Tuesday 5 March 2013

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa on the most important of questions for new immigrants to USA!



One day, all animals and birds were called to a meeting to decide the fate of the world. In this legend it is said all animals and birds gathered to present the most important question in order to keep living. Short of that they were warned of destruction! They had to present it before the ‘restorer’ who lived beyond the waters between the skies and the mountains. All animals and birds had to take the journey, without sparing any one, and present themselves before the restorer.

Meanwhile they had to confer with each other and decide which question it was. At the same time they had to decide on how to move through thick jungle, over water and into the high mountains between the skies. This presented hurdles but they did overcome all and realized the big question actually consisted of smaller questions.

This is the same with life. At any one given time, where you are influences the needs that rise up to be addressed. This is what makes up one’s context. In understanding the context, one needs to gain a certain amount of sophistication.

Be it in the city, rural setting or a different country. As a person newly settled in a new country, one needs to acknowledge the fact of having given up a settled life’s pattern. This pattern could have ensured sustenance but at the same time was cause for emigrating. One needs to embrace new lifestyles in a host country.

When it comes to work in order to earn a livelihood, there could be complications ranging from issues of documentation, legal status, skills and expectations to meet. The expectations may be; money, a change of clothes, a warm home in time of winter to having access to persons who can link one with the host community.

Even in a dire situation when there is need for money, one needs to also perform activities not with an expectation for monetary reward but a fulfilment in having done another person a good turn. The concept of voluntary work needs to be well embraced as a value that is held in high regard in many communities.

A good knowledge of skills that enable one navigate one’s host environment is a very pivotal point in one’s life. It helps in knowledge of destinations, venues, locations and where to get accessories. It also helps in providing timely attendance and commitments. This in turn improves on one’s awareness, dignity and respect.

Like the animals in the jungle who discovered that a big question has smaller questions, so should humans understand that thinking through issues is helpful and enables one address needs.

Sunday 3 March 2013

Reverend Dr. Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa shares: There lies GOD



In the small, big and larger than life actions, thoughts, gestures, intentions and re-fills, there lies a God. I do believe God is the manifestation that fulfils a spirit, cause it to have fire, make one fill so enlightened and encourage one to have a heightened self-awareness. That self-awareness that borders on clairvoyance is what in our life makes us co-Gods (co-beneficiaries of the Divine mission).
 
It is what makes us provide a timely intervention to one in need. It is what makes us accept a loss of a loved one and say God has called them. It is the conduct through which we look at death, not as selfish people but as willingly sharing in a fulfilling life with others. It is also what makes us say a prayer in a manner that calls for attention and answer. The ride one gets to a meeting called abruptly and the participants who give ear to the needs of others; the same participants who commit to do something by way of intervention.
 
Most times we are down-cast and all we may need to break the chains binding us in these moods is talking to other people. Listen to their stories and give a word of advice here and there. This reflects back to us and gets us thinking towards our own issues too. Sub-consciously we may be dealing with our own un-resolved issues and in talking and solving other’s issues we may actually be solving our own. That epiphany, that realization that we already have the key to our own problems is an act that I say is God-like. In giving to others we actually give to ourselves too.
 
I usually take long walks and in the process do contemplate my life. The abundant air I breathe, the promising choices I make and the happiness I feel inside of me every step of the way. Life comes to that point after so many bumps into insecurity and lack of productivity. There can never be slipping back to a blasé of incompetence, low self-esteem, low confidence and mistrust. This tendency is what a God-like spirit brings about in one.
 
Well, if one were to ask me if there is a God. Or what my understanding of God is, this is exactly what I am ready to repeat. God is a presence, action, space, epiphany, clairvoyance, the drive and engine in so many things around us.