Reflections: Experiences had, lessons learnt!



1. While shopping in an open market in Kano, I walked by an elderly lady. She was all smiles. I wondered what was making this old lady so happy. She was clutching a brand new transistor radio to her chest. Apparently, she just bought it and felt so delighted about her new acquisition. ‘Is it not just a small radio set?’ You may wonder. Well, if I buy that same radio and send it to my elderly aunt in the South, she may not share the excitement of this woman I saw. It got me thinking:

Our happiness is not determined by the (material) worth of the things we own; rather our happiness is derived from the value we place on the things we own.

2. I traveled to the South a while ago. It was a long road trip. Scared of having a running stomach, I did not take breakfast before l left for the park. When we got to Kaduna, I was so hungry but I was too scared to eat because I had an unpleasant experience the last time I traveled that long. Some hours later we got to Abuja. My stomach was rumbling and I was much at unease. When we stopped to get fuel, I bought snacks and a drink. I did not eat them right away. I just kept them with me. Even though I had not eaten, when my body recognized that food was available and it was just a matter of time before I eat I became at ease and felt some relief. It got me thinking:

Sometimes what we need from our friends and family is the guarantee that they will be there for us when we need them. Even though they may not be present with us in person, but knowing that, God willing, they will be there for us when we need them is reassuring. The assurance that no matter where the highs and lows of life take us, we will have our close pals to stand with us, pray for us and help us through trying times. We don’t see God but knowing that He is always there for us is a most comforting thought.
 
3. Still on my long trip to the South: When we got to Auchi and Ekpoma, some passengers disembarked from the bus. The driver picked new passengers along the way; much to our dismay (you can’t tell who is who that late in the night). There was this young man that boarded the bus. He came in and just kept to himself. He was so quiet that my discomfort increased; you know what they say, ‘It’s always the quiet ones.’ When we were about 15 mins drive from Benin, our vehicle broke down in the middle of nowhere. ‘ Hmm!’ The Driver and the rest of us were at a loss on what to do except for this young man. This guy took control of the situation. He was making suggestions on how to fix the car, and relating personal experiences on situations like this. Eventually we hailed another bus to tow our bus to Benin. The driver was so appreciative of the young man’s help that he thanked him repeatedly for the rest of the journey. It got me thinking:

You cannot tell the worth of some individuals until there is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. Great men are not only known for great speeches but are also known for doing great things in spite of great odds.

4. On my way up North some time ago, I got to the Park in Benin. When the bus was fully loaded and we were preparing for departure, a young man walked up to the bus. He started telling us that he was on his way down South when he suffered a misfortune and that now he does not have the means to get home. He sounded reasonable at first but I was skeptical of his plea. You can’t trust a man who goes begging in a Park; it’s difficult to verify their claims. At a point the man felt he wasn't getting the response he wanted, so he started pleading intensely for help. This man started shedding tears; he was crying, ‘Please, I’m your brother. Help me.’ Some passengers at that point decided to give him money. I was still not convinced. It felt like it’s all a hoax. After he left, a man sitting close to me inside the bus confirmed my suspicion. He said that the young man begs like that in the Park and that he’s been playing the ‘tears’ card for long. I felt bad: “If this guy can cry false tears like this and act so convincingly, why not go into acting? That is Nollywood material ‘na’?” How often we hear of people who use to beg or hawk on the street and in the process uncovered a hidden potential in singing, dancing and the like.

It reminds me of the story of Choi, Sung-Bong: a homeless young man who stole the show at the Korea’s Got Talent event. He was abandoned in an orphanage at age three. At the age of 5, he ran out of the institution because of the maltreatment he received and he basically lived on the streets thereafter. At the age of 14, he was selling chewing gum at a night club when he heard a classical vocalist perform. What he heard that night inspired him to pursue a music career and his talent in music was unraveled in the process. His performance at the Korea Got Talent show drew tears from the eyes of his audience and the video of the show became a worldwide YouTube sensation. I felt my tears when I watched the video. He is now a well known figure in South Korea and around the world.
What did I learn from the above events?

We were all born with different gifts. Not all our gifts are apparent in childhood; not all are discovered in school; not all are revealed through conventional channels and not all are found for the right reasons. Nevertheless, when we uncover our gift, may we nourish and cherish it as a gift from our Creator and may we use it right to better our lives and the lives of those around us.


©Dr Eugene’s Column (http://dreugeneojirigho.blogspot.com/)

©Dr Eugene’s Blogs (http://dreugeneoji.blogspot.com/)

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