You must have heard it already: the clock will stop ticking on May 21, 2011. Some prophet has said it and there isnt much one can do but try a last minute transformation to being righteous. First though, we need to repent.
But is the world really coming to an end? More later in a detailed analysis of doomsday prophecies.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Post 8-4-4 discourse: a short narrative
It is three weeks since since what I started over twelve years ago came to a close. There is much to say about the system but that is a story for some other day. The past three weeks have been as exciting as they come but not without an unjustified measure of boredom. The fact that I am writing this of course is an unequivocal pointer to being upbeat about things.
So, what have you been up to for the three weeks? I hear you ask. Beyond travelling and meeting friends and relatives, I have been reading a lot about freelancincing on the internet. While the school system pretended to prepare us to create jobs and all that, its primary purpose was to get us ready to work in already established institutions. That is why you find graduates in their thousands walking blindly, searching for jobs that are hard to get.
Given that I was reliably informed by friends who work online and make good money to boot that there is no place to be other than before your computer, I have bought myself a couple of internet bundles to satisfy my doubting Thomas instinct. While I am yet to do any job, I can assure you that whoever learns and masters the ropes of working online has his financial future guaranteed.
You may want to search for websites like odesk.com, essaywriters.net, elance.com among many others to confirm what I say here. Opening accounts is free but only those who succeed in the tests given get the jobs and money! So dont rush into tests but in stead take your time to read more about freelancing and the websites you want to work with. All the best
So, what have you been up to for the three weeks? I hear you ask. Beyond travelling and meeting friends and relatives, I have been reading a lot about freelancincing on the internet. While the school system pretended to prepare us to create jobs and all that, its primary purpose was to get us ready to work in already established institutions. That is why you find graduates in their thousands walking blindly, searching for jobs that are hard to get.
Given that I was reliably informed by friends who work online and make good money to boot that there is no place to be other than before your computer, I have bought myself a couple of internet bundles to satisfy my doubting Thomas instinct. While I am yet to do any job, I can assure you that whoever learns and masters the ropes of working online has his financial future guaranteed.
You may want to search for websites like odesk.com, essaywriters.net, elance.com among many others to confirm what I say here. Opening accounts is free but only those who succeed in the tests given get the jobs and money! So dont rush into tests but in stead take your time to read more about freelancing and the websites you want to work with. All the best
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Pathway to Integrity
For the better part of this week, starting on Wednesday to Friday, a group of student leaders were engaged on a three-day seminar by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC). The theme of the seminar was "Visionary Leaders for a Corruption Free Society".
In Kenya, the topic of corruption has become fashionable and Prof PLO Lumumba, the Director Of KACC, attested to this. He pointed out that there are those who by the day are with the commission fighting against the vice, and yet at night, are the perpetrators of the same.
With the above in mind, allow me to delve into another equally fashionable subject of integrity without, of course, dragging you into the now-muddied waters of the pop culture it has created.
Often times, we hear and read remarks to the effect that people are born "evil". The other equally disturbing remark we read and hear is that one's environment determines his behaviour to such a great extent that environment alone, can be said to be the sole determiner of one's character.
While admitting that the environment plays a role in the determination of a person's character, I find it difficult to locate the mere fact of birth in the determination of the same. The environment bombards us with lots of information and realities that evidently shape our mental dispositions which in turn shape our behaviour.
It is wishful thinking to give prominence to environment over choice in the determination of a person's behaviour. Let us mention some names: Dr MLK Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Mandela... etc. The commonality between these great people lies in their choosing the good over the bad, the environment they lived in notwithstanding.
The pathway to integrity is one of choice. We cannot, we must not, we should not, try to excuse our "evil" choices and blame our environment for making us do those things which we did not intend to. While determinism seems to be a popular thing to rely on when we go wrong, deep within ourselves we know that the wrong we did was out of choice.
With your indulgence, allow me to share with you three things which the Rev Dr Mageto asked us to remember if we would forget the rest. Know the good, desire the good and do the good. To become a person of integrity demands that one walks on the narrow path best described by the three things mentioned. The choice is yours!
In Kenya, the topic of corruption has become fashionable and Prof PLO Lumumba, the Director Of KACC, attested to this. He pointed out that there are those who by the day are with the commission fighting against the vice, and yet at night, are the perpetrators of the same.
With the above in mind, allow me to delve into another equally fashionable subject of integrity without, of course, dragging you into the now-muddied waters of the pop culture it has created.
Often times, we hear and read remarks to the effect that people are born "evil". The other equally disturbing remark we read and hear is that one's environment determines his behaviour to such a great extent that environment alone, can be said to be the sole determiner of one's character.
