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.
Saturday, 23 August 2008
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!
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