When all that is required is to sit back.......and relax!

A poem

Ceramic in the woods

My walk is through the thick woods,

on the same trail trodden for ages,

A deer’s footprint left marks of its hoof,

either on a run or a leisurely sojourn.

A small pond hidden by overgrowth lies ahead,

Wild ducks splattering their feathers look out,

On the mark, to fly away they seem ready,

I turn at a safer distance; the alpha’s neck is stout.

A plate and fork are abandoned,

the ceramic china so out of place,

a silver fork lies forlornly cold,

there ahead lie strewn plastics and debris.

I didn’t put the deer here,

Nor the ceramic plate there,

I can live in harmony with nature,

as the  fork to kitchen.

It is not where you start...it is where you finish.

There is an African saying which can literally be translated as: 'where you are born, may not be where you are bred'. An equivalent that comes to mind and is more American: 'where one starts is not one's destiny.' A man who works as the janitor and environmental officer for a sports stadium in our neighborhood had on one of those T-shirts emblazoned with the words: It is not where you start...it is where you finish. I approached him during an intermission before one of the teams playing soccer resumed.

I approached him and told him that saying on his T-shirt was a loaded statement. I read it out loud and he said ‘true that’. I waited for him to explain further but he was clearly busy cleaning and picking all those strewn plastic bottles. That gave me time to think. I also over heard a medical team ruminating over the very saying. I was seating next to the medical camp tent.  I decided to write something short about it. I got out my note book and drafted my short essay. I decided it would be around my personal journey and throw in a spiritual quote or two.

I came to USA from the trappings of a near middle-class to a refugee who had to start from zero. I did join university to read further.  I also enrolled in a volunteer program to help other immigrants to assimilate in USA life. One of the reasons why I was at the stadium was to give morale boost to members of our program who were also part of the international soccer and cultural exchange event organized annually by this city where I live.

In order to look at this statement I had to approach it from how I spend my days. I chose to look at 3 important days in my life. The days are: yesterday, today and tomorrow. Yesterday gives us lessons and prizes. Today gives us responsibilities and tasks. Tomorrow gives us expectations and hope. It is important to deliberate on today’s responsibilities and tasks. These are the ones used to gauge or weigh us. It is these that build into the final measure expected of us. It is these that build the bigger picture.  So, what I engage in today makes up the things expected of me.  This is what fulfills me and in turn it is how I may fulfill others.  It is how I come into other peoples’ lives or them into mine. 

Jesus talked in length about us ‘minding our today’ zealously. There are many Gospel passages in which His disciples show us this. The Lord’s Prayer is one such example. I do choose Luke 12: 22-40. In this long passage we meet Jesus talking about readiness, responsibility and dependability.  We all have small tasks to do today; we may not be owners of big factories or industries. We may not be citizens in USA yet we are living within the USA borders as immigrants, aliens, or on a visitor's visa, or asylum seekers. We may actually be left in charge and on behalf of a richer well placed owner. Our task is to do the will of the owner and be accountable accordingly. The owner my ask of us to conduct ourselves as law abiding peaceful persons or any other positive task. That is the task of today. Today may repeat itself tomorrow and tomorrow it becomes yesterday. We need to learn to link the days seamlessly. We need to engage in our tasks to completion. That is what we shall be measured for. That will be our finish point. We have to uphold mindfulness, an attitude to be positive, vigilant and readiness to produce results. That will give us a good finish. We may have started haltingly as inexperienced persons but we need to finish as experienced competent persons. I now know, if I left Africa and came to USA and am so raw now, I need to work so hard to navigate through. I should not feel sorry for myself. I need to use the opportunities here to be a far better person. It is possible and it will be. One day, I shall be able to say that my life in USA changed me and made me look deeper into my strengths and use the strengths to make me a better person. I want to be a scientist, philanthropist, naturalist and writer.

Firmness has made America, but pragmatism continues to mould it

In the US of A there are right hand side steered vehicles as well as soccer!

I was riding down this very big road. Why big? Well I originally come from another country where by all standards this road I happen to be riding on to and fro may be of sub-urban nature here but in my original country it is first class asphalt! Where was I? Oh, yes!

America-USA- is a very powerful country and there is no doubt it is the greatest nation in the world even now. Belief in constitutionalism, belief in creating a critical mass of systems that in turn are accessed by the masses to improve on their livelihoods, the tendency to regulate but at the same time ensure a promise of more tomorrow, the peace and belief held by Americans and those within the borders of USA that no one will take away their life, happiness and property is so palpable. That is firm!

