"The way to love
anything is to realize it can be lost. It is not panic, it is putting things in
perspective” Charles Umeh
"Surulere",
“Ndidiamaka”
Patience Pays! There is virtue in orderlies
and slow isn’t inaction.
In 2003 the movie
"Honey" was released directed by Billie Woodruff featuring Jessica
Alba (Honey) and other stars. It was centered on a girl who's dreams of
becoming a choreographer and also helping the kids in her Community came true. Now
the movie has quite touchy scenes but perhaps the most emotional for me was the
final scenes at the dance benefit held to raise funds for the dance studio for
the kids. The kids danced to Yolanda Adam's *I Believe* oh how teary I get
whenever I listened to that song not only because of the highly powerful vocals
of Yolanda but because of the message.
One of the
things lacking in the relationship between Youths and adults is patience. Yes
patience. Adults are not patient with the youthfulness of the young; the young
are not patient with the wisdom of the elders manifested in long talks and slow
processes. Hence the elders are want to always say what an elder can see sitting down;
a child cannot see if he climbs the tallest iroko tree.
But
patience is a virtue, a central part to solving the many conflicts, crises,
conflagrations and bickering in our world today. Lack of patience breeds
suspicion, hatred, envy, jealousy, anger, pride and resentment. When we rush,
we make some error in judgement.
We have always
said that assumptions and suppositions are direct causes of conflicts and this
is rooted in hasty conclusions which ignore the deep thought processes that
patience engenders. Like the opening quote affirms, when we love and know that
people or things we love can be lost, it gives us an impetus to take our time
in re-assessing our approach to how we relate others.
The youth
is known for their beauty, exuberance, vigor, energy, innovation, impatience
and rush among others. Adults are known inter alia for their wisdom, time
taking, elaborate plans, and thorough checks. Patience is the bridge that
connects the wisdom of the old and the energy of the youth to achieve a common
goal.
But of
course, many would be quick to say that isn't workable. Not with the growing
rate of hardship, falling Naira, increasing poverty and inequality especially
in the Nigerian economy. Truth be told, the situation is pathetic. But we must
embrace patience! Rome wasn't built in a day; neither did China become the
global economic hub overnight.
When the
elders are not patient with the young and hurriedly conclude on everything they
do, when the youth believe that the elders are always slow in responding to
things, then the right recipe for conflict is brewed.
We can get
out of the shithole [I can’t believe I am saying this], but we must realize
that in the journey of life, no one can win the war individually, there comes a
time when the wisdom of the elders and energy of the youth must converge and
blend into a powerful weapon of peace.
In this
era of naira swallowing snakes and monkeys, at a time when the collective
prestige and integrity of our nation is being tested, it is time to converge at
the confluence of reasoning where the aroma of the mix of wisdom and energy is
enough to ignite peaceful and harmonious coexistence.
Yes, the
glory days are ahead, soon it would be ours but then Patience, Energy and Wisdom are key to our nation's success.
It is time
to engage our strengths to put our country back on track! As Rosa Parks once
said "I believe we are here on
the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a
better place for all people to enjoy freedom."
We can do
this!
OjisiEmezie
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