” would a black man be a US Presidential candidate. Never mind the sceptics who continue to have misgivings about the ability of a black man to run the United States of America. With God all things are possible.
I doubt whether Obama set out from his youth to be a US Presidential candidate. What I am inclined to believe is that he somewhere along the way developed a passion for politics and suffered a vision of bringing about social and economic transformation through the political arena. His responsibility was simply to pursue that dream, and to have, to use his own slogan, the audacity of hope.
You and me
What absolutely blows my mind is that he is just an ordinary person. And that gets me excited. It gets me excited because I realise that there is greatness in each and every one of us. Sure, your and my greatness may not take us to the White House, but it will surely take us to a place of fulfilment. Our responsibility is to pursue that dream and be responsible enough to see through the actualisation of the vision.
“Not me,” I hear you say. “I need at least a million dollars to actualise my vision.” I am sure when Obama ran for Congress a few years back he may very well have said the same thing. The difference is that he stayed true to his dream and attracted the finances needed then and now to actualise that dream.
Who needs money?
It was just the other day that my Pastor said, on the topic of purpose, you don’t need money to realise your dreams, you just need a vision.” I didn’t quite make sense to me but I took him at his word and gave the statement some serious thought when I got home. What my Pastor was saying was that your vision is a magnet to which someone will be drawn. Someone will be drawn and provide for your vision.
Your responsibility is to have a vision, market the vision and somewhere along the way the road map will become clearer. How so? Well, how about this.
Fiction story no 1
You want to go to be a great entrepreneur and study at the Wharton Business School. But (and there’s always a comma, in fact many commas, along the way) your parents can barely afford to put you through secondary school.
Days are spent in studying hard in school, homework is not completed after school for you must work the family farm after school for therein is the family subsistence. The evenings are spent studying by candle light for there is no electricity in poverty stricken area that your parents can afford, or barely afford to live. So, the dream of being a great entrepreneur and studying at Wharton seems to slowly pass you by.
But then, you still continue to study. You complete your secondary school education with flying colours and your teachers (out of their own volition) use their networks to seek a scholarship for you to enter into a University – the first in your family ever to embark on such a course. See how your vision, when tilled, draws providers to you?
It does not stop there. You pass undergraduate study with First Class Honours, having studied hard and in the same manner and more in which you studied at secondary school. And guess what, you apply for a full scholarship to complete a Masters in Business Administration at Wharton, and guess what, it is awarded. Maybe it’s not awarded in the first year you apply though, maybe it is awarded in the second year, but fact of the matter is, it is awarded eventually and you realise your dream.
My own fiction as this story might be, the reality is that there are thousands and thousands and thousands of such similar stories and occurrences every single day. Testimonies of God proving over and over again that what is impossible with man is possible with Him. He didn’t promise that our stories would be devoid of the detours of the Rev Wrights, but He has promised to see us through successfully to the other side.
Nigeria’s Young Global Leader
Very recently the World Economic Forum named a Nigerian, Mr Kola Karim, among the 200 odd top young global leaders for 2008. Each year the World Economic Forum recognises young leaders under the age of 40 from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.
I don’t know Kola Karim that well but I have met him a couple of times. Apart from being one of the funniest and most pleasant of people that I know, I am sure Kola did not set out in this race to be a World Economic Forum young global leader. What I am sure he set out to do was to simply yet energetically pursue a business idea. He had a vision which he marketed and worked through, and others provided for that vision in the form of business associates, partners, financiers etc.
I’ll finish with the words of Mr Karim on being named a young global leader:
“It is a great honour to be elected to this community. I dedicate this honour to the 900 million unknown heroes of Africa who work daily towards meting the challenge of our generation, to those who use their imagination, initiative and indomitable spirit to build a new society, and to those who seize the God-given opportunity to help create a new outcome for Africa. This honour is theirs, and I am humbled to receive it on their behalf.”
I celebrate Kola’s public ascension in his chosen field.
And I celebrate the faith of every single American who dared to give hope and change a chance with their vote and support of the Obama campaign.
Never mind what they tried to associate him to in the teaching and preaching of Rev. Wright. Never mind that some have said “not in my lifetime” would a black man be a US Presidential candidate. Never mind the sceptics who continue to have misgivings about the ability of a black man to run the United States of America. With God all things are possible.
I doubt whether Obama set out from his youth to be a US Presidential candidate. What I am inclined to believe is that he somewhere along the way developed a passion for politics and suffered a vision of bringing about social and economic transformation through the political arena. His responsibility was simply to pursue that dream, and to have, to use his own slogan, the audacity of hope.
You and me
What absolutely blows my mind is that he is just an ordinary person. And that gets me excited. It gets me excited because I realise that there is greatness in each and every one of us. Sure, your and my greatness may not take us to the White House, but it will surely take us to a place of fulfilment. Our responsibility is to pursue that dream and be responsible enough to see through the actualisation of the vision.
“Not me,” I hear you say. “I need at least a million dollars to actualise my vision.” I am sure when Obama ran for Congress a few years back he may very well have said the same thing. The difference is that he stayed true to his dream and attracted the finances needed then and now to actualise that dream.
Who needs money?
It was just the other day that my Pastor said, on the topic of purpose, you don’t need money to realise your dreams, you just need a vision.” I didn’t quite make sense to me but I took him at his word and gave the statement some serious thought when I got home. What my Pastor was saying was that your vision is a magnet to which someone will be drawn. Someone will be drawn and provide for your vision.
Your responsibility is to have a vision, market the vision and somewhere along the way the road map will become clearer. How so? Well, how about this.
Fiction story no 1
You want to go to be a great entrepreneur and study at the Wharton Business School. But (and there’s always a comma, in fact many commas, along the way) your parents can barely afford to put you through secondary school.