So, I was riding down this road and a large ‘semi’ passes by at the posted speed in settled areas. I came to a next street and a white United States Postal Services (USPS) van with a blue eagle taking off halted. The driver was on the right hand side. It struck me as odd. I wondered why I was dwelling on that issue but at the same time had to be focused on the road. Then all of a sudden, a voice inside me was telling me: ‘that was a Right Hand Side (RHD) steered vehicle in USA.’I had to stop and look for another minute or two. There are actually Right-Hand Side steered vehicles in USA!

The pragmatic side of the USPS RHD Vehicles: they enable the easy distribution of letters or parcels even without the deliverer getting out of the vehicle.

I got to the library and immediately opened my e-mail to read mails. I had one inviting me to a soccer match where our program students are part of the soccer clubs of the area. I do volunteer as a teacher, counsellor and mentor. This has helped me to be part of the microcosmic space that eventually makes up the diversity that US of A is known for. I have even polished up my French so that am able to conduct halting conversation with some of my French speaking students who are learning English and the American way.

I want to learn to follow baseball and American football. I used to play a version of cricket, soft-ball and dodge the ball but I was always wondering why all of us were chasing after a ball or trying hard to dirten ourselves! I got a book on American Football, one day I even opted to listen to an American Football coach who was also a retired US Marine Colonel at a party. This meant I missed out on the barbeque! I still have not got the rules. All I see are chest puffed up players, with motor-bike helmets, sheen guards, so many lines and popcorns! Perhaps it is the popcorns that will motivate me. I do like popcorns. Anyway, soccer I can follow so is basket-ball.

This diversity in games; expression; getting together; ability to use technologies that are in other countries and; a compatibility of persons and systems makes US of A, a great country. These are the traditions, the culture and they will never go away. This is what makes America what it is.

Like we cannot do without the apps in our mobile units so should our values be in our individual lives.

Saudi, Mike and Alex are preachers of the Bible and talk about the love of God and Jesus Christ in such a way one is left thinking they met God or Jesus from the day they were born.

‘Take up Jesus as your personal savior’ says Alex a 19 year old High School student. ‘Jesus loves you’ adds Saudi a 20 year old lad from Virginia. It appears they rehearsed their parts.  Hands in pockets, they continue talking about how Jesus loves me after I asked how that was possible. ‘He loves us so much He gave His Son to atone our sins.’ Now that got my little theology alerts going! ‘Jesus loves me so much He gave up His son to atone for my sins?’ I asked incredulously. Alex did not see the reason for my question and I corrected him. I even threw in a quote. John 3:16. Alex soon realized his mix up. Saudi took over. ‘We have a card here, come to Grafton and pray with us’ he invited. ‘Grafton is like 3 train stops away.’ I replied. ‘Oh, yes, but many people from Grafton come to Worcester every day’ opined Alex. Meaning it would be easier for me. Saudi later told me I should call the number on the card and a van would come, take me to Grafton for prayers and back to Worcester.

‘Why do you preach Jesus and not love?’ I asked. ‘You came here after you talked to those other people on that other bench and you have not even greeted me, but you straight away said: “Jesus loves you”’ I challenged Alex. I gave my name and asked theirs too. I asked them where they came from and that is how I got to know they were from a Pentecostal Church in Grafton run by Pastor Mike who is the uncle to Saudi and a benefactor to Alex. Saudi’s family is from Virginia and he had come to visit the uncle and not one to sit at home doing nothing, he escorted uncle Mike on a Worcester bound evangelization drive. That created an air of confidence on all our part and the hands were out of the pockets by now. There was dignity between all of us and we all assumed a respectful stance. Alex and Saudi sat next to me and we continued to converse. I told them of when I used to care for bed-ridden persons who were left for dead but nursed them back to life. I told them then I was doing more of Jesus’ work than preaching of love. We agreed that in USA we need more actions of love than mere words. That way Jesus is more manifest in our midst. Alex shared his experience of helping a near drug addict young person get back to a drug-free life. This was after I shared with them on how I helped 3 homeless persons who used to sleep on the park benches to access food, clothes and a warm place. I encouraged them to do more acts of love but also preach the word. Before we all went our separate ways we listed and compared apps in our mobile units and values that humans needed to live as one, happily and fruitfully.

Apps, circuitry and digital ware are to computers and mobile appliances what values are to humans. The ability for humans to interact, communicate, judge, make improvements on life and record experiences in turn depends on several values. Values are those innate non-tangible treasures such as:  livableness, respect, empowering, forgiving, regard, responsibility, dependability, patience, discretion, fair conduct, mindfulness, good-will, obedience, tolerance, dutifulness, consistency, restorer and uphold dignity.

