I live in a rural area and as a result of that, I get to see Fulani
nomads every day, taking their cattle around for grazing. And so
yesterday, I saw the cattle grazing peacefully. I looked around but I
could see no nomad. I knew the Fulanis were not of the habit of leaving
their cattle alone. I looked carefully again and caught sight of a small
boy holding a rod. I could hardly believe my eyes. This small boy? He
could be nothing more than ten years old. And then he stood, holding a
rod, beating the cows, controlling the animals that were five times his
size.
If only they knew, I thought. If only the cattle knew they
had more power than the Fulani boy. If only they knew they had strong
horns and could lift the boy and throw him into the bush. If only they
knew they had hoofs, hoofs strong enough to break the boy's rod into
two. Of only they knew what they possessed, they would be free, would be
living the life they wanted, would not be controlled by small boys like
this one.
Ignorance is not just a disease, it's a deadly one.
Most of us are like cows. We are ignorant of who we are and what we
possess. I believe God, the creator of mankind, has embedded in us all
talents and abilities that are strong and powerful enough to carry us
through life. But we do not know. We are ignorant.
And because we
do not know, we fail at so many things. I am a night worker. I prefer
working (reading and writing) at night. Sometimes, I sleep during the
day and stay awake at night. This is not because I cannot or do not work
during the day. I can and do work during the day sometimes. But it's
not always the same as during the night. I understand better at night. I
do not experience writer's block at night. I tend to be more efficient
at night. That is me. But most of us do not know ourselves. We do not
know when we enjoy working and when we are more efficient. And because
of this, we fail exams.
Some folks want to do everything. They
want to write, sing, draw, dance, code, own a company, manage an
enterprise, be a model, own a school, and build an automobile. They want
to do everything: everything they were not meant to do; everything they
are not endowed with the abilities to do; everything God did not plan
them to do. And so because these folks are ignorant, because they do not
know what God has planned for their lives, they fail at so many things
they lay their hands upon.
Some folks fail in life because they
do not know. To succeed in life, one must be purposeful and be aware of
why one is on earth. One must know why one is going on a journey before
taking the first step. Ask yourself the question: why am I on earth? Ask
God and put down your answers on paper. Some folks think they are on
earth just because the big-bang happened and so they 'just' exist. They
live everyday as it comes making wrong choice and decisions, doing
things out of God's purpose for their lives. And because of this,
because they do not know, they fail to live. They just exist.
You've got to know who you are and what you carry. I know who I am and
what I carry. What of you? Hope you are not like those big ‘fellas’
being controlled by small boys with rods? Please do not be.
Cheers!