Days are spent in studying hard in school, homework is not completed after school for you must work the family farm after school for therein is the family subsistence. The evenings are spent studying by candle light for there is no electricity in poverty stricken area that your parents can afford, or barely afford to live. So, the dream of being a great entrepreneur and studying at Wharton seems to slowly pass you by.
But then, you still continue to study. You complete your secondary school education with flying colours and your teachers (out of their own volition) use their networks to seek a scholarship for you to enter into a University – the first in your family ever to embark on such a course. See how your vision, when tilled, draws providers to you?
It does not stop there. You pass undergraduate study with First Class Honours, having studied hard and in the same manner and more in which you studied at secondary school. And guess what, you apply for a full scholarship to complete a Masters in Business Administration at Wharton, and guess what, it is awarded. Maybe it’s not awarded in the first year you apply though, maybe it is awarded in the second year, but fact of the matter is, it is awarded eventually and you realise your dream.
My own fiction as this story might be, the reality is that there are thousands and thousands and thousands of such similar stories and occurrences every single day. Testimonies of God proving over and over again that what is impossible with man is possible with Him. He didn’t promise that our stories would be devoid of the detours of the Rev Wrights, but He has promised to see us through successfully to the other side.
Nigeria’s Young Global Leader
Very recently the World Economic Forum named a Nigerian, Mr Kola Karim, among the 200 odd top young global leaders for 2008. Each year the World Economic Forum recognises young leaders under the age of 40 from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.
I don’t know Kola Karim that well but I have met him a couple of times. Apart from being one of the funniest and most pleasant of people that I know, I am sure Kola did not set out in this race to be a World Economic Forum young global leader. What I am sure he set out to do was to simply yet energetically pursue a business idea. He had a vision which he marketed and worked through, and others provided for that vision in the form of business associates, partners, financiers etc.
I’ll finish with the words of Mr Karim on being named a young global leader:
“It is a great honour to be elected to this community. I dedicate this honour to the 900 million unknown heroes of Africa who work daily towards meting the challenge of our generation, to those who use their imagination, initiative and indomitable spirit to build a new society, and to those who seize the God-given opportunity to help create a new outcome for Africa. This honour is theirs, and I am humbled to receive it on their behalf.”
I celebrate Kola’s public ascension in his chosen field.
And I celebrate the faith of every single American who dared to give hope and change a chance with their vote and support of the Obama campaign.
Saturday 24 May 2008
Acceptance
I've just had a funny, funny, funny moment on accepting your lot - taking the good and bad in everything....
I bumped into a South African friend earlier on today. Normally bubbly and full of joie de vivre, she looked somewhat discomforted. "Hey, how was your day today?' I asked. "Not sure," she said, even as she scratched her blonde head. "I've been on the go for 10 hours - I offered to view one of our new offices in Ikeja today. I spent two and a half hours getting there, I was at the site for three hours and spent another two odd hours getting back, and I am thinking, I want those five hours of my life that I spent in traffic back so that I could use them productively."
I laughed my head off like it was a laughing competition.
Honestly, my friend was quite peturbed. She kind of just could not get that it took five whole hours of driving to get three whole hours of productivity! And she was burnt out from the whole experience. I tell you, I laughed and laughed even as she was peturbed.
But you know what? She said, "Oh, well, that's my occupational hazard, I guess. Thank God that's over with." I love that spirit
So, I kind of thought, Ms ArtofLiving, whenever you next have a 'not so pleasant' occupational experience, think of it only as an occupational hazard.
Nice weekend, folks!
I bumped into a South African friend earlier on today. Normally bubbly and full of joie de vivre, she looked somewhat discomforted. "Hey, how was your day today?' I asked. "Not sure," she said, even as she scratched her blonde head. "I've been on the go for 10 hours - I offered to view one of our new offices in Ikeja today. I spent two and a half hours getting there, I was at the site for three hours and spent another two odd hours getting back, and I am thinking, I want those five hours of my life that I spent in traffic back so that I could use them productively."
I laughed my head off like it was a laughing competition.
Honestly, my friend was quite peturbed. She kind of just could not get that it took five whole hours of driving to get three whole hours of productivity! And she was burnt out from the whole experience. I tell you, I laughed and laughed even as she was peturbed.
But you know what? She said, "Oh, well, that's my occupational hazard, I guess. Thank God that's over with." I love that spirit
So, I kind of thought, Ms ArtofLiving, whenever you next have a 'not so pleasant' occupational experience, think of it only as an occupational hazard.
Nice weekend, folks!
Wednesday 21 May 2008
Intuition
Can I put it to you that there is no such thing as a coincidence? And that the majority of our structured and measured decisions have an intended end beyond that which we ourselves intended? Can I?
Not having ready access to the internet over the past few weeks, I've had time to think through the next couple of postings. The issue of coincidences and God-incidences continued to surround so much of my being, and I kind of figured that I must talk write about it.
I'll start with one of my claims to fame, my sister Abidemi Sanusi. I remember when her book God has Daughters Too was published, I ordered about 10 copies and gifted them to friends. Practically every single person that I gave that book to spoke about how it was a tremendous blessing. In fact, a friend was visiting Ghana for the weekend at the time and I gave her a copy of the book. Two days Iater she rang me from Nigeria to thank me for the book and to say how she so much needed to read the book - it has provided answers and comfort for many of the challenges she was presently going through.
Of course I mentioned this to Abidemi. Her response? It's amazing how God works. He lays it on your heart to write a book, you write it, forget about it and move on to the next project, and then three years down the line hundreds of people tell you the book was written for them.
Coincidence?
I remember three odd years ago I was in Freetown on a short assignment. 7.30pm. Work is done for the day and I am in my unremarkable hotel room. And I am thinking, I need to make better use of times like this. After weeks of thinking how that might be, I decide to embark on an MBA course. A few weeks ago I am giving a presentation on an assignment using all the knowlegde and insight I had gained from the Making Policy module of the MBA, and the participants spoke to how 'on the ball' the presentation was. And I thought: (i) thank God and (ii) coincidences.