This improves on one’s utility, utilitarian-ship, function, functionality and self-discovery. In knowing these inherent values we are forced to admire the fact that they actually lie in other people too. That should be the reason why all humans should be of good-will to each other. This is what helps us overcome challenges and mishaps. In preaching the word of GOD we all need to also practice acts of love. Acts of love spring from our innate values.

The axe entered the forest, the trees said as one: "look the handle is one of us." YORUBA SAYING

This week two incidents reminded me so much of life, the friends we make, the friends we keep, the steps we take, the mistakes we did, the look into the past and the regrets, fondness in that cup. However much we dwell on our past, it is imperative we use far more energy to project ourselves into the future. This is the essence of purpose. To live fruitfully.

A friend shared with me this; 'if you grow wiser than the the smaller group or circle of friends it is better to cast wider and increase on the friends' network. More than one friend is like a singing quartet where there is a tenor, soprano, alto and bass.' I thought about this for a long time.

Imagine a social network where people ask to be your friends and they make up the bulk of connections. One can get in touch with them or they too can get in touch or be in touch using various applications on this social network. These are virtual relationships. They are part of one's sense of direction, bonding, duty, loyalty and status. No doubt in such an arrangement there are those who are popular and those who are not. These e-relationships (i-relations) can get abusive, but still people hang in there for fear of losing these 'friends.' It is not easy to lose a friend. But, if one is abusive and uses very scandalizing language it is better to leave or opt out. There are very many reasons why humans get social or get into relations. The aspect of 'being one of us' that connects you to a particular social network can manifest in many ways: the things you aspire to or the fact that you are able to make more friends from all over the world. It is like the trees inviting the axe in their midst because of the wooden handle. When it gets abusive it is similar to the time when the axe is used to cut those very trees. Waiting long to go out of an abusive relationship is a similar case of when the axe is used to cut the trees! Waiting too long hurts. Be wise, get out. 


These can be some situations: If the other person uses abusive; scandalous or disparaging words that are not called for; use of expletives in a way that belittles you; use of any slurs with the intention of painting you as bad; stalks you by barraging you with texts or unsolicited messages even after being warned not to and;using intimidating language towards you.

There are cues in life that enable us to gauge the trend of our relationships. Use these as early warning signals. Use them to warn you and to help you contribute to building the relationship or learning what your other people want and are comfortable with.

Meanwhile build a base for yourself so that when you do need time to yourself you know how to use it well in constructive and productive ways. This is a good skill; to use time and resources around effectively to improve on yourself and others. Be comfortable with yourself and only then will you be comfortable with others. We can only be ready for the future when we set ourselves ready. The future is based on our readiness. The Irish have a saying: 'the future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves.' FABER EST SUAE QUISQUE FORTUNAE.

The Royal baby, Great Britain, Common Wealth, USA and the world at large

At the corner of a very busy street there happens to be a wide kerb which serves as the sun-break patch for members who stay in a very large apartment building. Different groups spoke different languages; Vietnamese, French, Japanese, German, Bengal, Bhutan, Chinese, English, Spanish, Portuguese and a sprinkling of African dialects. The reason for this gathering and murmurs was a topic whose events were happening in St. Mary’s Hospital in London in another country on another continent far away from the Americas. On July 22^nd 2013, an 8 pound (lbs) happily bouncing baby boy was born to Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Middleton Duchess of Cambridge. The baby boy was named George Alexander Louis on July 24^th 2013.

It is said all sorts of names were put forward by royalty followers both in Britain and outside of it. Alexandra, Charlotte, George and James were ranked so high. There was an expectation of either a boy or girl. No one thought of twins or triplets! But anyway it has been settled and the title of the baby is His Royal Highness (HRH) George Alexander Louis, Duke of Cambridge.

HRH, the newly born is third in line and waiting for the crown. There is a popular saying doing the rounds: the baby makes three. This is a symbol of blessing. And in Great Britain, a Christian land this lends itself the Trinitarian attribute. In it lie godliness, kindness, mercy, blessedness and promise.

I had to get to the library, to get to my very liked haunt on the 3^rd floor in a very quiet well-lit corner, with windows the size of a table-tennis table. I would have told the group about how all children born on this day in Uganda will get to be given names like; Georgina or George. I also didn’t share with them that I come from a smaller Kingdom nation in Africa with a similar arrangement to that of the British crown. I did not tell them that the naming of the royal child in Buganda is so different. In Buganda, the royal child is given Christian, cultural and gender-related names. Like the British we also name after a past long gone relative. Unlike the British, our culture does not reveal a royal child until that child is around a year or two years old.

The world is watching in anticipation. What happens in Great Britain has its reverberation felt at all corners of the world. The message to all of us is that: we are living in a hopeful world with possibilities and opportunities.