An Eye For An Eye, Or?

In the past few days, I have seen enough evil to last me a lifetime. I have been so baffled by the events unfolding in South Africa, so much so that I have not been able to write anything much about it.

 

I have been reading about the heinous acts on one social media or the other. Much as I have tried, I have not been able watch some of the videos and pictures. Any time I try, my stomach churns. Those acts are the height of evil and unfortunately, like everything African, nothing serious is being done.

 

I move from one social networking platform to the other, reading stories and other peoples comments on this issue, xenophobia, and I am afraid for my continent. People are angry, and rightly so, we all ought to be. Such inhumane atrocities being metered on our brothers and sisters should and must be condemned with no room for any excuse whatsoever. I need not have a family member in that country to feel the pains that these innocent souls are being subjected to because they are humans just as I am.

 

That not withstanding, I am afraid for most of the comments I read. I understand what we all, especially those with family members in that country, are going through. What I do not get is why people are advocating that we avenge our brothers and sisters in our respective countries on the nationals of this country by treating them in similar vain. It is true that they are from this country but it is not their fault that they are from there. Just as it is no fault of our countrymen to find themselves there, the contrary is also true.

Why then should we also stoop to their level? Besides, if we start practicing the "an eye for an eye" principle, will we not be leaving our continent in a darker place than it already is? If we start treating their nationals in every corner of the continent like they are doing, are we not going to pay a higher price in the end? Two wrongs can never make a right. Let us not resort to their methods.

 

Instead, let us use diplomacy to let them also have a little 'feel' of all that their countrymen have subjected our brothers and sisters to. Let us not patronize their products; let us not sell to them, let us not wine and with them, let us all treat them like a plague, let us all sabotage their businesses in our respective countries and then, their numerous businessmen around the continent will talk some sense into them from their own losses.

 

As much as it is tempting, let us not start plucking the eyes of some innocent people all in a bid to release our anger. For all you know, most of the people busily metting these atrocities might have never travelled before and have no intentions of ever stepping out of their comfort zone, which is South Africa, their country.

 

May God help and protect our countrymen and women in South Africa and may He console those that have lost dear ones even as He gives us discerning spirits to reason.

 

God bless us all.



A Friend Is Not Always A Yardstick

In the past few days, I have witnessed two opposite types of friendship.

I witnessed the friend who would not sacrifice a pesewa without recouping.  The type of friend who would gladly ask you to give them your most precious asset, your time, but will not let go of anything for you.  The type of friend who would ask you to carry loads of things without offering to help you even though the load belongs to them.  The type of friend who will continuously take without ever giving or asking where it came from.  The type of friend that thinks one is oblige to serve them all the time, no matter what the other person is going through.  In short, the friend that is stingy to the core.

 And then, I witnessed the type of friendship that melts the heart.  The type of friend that gives without asking for any explanation.  The one that offers a shoulder and help without you having to ask.  The type of friend who will help you meet a deadline.  That person who feels your pains and is happy over your joy.  The type of friend that willingly gives you what others spend years to contemplate on.  The type of friend that although you hardly speak with, is always ready to help you out no matter what.  The word generous is not close to describe this sort of friend.

I deliberate on these two people and I question the saying "show me your friend and I will show you your character".  I am not saying it is not true to some extent.  I am only saying it is not entirely true.  How can anybody judge another based on how stingy or generous the person's friend is?

Some people clearly understand and accept that, one will always have to be a 'fool' in any human relationship.  Some are born that way and others learn to be that way.  Whatever the case, it is not true that one's character can always determine that of the friend.  For all you know, the other person became a friend to the other because of all that he or she might get from the other party.

In the instances above, these two people are both friends of the same person and both can testify that, the generosity of their mutual friend is at heart.  While the other gladly takes advantage of the kindness of this friend, the other gladly work on being a true friend, especially, in times of need.  If these two people are friends with the same person and are of different personality, how can anybody make the mistake of concluding that any two persons are the same just because they are friends or acquaintances?

The saying that "friends of the same further flock together" therefore becomes questionable.  I have seen two people who are friends but believe in different things.  After all, friendship, like any other relationship, is based on dialogue and understanding.  That is why people of different religious beliefs are able to have the best forms of friendships.  Like the Bible say, two cannot walk together unless they are of they agree.  It does not necessarily mean they have to do the same things.  If we choose not to be friends with such people, how are we going to impact positively on our world?

Personally, I am glad to be friends with such people and the likes.  I learn a lot from both.  One forever humbles me while the other forever remind me of the command to serve others.  It really is an honour to have such people around.

So when next you meet a person with any character defect, do not make the mistake of judging his or her friends to be of same behaviour.  After all, when all is said and done, even twins have individual differences.

THE GIFT OF ENCOURAGING PEOPLE

Today, the past revisited me.

I came face to face with a situation that occurred some few years ago. However, I am happy to say that it was the other way round this time.

I walked into this business center for photocopying and to have some documents scanned. What happened afterwards made me understand why God finally took me to that particular place.

I had walked past this particular place to my favourite place only to find out that they had no lights. I went back to the next place and didn't like their reception. After waiting around and none of the staff made any effort to attend to me, I excused myself. It was after all these that I finally settled on this place.

The guy was attending to a client but still managed to get me a seat and assured me he would attend to me in a while. After about ten minutes, he did.

When he was done with my tasks, he asked me a question that took me back to the past. The only difference was that, this time round, the seats had changed. I was the client and he was the typesetter.

I remembered how one good Samaritan sat with me in the past and talked to me that about this same subject.

He asked me about the difference between distance education and sandwich. I took my time to explain to him and what he said next was me talking some years back.

He said he has heard rumours that if you go to University, you will not get a job. That was when I remembered Kizito, the guy that God used to get my attention to go back to school.

For the sake of the past and armed with evidence of the present, I had a heart to heart with this guy. I explained to him how false such rumours were, especially, if you believe in your God.

He asked me so many other questions which I explained as well. We talked about how he will have to get someone to help him if he chooses to do the distance. We also talked about the pros and cons of both the distance education and the sandwich. He assured me he would think about it and make a decision. I also promised him I would go back to check on him in the future.

And my! Did it feel good to be of help to somebody who intended to take such a huge decision? The feeling was incredible.

I know that was God reminding me of how far He has brought me, how far He intends to take me, and above all, how much He expects me to do same for anybody in my situation.

It was such an honour being of help to this guy and it would be a blessing to be gifted with such a task.

It would be an honour to be able to encourage others in the least way possible.