The last one for the road. I am currently out of Ghana on assignment. Before I left Ghana all the horror stories that you hear about the country I find myself in threatened to keep me from action. Nevertheless I take the step. I arrive. In absolutely every area that I had had sleepless nights over, a colleague who had earlier arrived from Cameroon readily and with good grace assisted me on every step. Having had to go through those same logistical issues himself, he knew where and how to go about every 'settling in' issue I had. Talk about a forerunner.
Okay, this is really the last one for the road now...
An on church? Well, my church in Ghana has a branch in this city. The only thing is, the branch is far, far away from home and work. So I figure, well, I might only be doing church on Sundays. The week I contact the church office here to find out the logistics of getting to the church, I am told that a mid-week service is being launched in the area where I work - 10 minutes drive from my workplace in fact.
Coincidence? God-incidence? Intuition? None of the above?
Not having ready access to the internet over the past few weeks, I've had time to think through the next couple of postings. The issue of coincidences and God-incidences continued to surround so much of my being, and I kind of figured that I must talk write about it.
I'll start with one of my claims to fame, my sister Abidemi Sanusi. I remember when her book God has Daughters Too was published, I ordered about 10 copies and gifted them to friends. Practically every single person that I gave that book to spoke about how it was a tremendous blessing. In fact, a friend was visiting Ghana for the weekend at the time and I gave her a copy of the book. Two days Iater she rang me from Nigeria to thank me for the book and to say how she so much needed to read the book - it has provided answers and comfort for many of the challenges she was presently going through.
Of course I mentioned this to Abidemi. Her response? It's amazing how God works. He lays it on your heart to write a book, you write it, forget about it and move on to the next project, and then three years down the line hundreds of people tell you the book was written for them.
Coincidence?
I remember three odd years ago I was in Freetown on a short assignment. 7.30pm. Work is done for the day and I am in my unremarkable hotel room. And I am thinking, I need to make better use of times like this. After weeks of thinking how that might be, I decide to embark on an MBA course. A few weeks ago I am giving a presentation on an assignment using all the knowlegde and insight I had gained from the Making Policy module of the MBA, and the participants spoke to how 'on the ball' the presentation was. And I thought: (i) thank God and (ii) coincidences.
The last one for the road. I am currently out of Ghana on assignment. Before I left Ghana all the horror stories that you hear about the country I find myself in threatened to keep me from action. Nevertheless I take the step. I arrive. In absolutely every area that I had had sleepless nights over, a colleague who had earlier arrived from Cameroon readily and with good grace assisted me on every step. Having had to go through those same logistical issues himself, he knew where and how to go about every 'settling in' issue I had. Talk about a forerunner.
Okay, this is really the last one for the road now...
An on church? Well, my church in Ghana has a branch in this city. The only thing is, the branch is far, far away from home and work. So I figure, well, I might only be doing church on Sundays. The week I contact the church office here to find out the logistics of getting to the church, I am told that a mid-week service is being launched in the area where I work - 10 minutes drive from my workplace in fact.
Coincidence? God-incidence? Intuition? None of the above?
Monday 28 April 2008
Examining Principal Agent Relationships
I often like to believe that my responses to most issues, challenges and tasks are temperate and measured. Well, I guess that would apply for the majority of cases, but of course like everyone else I have my turns. But that is not a topic of discussion today – thank God.
I had an experience at the bank last week which allowed me to enjoy (as a principal) the benefits of a principal-agent relationship, but also caused me to more closely examine some of my other principal-agent relationships and to ask how ‘temperate’ and ‘measured’ my responses to these relationships are – particularly in those relationships where I am not the principal. Get it? Well, try this.
So, I am at the bank. They had hand delivered one of my bank cards, but, I guess for security reasons, they had asked that I physically come into the bank to collect my pin number. I had considered how inefficient that whole process seemed, but… I thought to comply and not have a turn.
I had an experience at the bank last week which allowed me to enjoy (as a principal) the benefits of a principal-agent relationship, but also caused me to more closely examine some of my other principal-agent relationships and to ask how ‘temperate’ and ‘measured’ my responses to these relationships are – particularly in those relationships where I am not the principal. Get it? Well, try this.
So, I am at the bank. They had hand delivered one of my bank cards, but, I guess for security reasons, they had asked that I physically come into the bank to collect my pin number. I had considered how inefficient that whole process seemed, but… I thought to comply and not have a turn.
At the Bank (international bank, mind)
Me: I am here to collect my PIN Number for my bank card
Bank staff: Miss Sanusi? I am sorry but you will have to come back. The lady who can give you that information has just stepped out.
Me: When will she be back?
Bank staff: Maybe around 2 or 3
Note – it was 8.45am or thereabouts.
The mouth-off begins. Measured and temperate. But. With full force authority of a not too happy principal.
(i) Are you telling me she is the only person in the bank that can give me the information I need?
(ii) You asked me to come into the bank to collect my PIN and now when I am here you expect me return later – reneging from responsibilities that I may have between 8-5pm – only to risk this lady not being here? You cannot be serious. I don’t have time to waste. I want my PIN number and I want it now
(iii) What? You are now asking me to call your bank later and check if the lady is back? What sort of customer service is this? The least I expect of you is to apologise to me and then ensure that your colleague calls me when she returns to give me my PIN number
(iv) Can I see your manager?
(v) The manager is not here? Please can you inform me of the actual hours when people do business in this bank so that I can ensure that I come into your bank during those hours?
(vi) All I have heard from you today is a chronicle of what cannot be done. I am your customer. My money is in your custody. I want to access my money which is in your custody and I am not leaving here until I have access to my money which is in your custody.
Mouth-off, mouth-off and mouth-off I did.
