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0Here is something to get you started this week. Reflect on it and lemme know what you think.
I was in a bus some weeks ago and there was this woman seated behind me preaching. It was quite an experience for me (more on it here). Even though I couldn’t concentrate on either my thoughts or the sermon, a statement she made caught my attention and I have decided to write about it. In her introductory message, she told my ‘fellow’ passengers to thank God for the gift of life (we all should do that). As she proceeded to the next round of thanks, she said “Let’s thank God for the freedom that you and I have. Some people are confined to their houses like prisoners… every time they have to go out, they have to be in the company of security operatives… but you and I can go out as we like without worrying about any of these things…” [end of quote]
Questions immediately sprang up in my mind. Is this truly a ‘reason’ to thank God? Or is it that we just have low ambitions? I wasn’t sure which was the case. In an environment where everyone prays and hopes to be successful, it may seem that such prayer of ‘thanks’ was not in sync with the prayers of ‘blessings’ we regularly offer.
Take a moment to reflect on this and you will realize that more often than not, with increasing prominence comes certain restrictions. It therefore follows that the higher you rise in life, the less you are free to do certain things that others take for granted. Of course, there is a type of restriction that borders on bondage, for example if you are a dictator, you probably will live your entire in suspicion and under heavy guard – I’m not talking about this type of restriction.
Regardless of what you might think, the one thing I took out of the monologue (hers) is that many people like the idea of success but not the reality of success itself.
N.B. You can replace ‘success’ in the above paragraph with words like: relationship, motherhood, promotion, marriage, degrees etc
Ifeoluwapo Odedere
© 2014
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© 2014
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Demi Fayemiwo
September 9, 2014 — 4:22 pm
LOL. She’s funny. It is paradoxical that the more successful a person becomes, the less freedom they have to do as they please. That does not mean they are unhappy or ‘in bondage’. I think her prayer of thanks is a bit odd….You are right…Many people wish to be in such positions of prominence but are not readyu to come to terms with the conditions such prominence presents. I belive it’s naive to think we can grow in life, yet still live the same way.
Ifeoluwapo Odedere
September 9, 2014 — 6:05 pm
Yeah Demi, we forget that as you rise, responsibilities increase and rights decrease (John Maxwell). If people knew what being at the top entails, many will not aspire to rise at all.
Kodili Nduka
September 9, 2014 — 4:33 pm
Yes, I agree with Ife. The idea of success (you can also replace it with the other words he suggested) is wonderful but in reality, you may have to ‘give up’ other things. I think if a person who wants to be or is successful comes to terms with the things he has to deal with, It will make it less painful to bear. Using the preacher’s words, he can also find freedom and be thankful for it because he has accepted the ‘cross’ he has to bear. The problem now is that it is difficult to accept crosses (in my opinion) but I guess with time…I’m still thinking about it though. Thanks for sharing Ife
Ifeoluwapo Odedere
September 9, 2014 — 6:10 pm
Kodili, your suggestion is just on point! “I think if a person who wants to be or is successful comes to terms with the things he has to deal with, It will make it less painful to bear.”
Thanks for sharing.
Oluwatobi
September 10, 2014 — 12:00 am
Freedom and its many definitions.
When you grow, you take up more of the room available to you. Not a bad thing in itself really. Less playground but more cookies.
PS Success sometimes comes with more freedom. Seen the legroom in the first class cabin?
Ifeoluwapo Odedere
September 10, 2014 — 8:35 am
Hahaha! Tobi. Lol @ legroom.
Abiodun Ajayi
September 12, 2014 — 12:31 pm
Low ambitions? Yes
For me, I will gladly welcome the restrictions that come with success and the other replacements. Not mentally ready for some though… I guess that will come with time.
Ifeoluwapo Odedere
September 15, 2014 — 8:25 am
you’re right Biodun. We have to steel our minds in preparation for the challenges associated with success. Like ‘Poju Oyemade said “Being blessed is not the problem, It’s sustaining the blessing that is the challenge.”