While admitting that the environment plays a role in the determination of a person's character, I find it difficult to locate the mere fact of birth in the determination of the same. The environment bombards us with lots of information and realities that evidently shape our mental dispositions which in turn shape our behaviour.
It is wishful thinking to give prominence to environment over choice in the determination of a person's behaviour. Let us mention some names: Dr MLK Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Mandela... etc. The commonality between these great people lies in their choosing the good over the bad, the environment they lived in notwithstanding.
The pathway to integrity is one of choice. We cannot, we must not, we should not, try to excuse our "evil" choices and blame our environment for making us do those things which we did not intend to. While determinism seems to be a popular thing to rely on when we go wrong, deep within ourselves we know that the wrong we did was out of choice.
With your indulgence, allow me to share with you three things which the Rev Dr Mageto asked us to remember if we would forget the rest. Know the good, desire the good and do the good. To become a person of integrity demands that one walks on the narrow path best described by the three things mentioned. The choice is yours!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Yet, another fire in Moi University ,Main Campus. Is tragedy courting us?
This evening, a student's room in my hostel caught fire. The incident, which is the first of its magnitude in my close to four years stay here, has left most students shocked and scared. While the students are sorry for their comrades whose room caught fire, the thought that it could have been any of them has blunted their emotions.
The fire incident comes in the background of another outbreak a few weeks ago in which a supermarket serving the students and villagers. Of course, in stead of students and villagers helping out, they started looting the property. But that is a story for another post.
Until this year's incidents, there were a few others in the last academic year. Most of the fires have been allegedly caused by electrical faults. But then again, that should form the the thesis of another post.
Worthy of note however is our ability to react to these accidents and prevent the occurrence of more disasters. There university has put up fire assembly points within the campus and the horse pipes are working (they are used for cleaning, daily). This, however, is not the issue.
In today's incident, it emerged that students are not prepared for such disasters. The confusion that characterized the evening, the false alarm in the other wing of the hostel, the conflicting information and such things all show that students are totally not prepared for such incidents.
Therefore, there is need to continuously carry out drill sessions and talks for the students to know what to do should this happen again, here or wherever they will be. It would be a plus to the world if unto it are given people who can skillfully deal with disasters in addition to their other skills. We can no longer rest easy and assume that somehow we will survive any disaster. Such complacency with ignorance can lead fatal endings to already tragic stories.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The world does not pause to heed your cries
I have met countless people who endlessly talk about their tribulations. While I do not object to people opening up, and sharing what bothers them, I am a little disturbed by those among us who think we should stop what we are doing and listen to them.
The world does not, cannot, must not, will not, stop to heed the cries of any one of us. Yes, life is difficult. But wait a minute, who said it would be easy? Who promised you that upon your entry into the world, only the good things awaited you? If nobody promised you anything in particular, why are you complaining? What premise do you have?
That sounds tough, even irrational but I do contend that it is how things are as I see them. We cannot go on complaining of how bad the situation is, for complaints alone, wont change the nature of things. We must proactively engage ourselves in those activities that have for their express purpose, the extermination of those things we find disagreeable.
The theory of the survival of species makes known to us that only those among us who can muster this "difficult" life will survive today to breed tomorrow! Those of us who will die in the battlefields of today's problems might as well start preparing for the world to come. Perhaps there, you will be given a second chance!
Therefore, in lieu of complaining, crying, lamenting e.t.c about the unfairness of today, let us pause to think of how best to resolve the issues that are before us.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Worry not over that which you cannot change
When Jesus saw his disciples troubled over what the next day had in store for them, when he realized that humanity was struggling even with the unknown, when he saw that people were wasting a lot of their energies with that which they had not in their control, he told them something that may appear to be very simple: he told them not to worry about tomorrow for it would take care of itself. He categorically told them that enough for the day was its own troubles.
Interestingly, paradoxically even, since his time to date, the people of this world have not fully comprehended the wisdom of his words. They have been troubling themselves with things which they did (don't) have control over. Anxiety of what is before each one of us seem to dictate the nature of the lives we live.
I have watched an interesting movie on Tibet (I don't remember the title) in which one of the actors gets very philosophical. Thinking of the nature of the nature of reality surrounding him, he opines that one should not worry over that which they cannot change for no amount of worrying can change anything. He adds that if you can do something, do it; if you cant, let it be.
The words are surprisingly simple. perhaps that explains why most of us dont take them seriously. We rubbish them as common sayings that mean nothing beyond the words themselves. However, the philosophy in them is profound and can impact greatly on the life of the person who takes them seriously.
The challenge therefore is for each one of us to see the amazing wisdom in the apparently simple utterances. The choice before us is to choose to struggle today and live it to the fullest,or to die slowly today worrying about tomorrow.
As for me and my house, we have made our choice. Have you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)