A few hours later, I am thinking of my other principal-agent relationships. For example:
(i) God and me
(ii) My mother and me
(iii) My pastor and me
(iv) My driver and me
So, I am thinking. How does God feel and respond when I fall short of His expectations? Does He mouth-off about me to Jesus and The Holy Spirit? “Lord, have mercy,” I thought. For I know I give Him more opportunities than I’d like to admit for any such mouth-offs.
But… He is God and not human. Thank God again. So, He does not mouth-off. Phew. I can exhale.
And then my mother? My pastor? Well, I guess they may rant and rave, but at the end of the day they are usually motivated by love. So when I fall short of their expectations, they may mouth-off, but it is in love.
So why did I not mouth-off in love to my bank staff? Very simple. My relationship with my bank is transactional. I pay to use their services. They impose bank charges and the likes on my transactions, don’t they? Quid pro quo.
God? Ever loving, ever faithful. He allowed the one and all transactional act two thousand odd years ago. Jesus paid in full for my sins and misdemeanors. Thereon, our relationship is transformational. He, The Principal; Ruka, the Agent.
Phew.
Tuesday 15 April 2008
Opportunities
There’s just something about this city called Lagos. I liken Lagos to New York, and although I have never been to Delhi, everything I have seen on television or heard recalled from the testimony of those I know who visit regularly, tells me that Lagos might very well want to twin with Delhi. Absolute chaos and absolutely electric exuberance all in the same breath.
I have been here 10 odd days now but I came prepared. Expecting little and expecting much at the same time. Expecting little in terms of infrastructural ease and expecting much, much more in terms of all kinds of business and personal opportunities. That is the spirit and the manner of Lagos.
In amongst the chaos, the potholes, the persistent and consistent power cuts, the erratic water supply and the absolutely implausible heavy traffic, every car number plate in Lagos comes with the slogan “Lagos State – the Centre of Excellence.” Unbelievable or what?
But then, on the other side of the coin, you have correspondingly mind boggling business opportunities and business success stories. The first African Forbes listed billionaire is a Nigerian. Then take a look at our sea ports - full of activity to the edge. The airports? Come and watch the jet queues for take off at peak times at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Please, come and watch. BA and many other European carriers fly out of Lagos twice a day, not counting the flights from Abuja. There’s something about Lagos.
But jokes aside, I think the Center of Excellence slogan is a prophecy. A prophecy that celebrates the spirit and the tenacity of Lagosians who, despite all odds, day in and day out survive, prevail, and triumph over and over again in their every days lives. “It’s my house, and I live here,” I hear Lagosians saying. I hear them saying “I choose to see the opportunities, I choose to celebrate our challenges even as I seek to live prosperously within the limits I find myself surrounded by.” There’s got to be something Biblical in that kind of spirit.
Watch this. Eko on ni baje is the political slogan of the new Governor of Lagos State. For my non-Yoruba brothers and sisters that translates into something like ‘Lagos will not go to ruins’ or ‘Lagos will not ruin.’ I say a huge amen to that. Mega city status that Lagos has now, the challenges for making this city work in terms of public services are humongous. But rather than shy away from these challenges the new administration in Lagos is taking the bull by the horn. Check them out on the official website – yes, there is one.
I say a huge big ups to the social, economic and political aspiration of every Lagosian. What are we aspiring to do, what have we achieved? I hear some ask. Go to London, go to Accra, go to Cape Town and see what is being achieved in the midst of order. Come to Lagos and watch the exuberance of many, the many committed to pursue happiness, wealth and opportunities in the midst of much, much less order.
I have been here 10 odd days now but I came prepared. Expecting little and expecting much at the same time. Expecting little in terms of infrastructural ease and expecting much, much more in terms of all kinds of business and personal opportunities. That is the spirit and the manner of Lagos.
In amongst the chaos, the potholes, the persistent and consistent power cuts, the erratic water supply and the absolutely implausible heavy traffic, every car number plate in Lagos comes with the slogan “Lagos State – the Centre of Excellence.” Unbelievable or what?
But then, on the other side of the coin, you have correspondingly mind boggling business opportunities and business success stories. The first African Forbes listed billionaire is a Nigerian. Then take a look at our sea ports - full of activity to the edge. The airports? Come and watch the jet queues for take off at peak times at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Please, come and watch. BA and many other European carriers fly out of Lagos twice a day, not counting the flights from Abuja. There’s something about Lagos.
But jokes aside, I think the Center of Excellence slogan is a prophecy. A prophecy that celebrates the spirit and the tenacity of Lagosians who, despite all odds, day in and day out survive, prevail, and triumph over and over again in their every days lives. “It’s my house, and I live here,” I hear Lagosians saying. I hear them saying “I choose to see the opportunities, I choose to celebrate our challenges even as I seek to live prosperously within the limits I find myself surrounded by.” There’s got to be something Biblical in that kind of spirit.
Watch this. Eko on ni baje is the political slogan of the new Governor of Lagos State. For my non-Yoruba brothers and sisters that translates into something like ‘Lagos will not go to ruins’ or ‘Lagos will not ruin.’ I say a huge amen to that. Mega city status that Lagos has now, the challenges for making this city work in terms of public services are humongous. But rather than shy away from these challenges the new administration in Lagos is taking the bull by the horn. Check them out on the official website – yes, there is one.
I say a huge big ups to the social, economic and political aspiration of every Lagosian. What are we aspiring to do, what have we achieved? I hear some ask. Go to London, go to Accra, go to Cape Town and see what is being achieved in the midst of order. Come to Lagos and watch the exuberance of many, the many committed to pursue happiness, wealth and opportunities in the midst of much, much less order.
Tuesday 1 April 2008
Spring 08
Sometime in October, I wrote about The Coming Spring. I guess in the depth of Autumn and the beginnings of Winter, I was kind of looking forward to Spring. Bouncing Spring. Hope-filled Spring. Colourful Spring. Well, somehow prophetically, a new and good beginning comes this Spring. Who says Jehovah does not see, hear, or knows?
