LIFE LESSONS: By Vincent Nii Ago Davies
The paradox of life is that a great number of people will easily lament over the collapse of their businesses, the loss of friendships, their state of bankruptcy, failure in examinations, refusal of visas to travel, poor health issues, unemployment, all forms of disappointments, etc. We unhesitatingly attribute those seemingly negative happenings to the work of witches and wizards, wickedness and evil doings of humanity. Sometimes also, we fault ourselves. Certainly, there are no qualms to begrudge or condemn people with such negative postures because we are not only social, but also spiritual and emotional beings; and that the lack of control over those aspects of our lives is the principal manifestation of those allusions.
l have come to understand the truth that most people who found or have found meaning in life, that is, a sudden or slow discovery that led to chalking breakthroughs and successes in life, are those whose lives were severally threatened with deaths, dearths, diseases, disappointments, disconnection from reliable networks, disowning by parents, deadly relationships, and many discouraging events. But l can confidently say that they, either intuitively or intentionally, found solace and solutions to their predicaments in Ecclesiastics 3:1 which reads thus: To every thing, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the sun. In other words, there is a purpose to whatsoever happens within the space of time regardless of whether it is good or evil. Actually, it is those who are spiritually inclined and emotionally intelligent that are able to leverage on what the society regards as negative and non-beneficial, and are able to translate them (so-called negative events) into their positive equivalents. As the saying goes: Behind every cloud lies a silver linen , there is a positive purpose behind that divorce of yours; search for it, and you will thank God it happened. Again, there is a hidden purpose for the collapse of that wonderful business of yours. Investigate that and you will be glad it occurred. What about the business or marriage proposal that was rejected; your visa application that was refused; your endless searching for employment opportunities; your dismissal from work; the loss of a reliable and dependable friend or a family member; etc. Consciously look out for that purpose for which Providence allowed that to happen to you. Remember what the scriptures say in Romans 8:28a, and it reads thus: … all things work together for good to them that love God…
Thomas Edison’s one 1000th attempts led to the invention of incandescent light bulb was were not a fluke. Once upon a time, that American man, in the eyes of society, was regarded a failure because he was a school dropout as a result of his seemingly blockheadedness. Going through all kinds of apprenticeships without actually completing them for whatever reasons was purposeful: the results of all the inventions he is accredited to today: phonogragh, photogragh, motion pictures, incandescent light bulb, modern age electricity, microphone, et al are the products of all those negative happenings in his life. Mandela read his LLB programme and became a president from the most condemning prison in South Africa. He knew why he became a prisoner and committed himself to that purpose. ln Ghana, l can personally testify about a man who saw opportunities out of what was seen as health hazards or jobs for condemned or dead people. As a young man who had the vision of becoming a successful businessman, he needed to work to take care of his upkeep, education and, at the same time, raise his own capital for business. The stench and the sickening sight of about 18metres by 12metres warehouse filled with rotten and maggot-emanating pig-foot meats drove away all negotiators save one to have the spoilt meats offloaded and disposed of. The young man, Daniel Nii Nshia McKorley, braced himself up to go clear that nauseating warehouse. According to him, his motivation was hinged on the purpose of coming into touch with such a herculean task: money to help him realise his goals in life. It is, therefore, not by chance that today, in Ghana and beyond, he is celebrated as one of the business tycoons. He basically saw purpose in every challenge he had to face in life.
It is high time we stopped the blamegame which usually leads to self-pitying, inaction and hibernation. Let us consciously find out for what purpose certain things come our way so that we can make maximum use of the situation to change the game destiny has plunged us into. Each time you are confronted with a problem, know that Providence has placed you in a position for your elevation. Nothing happens by chance.