And in exuberant expectation, I commissioned a painting under the theme of New Beginnings. The artist, Nana Anoff, presented me with this delightful hope filled artwork.
Even the frame Nana used to hold the piece, a replica French window, is symbolic of open doors. The artwork speaks volumes to my spirit every time I look at it: 8 Golden Eggs - eight, the number for new beginnings -even in 2008. Eggs - representing opportunities. Green grass - representing fertility. Baobab tree in the background - representing stability. Skyscrapers - the sky is the limit
This spiring, I am embracing new and good beginnings, new opportunities, fertility, stability and reaching forth to what's before me in Christ Jesus.
Saturday 22 March 2008
Celebrating Christ The King!
I don't know about you, but it doesn't much feel like Easter. It almost seems like the Easter week has come too early this year.
But even as I write that I realise that is a contradiction in terms. Why so? Well, no celebration that commemorates the passing and resurrection of Christ can ever come early.
Perhaps what I ought to say is that I am acquainted with celebrating Easter during April. So in the spirit of celebration I say to you Joyeaux Pacques - I sure hope I got that right. Just thought I'd show off something I learnt from my Francophone friend yesterday...!
But even as I write that I realise that is a contradiction in terms. Why so? Well, no celebration that commemorates the passing and resurrection of Christ can ever come early.
Perhaps what I ought to say is that I am acquainted with celebrating Easter during April. So in the spirit of celebration I say to you Joyeaux Pacques - I sure hope I got that right. Just thought I'd show off something I learnt from my Francophone friend yesterday...!
Monday 3 March 2008
The World's Untold Stories Revealed
I’ve been mulling over the issue of interdependence and obligation over the past few weeks and a further insight into the necessity of interdependence and obligation came over the weekend. The girl is deeep....
One of the ways I like to unwind Saturdays, second best to running in the mountains early in the morning, is viewing at least one of those noteworthy weekend documentaries on BBC World and CNN.
This weekend it was The World’s Untold Stories on CNN and Bride Trafficking in China on BBC World.
The World’s Untold Stories indeed
Somewhere in the Christian Scriptures it reads that poverty is a curse of the law, and the stories told on CNN about the girl-child trafficking in Nigeria, reminded me all the more poignantly that poverty of every kind is indeed the root of all evil. The documentaries also sharply reminded me of the necessity to reach out to our communities and to open our eyes and ears to the injustice prowling around us day in, day out.
There you had featured the story of illiterate female Nigerian teenagers trafficked into Europe as sex slaves. For some of these teenagers, their impoverished families had borrowed and paid for "travel documents" to allow their children legitimate entry into Europe. Legitimate entry to work in menial jobs, get paid and one day return home economically and socially better off - or so they thought. Sadly, some of the parents knew that their daughters were being sold to the sex trade but the depth of their poverty had numbed them of every ability and conscious to think and act with decency and integrity.
Harrowing tales. Rape. Psychosis. Disease. Violent physical abuse. And all that they and their parents had wanted them to do was to “travel”.
China's Bachelor Society
China’s Bride Traffickers had a different but still yet sinister motive. The government policy of one child families, and the preference of families to birth a boy-child, has left China, decades on, with a lot, and I mean a lot, of bachelors. If I remember correctly I think the ratio of men to women is 1:8. And some people are taking desperate measures. Young women are desperately sought after for marriage, and many are being kidnapped for and forced into marriage.
One particular young woman had been kidnapped from her family, trafficked and sold as a bride for one such of China's bachelor. Traumatized, she attempted suicide by drinking pesticide. Mental anguish followed.
Her story at least has a happier ending. A benevolent humanitarian committed to fight this of China’s growing evil in any small way heard of the young lady’s plight from her family, located her years later, and with the support of the police, and rescued her from those that had bought her into bride captivity.
Humanity's call
One thing that struck me from both documentaries was that neither of the two ‘humanitarians’ who had given of themselves to relieve these women from their most difficult and horrible plight, were particular people of faith. They were just responding to the call of humanity.
And as I laid there on the sofa mulling over what I had watched on my television, I found myself convinced that life demands much, much more of us than working, raising a family and chasing fantasies. I found myself convinced that in addition to these each and everyone of us had a calling to impact our generation in any and every small way.
And then I remembered St.Paul’s cry to us all for interdependence and obligation.
One of the ways I like to unwind Saturdays, second best to running in the mountains early in the morning, is viewing at least one of those noteworthy weekend documentaries on BBC World and CNN.
This weekend it was The World’s Untold Stories on CNN and Bride Trafficking in China on BBC World.
The World’s Untold Stories indeed
Somewhere in the Christian Scriptures it reads that poverty is a curse of the law, and the stories told on CNN about the girl-child trafficking in Nigeria, reminded me all the more poignantly that poverty of every kind is indeed the root of all evil. The documentaries also sharply reminded me of the necessity to reach out to our communities and to open our eyes and ears to the injustice prowling around us day in, day out.
There you had featured the story of illiterate female Nigerian teenagers trafficked into Europe as sex slaves. For some of these teenagers, their impoverished families had borrowed and paid for "travel documents" to allow their children legitimate entry into Europe. Legitimate entry to work in menial jobs, get paid and one day return home economically and socially better off - or so they thought. Sadly, some of the parents knew that their daughters were being sold to the sex trade but the depth of their poverty had numbed them of every ability and conscious to think and act with decency and integrity.
Harrowing tales. Rape. Psychosis. Disease. Violent physical abuse. And all that they and their parents had wanted them to do was to “travel”.
China's Bachelor Society
China’s Bride Traffickers had a different but still yet sinister motive. The government policy of one child families, and the preference of families to birth a boy-child, has left China, decades on, with a lot, and I mean a lot, of bachelors. If I remember correctly I think the ratio of men to women is 1:8. And some people are taking desperate measures. Young women are desperately sought after for marriage, and many are being kidnapped for and forced into marriage.
One particular young woman had been kidnapped from her family, trafficked and sold as a bride for one such of China's bachelor. Traumatized, she attempted suicide by drinking pesticide. Mental anguish followed.
Her story at least has a happier ending. A benevolent humanitarian committed to fight this of China’s growing evil in any small way heard of the young lady’s plight from her family, located her years later, and with the support of the police, and rescued her from those that had bought her into bride captivity.
Humanity's call
One thing that struck me from both documentaries was that neither of the two ‘humanitarians’ who had given of themselves to relieve these women from their most difficult and horrible plight, were particular people of faith. They were just responding to the call of humanity.
And as I laid there on the sofa mulling over what I had watched on my television, I found myself convinced that life demands much, much more of us than working, raising a family and chasing fantasies. I found myself convinced that in addition to these each and everyone of us had a calling to impact our generation in any and every small way.
And then I remembered St.Paul’s cry to us all for interdependence and obligation.
Monday 18 February 2008
The Audacity of Faith...and Love
There’s something absolutely, positively inspirational about Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation of the Christian Scriptures. I so often enjoy moments of total quiet delight when I get into The Word as translated in contemporary language by Professor Peterson.
So there I was, expectantly and gleefully reading the book of Romans. And there, even in the first few verses, was poignant and cheering instruction. In verse thirteen of chapter one St Paul writes to the Romans: Please don’t misinterpret my failure to visit you, friends. You have no idea how many times I’ve made plans for Rome. I’ve been determined to get some personal enjoyment out of God’s work among you, as I have in so many other non-Jewish towns and communities.
Whoever said the Scriptural life had to be devoid of enjoyment, dull and dreary, even if devout?
Taking Pleasure in The Walk
If St. Paul was determined to get some personal enjoyment out of doing God’s work even as a leader and teacher, you’d better make sure you do the same in this very twenty-first century.
I have often joked with friends that God Himself is going to hold some of us accountable for the good times and exposure He had empowered us to enjoy (financially or geographically for instance –imagine shunning a trip to Mauritius because the hotel may be jam packed with tourists in bathing suits?) but which we omitted to take hold of in the name of religion.
Isn’t that the same reason why some can go to war in the name of religion?
I overheard someone protest the other day that there are no ‘Christian’ places to socialize and hang out in this city. And I thought to myself: “Yes, and there are no Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish places to socialize and hang out.”
Short of hibernating in an igloo or in make-believe world, interdependence is one thing that is guaranteed on Planet Earth. We’ve grown so accustomed to limiting our options of socializing (living, in fact) to only those of the same faith – as if there was a guarantee that those of the same faith would always hold dear the same Scriptural and social values as you hold dear.
Tolerance and Interdependence
St Paul buttresses this point in the same chapter verses fourteen and fifteen when he wrote: “Everyone I meet – it matters little whether they’re mannered or rude, smart or simple – deepens my sense of interdependence and obligation.” That spoke volumes to me – I could be as much in need of the company of my simple Christian friend, as I am of the company and friendship of a smart Jewish friend. And, I could, and should even legitimately choose to socialize with the latter.
The cry of humanity - interdependence and obligation
So there I was, expectantly and gleefully reading the book of Romans. And there, even in the first few verses, was poignant and cheering instruction. In verse thirteen of chapter one St Paul writes to the Romans: Please don’t misinterpret my failure to visit you, friends. You have no idea how many times I’ve made plans for Rome. I’ve been determined to get some personal enjoyment out of God’s work among you, as I have in so many other non-Jewish towns and communities.
Whoever said the Scriptural life had to be devoid of enjoyment, dull and dreary, even if devout?
Taking Pleasure in The Walk
If St. Paul was determined to get some personal enjoyment out of doing God’s work even as a leader and teacher, you’d better make sure you do the same in this very twenty-first century.
I have often joked with friends that God Himself is going to hold some of us accountable for the good times and exposure He had empowered us to enjoy (financially or geographically for instance –imagine shunning a trip to Mauritius because the hotel may be jam packed with tourists in bathing suits?) but which we omitted to take hold of in the name of religion.
Isn’t that the same reason why some can go to war in the name of religion?
I overheard someone protest the other day that there are no ‘Christian’ places to socialize and hang out in this city. And I thought to myself: “Yes, and there are no Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish places to socialize and hang out.”
Short of hibernating in an igloo or in make-believe world, interdependence is one thing that is guaranteed on Planet Earth. We’ve grown so accustomed to limiting our options of socializing (living, in fact) to only those of the same faith – as if there was a guarantee that those of the same faith would always hold dear the same Scriptural and social values as you hold dear.
Tolerance and Interdependence
St Paul buttresses this point in the same chapter verses fourteen and fifteen when he wrote: “Everyone I meet – it matters little whether they’re mannered or rude, smart or simple – deepens my sense of interdependence and obligation.” That spoke volumes to me – I could be as much in need of the company of my simple Christian friend, as I am of the company and friendship of a smart Jewish friend. And, I could, and should even legitimately choose to socialize with the latter.
The cry of humanity - interdependence and obligation
Wednesday 6 February 2008
The Audacity of Hope
It's Super Wednesday. The morning after Super Tuesday, and America has voted. As we wait for the results of the voting in the primaries, I am impatient with hope.
A Tribe Called Quest
Remember the song they did years, years back called Can I Kick It? And the chorus rhymed in response: "Yes you can!". Well, Barack Obama and his supporters are also rhyming "Yes we can!" Here it is - their absolutely, positively, awesome clip of hope and the coming glory.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3374
A Tribe Called Quest
Remember the song they did years, years back called Can I Kick It? And the chorus rhymed in response: "Yes you can!". Well, Barack Obama and his supporters are also rhyming "Yes we can!" Here it is - their absolutely, positively, awesome clip of hope and the coming glory.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3374
Sunday 3 February 2008
On Football and Religion
Two things you should never discuss, right? Well, this is Ghana and the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament is ongoing.
I never realized I had a hint of patriotism nor any affection for the game in me until I began to notice that every other car that drove past me in this city had a Ghanaian flag clipped on to its window.
Driven by this passion for football and country, I bought my own Nigerian flag and clipped it to my car window. Each time I saw another car in town with a Nigerian flag on it, I hooted, and hooted and hooted them down. It got even better.
I bought one of the Nigerian football jerseys (No. 10 – Mikel Obi – not that I knew who he was, mind…) to wear for the Nigeria matches, and also bought a funky, funky, cute little girly top with ‘Nigeria Rocks’ written all over it in green and white, for the Friday and Saturday nights out.
Patriotism or madness? Call it what you like.
Then Nigeria team qualified for the quarter finals – only to meet Ghana.
Aware of the risk of being deported if I cheered Nigeria on too much, I thought: ‘you know what? This babe is proudly Nigerian,’ and support Nigeria I did.
In the midst of the one thousand and one Ghana t-shirts and fans, I went to the Fan Park today for the quarter finals match with Ghana - wearing my No. 10 Nigerian jersey.
Well, the game is up now and our national football team lost. But I remain proudly Nigerian. - not least for watching our team cuddled together, praying, during half time.
Know yea all men that the Super Eagles will yet rise. And they will fly. Very high!
God is still Nigeria’s God.
Roll on South Africa 2010. Go Nigeria!
I never realized I had a hint of patriotism nor any affection for the game in me until I began to notice that every other car that drove past me in this city had a Ghanaian flag clipped on to its window.
Driven by this passion for football and country, I bought my own Nigerian flag and clipped it to my car window. Each time I saw another car in town with a Nigerian flag on it, I hooted, and hooted and hooted them down. It got even better.
I bought one of the Nigerian football jerseys (No. 10 – Mikel Obi – not that I knew who he was, mind…) to wear for the Nigeria matches, and also bought a funky, funky, cute little girly top with ‘Nigeria Rocks’ written all over it in green and white, for the Friday and Saturday nights out.
Patriotism or madness? Call it what you like.
Then Nigeria team qualified for the quarter finals – only to meet Ghana.
Aware of the risk of being deported if I cheered Nigeria on too much, I thought: ‘you know what? This babe is proudly Nigerian,’ and support Nigeria I did.
In the midst of the one thousand and one Ghana t-shirts and fans, I went to the Fan Park today for the quarter finals match with Ghana - wearing my No. 10 Nigerian jersey.
Well, the game is up now and our national football team lost. But I remain proudly Nigerian. - not least for watching our team cuddled together, praying, during half time.
Know yea all men that the Super Eagles will yet rise. And they will fly. Very high!
God is still Nigeria’s God.
Roll on South Africa 2010. Go Nigeria!
Wednesday 30 January 2008
The Race and Gender to the White House
I am currently reading through Speeches That Changed the World (compiled by Simon Sebag Montefiore). This morning I read speeches from four and five decades ago by Dr Martin Luther, President J F Kennedy, and Shirley Chisholm (all Americans from ages past). And I am thinking today America is at yet another crossroad.
As we watch the drama unfold in the primaries and the race to the White House, I realize that much of what these two men and this woman stood for in the 1960's are still being tested in today’s America and I wonder how America will decide.
Many have predicted that the Democratic Party has planned to lose this year’s Presidential elections because they are principally fielding a white woman and a black man. Their prediction is based on the premise that traditional America is not ready for a female President and neither is she ready for a black President. We live to learn.
Starting with Shirley Chisholm
In an address to the House of Representatives in May 1969, Shirley Chisholm, the first black Congress woman, highlighted and spoke impassionedly on the necessity of improving the lot of the socially disadvantaged, including women. “It is obvious that discrimination exists,’’ she said. “Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system, who try to break with the accepted patterns, are stigmatized as ‘odd’ and ‘unfeminine’. The fact is that a woman who aspires to be chairman of the board, or a Member of the House, does so for exactly the same reason as any man. Basically, these are that she thinks she can do the job and she wants to try.”
Shirley Chisholm sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equal rights for all regardless of colour or gender, through Congress. She also competed for the nomination as the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972. She was unsuccessful. Her race and her gender no doubt played a role.
Ironically Mrs Clinton’s bid to the White House perhaps is enabled by the Equal Rights Amendment. Who knows if the prejudices of the human mind and mindset, which any statute cannot conquer, will stop her from reaching the White House – simply because of her gender.
I have a dream
And then I read that most famous speech. That great and mighty civil rights crusader, Dr Martin Luther King, said in August 1963, “ I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”.
Dr King went on in the same speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today…..this is our hope”
This could yet be America’s greatest test. Barack Obama’s finest hour - buttressing his audacity of hope.
A new generation of Americans
At his inaugural address in 1961, JFK said: “Let word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans – born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage – and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.”
He closed his inaugural speech with these words:
“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
History the final judge of our deeds.
JFK led America on the ticket of hope and change. Both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton ride on the winds that cry out for change.
America is indeed at a crossroads. And the legacy, the ideals and the struggles of JFK, Shirley Chisholm and Dr Martin Luther King stand yet still to be tested.
And yet all men are created equal.
As we watch the drama unfold in the primaries and the race to the White House, I realize that much of what these two men and this woman stood for in the 1960's are still being tested in today’s America and I wonder how America will decide.
Many have predicted that the Democratic Party has planned to lose this year’s Presidential elections because they are principally fielding a white woman and a black man. Their prediction is based on the premise that traditional America is not ready for a female President and neither is she ready for a black President. We live to learn.
Starting with Shirley Chisholm
In an address to the House of Representatives in May 1969, Shirley Chisholm, the first black Congress woman, highlighted and spoke impassionedly on the necessity of improving the lot of the socially disadvantaged, including women. “It is obvious that discrimination exists,’’ she said. “Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system, who try to break with the accepted patterns, are stigmatized as ‘odd’ and ‘unfeminine’. The fact is that a woman who aspires to be chairman of the board, or a Member of the House, does so for exactly the same reason as any man. Basically, these are that she thinks she can do the job and she wants to try.”
Shirley Chisholm sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equal rights for all regardless of colour or gender, through Congress. She also competed for the nomination as the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972. She was unsuccessful. Her race and her gender no doubt played a role.
Ironically Mrs Clinton’s bid to the White House perhaps is enabled by the Equal Rights Amendment. Who knows if the prejudices of the human mind and mindset, which any statute cannot conquer, will stop her from reaching the White House – simply because of her gender.
I have a dream
And then I read that most famous speech. That great and mighty civil rights crusader, Dr Martin Luther King, said in August 1963, “ I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”.
Dr King went on in the same speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today…..this is our hope”
This could yet be America’s greatest test. Barack Obama’s finest hour - buttressing his audacity of hope.
A new generation of Americans
At his inaugural address in 1961, JFK said: “Let word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans – born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage – and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.”
He closed his inaugural speech with these words:
“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
History the final judge of our deeds.
JFK led America on the ticket of hope and change. Both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton ride on the winds that cry out for change.
America is indeed at a crossroads. And the legacy, the ideals and the struggles of JFK, Shirley Chisholm and Dr Martin Luther King stand yet still to be tested.
And yet all men are created equal.
Monday 14 January 2008
The Whole Nine Yards
I’ve been teasing a friend of mine of late. Charming individual that he is, I’ve told him several times that were he still single, I’d literally order my younger sister to pack up and relocate here in Ghana. We had recently caught up quite by chance after some five years of absence. So thrilled have I been about his level of insight, joie de vivre, ambition and level of spirituality, that I even telephoned my younger sister in London to tell her about him.
We had a conversation of late that really got me reflecting on the G-factor (that is, the God factor) in each of our every day lives.
A number of exciting, lucrative business and career opportunities are on his plate, and, the great thing about them is, they have literally come to his plate effortlessly. And the key word there is effortlessly.
We discussed the greatness of the absolute mercy of God, and how when He decides it’s your turn for a blessing, well, it your turn o, as we say here in Ghana.
Suddenly you make contact with people who you know you were just fated to meet; you have a business meeting with a financier which leaves you with goose pimples, you are awarded a significant contract which you know you did not give your utmost attention to... the list goes on.
I had one such similar experience late last year. Like joke, like joke (I’m going local today with all my west African clichés...) I thought to make a particular investment and, like joke like joke all things worked out seamlessly, effortlessly and all so very easily. Note - I had been seeking to make the same investment for the past three years and on each and every occasion, it fell through, and I lost a whole lot of cash.
As I talked to my friend, the word from Jeremiah 17 verse 7 kept ringing in my head: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord, whose hope The Lord is.
We settled on the merits of staying with Him now and forever more, for He is the whole nine yards.
We had a conversation of late that really got me reflecting on the G-factor (that is, the God factor) in each of our every day lives.
A number of exciting, lucrative business and career opportunities are on his plate, and, the great thing about them is, they have literally come to his plate effortlessly. And the key word there is effortlessly.
We discussed the greatness of the absolute mercy of God, and how when He decides it’s your turn for a blessing, well, it your turn o, as we say here in Ghana.
Suddenly you make contact with people who you know you were just fated to meet; you have a business meeting with a financier which leaves you with goose pimples, you are awarded a significant contract which you know you did not give your utmost attention to... the list goes on.
I had one such similar experience late last year. Like joke, like joke (I’m going local today with all my west African clichés...) I thought to make a particular investment and, like joke like joke all things worked out seamlessly, effortlessly and all so very easily. Note - I had been seeking to make the same investment for the past three years and on each and every occasion, it fell through, and I lost a whole lot of cash.
As I talked to my friend, the word from Jeremiah 17 verse 7 kept ringing in my head: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord, whose hope The Lord is.
We settled on the merits of staying with Him now and forever more, for He is the whole nine yards.
Thursday 10 January 2008
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Starting Over
2008 arrived with a bang for Miss TheArtofLiving. At half past midnight on 31 December she was out of church and straight into that party that I wrote about a few weeks back. And what a party it was. After all the praying and praising, it was time to shake everything my mother (actually The Lord) gave me and celebrate the entrance of a new year and new, better, beginnings.
The past three weeks have been enormously fun and love-filled. Plenty of resting, socialising, partying and some 'me time'. It’s funny how, in every day living, we don’t realise how much we omit to give of ourselves to ourselves. Life had been filled with so much doing, doing, and yet more doing. I learnt to relax again, learnt to unwind again, and I even discovered the joy of early morning running in the mountains.
So Miss TheArtofLiving starts 2008 thanking God for Him, and celebrating all things bright and beautiful – family, friends, and the gift of life. She also enters into 2008 exuberantly expectant for fresh, happy, brighter beginnings for 2008.
2008 arrived with a bang for Miss TheArtofLiving. At half past midnight on 31 December she was out of church and straight into that party that I wrote about a few weeks back. And what a party it was. After all the praying and praising, it was time to shake everything my mother (actually The Lord) gave me and celebrate the entrance of a new year and new, better, beginnings.
The past three weeks have been enormously fun and love-filled. Plenty of resting, socialising, partying and some 'me time'. It’s funny how, in every day living, we don’t realise how much we omit to give of ourselves to ourselves. Life had been filled with so much doing, doing, and yet more doing. I learnt to relax again, learnt to unwind again, and I even discovered the joy of early morning running in the mountains.
So Miss TheArtofLiving starts 2008 thanking God for Him, and celebrating all things bright and beautiful – family, friends, and the gift of life. She also enters into 2008 exuberantly expectant for fresh, happy, brighter beginnings for 2008.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
