It is not strange for man to have challenges, it will only be bad for him to be overcame by the challenges. We belong to a world where trials, temptations, and persecutions abound. They had become inevitable part of our existence. Challenges, no matter how overwhelming they may be should not be a limitation to our life; we should see these challenges as opportunities to advance our lives. A lot of people had lost track on the path of successful living due to one challenge or the other. Many had blamed their various predicaments on various excuses on one problem or the other that they faced. I’ll want to submit that the challenges are not meant to limit us in life but comes as opportunities to refine our character and advance our life positively. In every problem or challenge is packaged a lifetime opportunity to see the intervention of God.
Pain comes with trials, neglect, bad attitudes, betrayals, sickness, temptations and persecutions, a discomfort that makes one to cry, wonder and ask “why me? Or will this ever end?” My question, Is there anything good in pain or discomfort? What is the purpose of pain? Is it just there to cause displeasure and make one bitter? Is it just a measure to make one want to give up and go weary?
In my own perspective, my answer to all these question is NO. However, to some other the answer may be YES, it is a question of choices and perception. But really I want you to see and know and change your perception about pain and challenges. There are inherent blessings in pain.
In every challenge, no matter the extent of the pain it bring therein lays opportunities. Someone once said “opportunity’s favourite disguise is trouble”. I’ll want us to see in this writ that pain should not be seen as an enemy but rather as an agent of change. Pain should not be seen as a negative phenomenon but as a positive one. Mike Murdock said “Pain is a signal for change”. Pain informs us that there is a need for change and the lifespan depends on when we respond to make the necessary change it informs us about. Pain is a gift after all, a gift that motivates us to make an obvious change. Pain suggests that something is out of place, a signal that something is not in order.
The pain of headache is a signal that something is out of order in the body metabolism, the pain associated with malaria is a signal that there is a “foreign body” in the blood stream. The pain associated to a marital relationship is a signal that something is out of other in that home. The pain associated to a career is an indication that you must do something about it. The so much discomfort in our nation, Nigeria, is a signal for change! Change in our polity, change in leadership, change in mannerism of the populace, change in our educational system, change in political style, change in attitude, change in culture, change all around!
We have all blamed leadership for our woes in Nigeria, but for how long are we going to do that. If we can’t change the past then why must we live in the past? We all seek a savior, seeking a “Martin Luther King Jnr.” for Nigeria, when we can all be the Martin Luther King Jnr., the Rosa Parks, etc. in our own little way. During the days of Martin Luther King, there are other Americans, black and white, who were also contributing to the same course that Martin was committed to in their own way. The likes of Harry C. Boyte, the four students Ezell A. Blair, David Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain that protests Woolworth's policy of excluding African Americans. There is also Rosa Parks (mother of the civil rights movement) and many others doing their own thing for a common course. All their individual efforts put together brought the change that gave birth the new America today! They all responded to the pain of racism, by making and working towards a change!
The point am making here is that we all, in our own little way need to respond to the “pain” obviously evident in our nation today by doing something about it. As long as we think someone else is who we need, the problems remain. We don't need someone else. All we need is US. Don't leave what you can do for someone else to do. Do your bit. I do my bit. Everybody does their bit. And we all begin to see the changes.
Nigeria's problem is not just leadership, as one of my friend rightly said, (it is a symptom, a signal). One big problem is OWNERSHIP! The problem is that the solutions lie with Mr. Nobody while Mr. Somebody, anybody and everybody sits around and analyze the problem. Like my pastor once said, too much analysis leads to paralysis.
In my recent writ, I wrote that “Many times in this country, we the people have been quiet, and we look another way when others make unethical choices or behave in inappropriate ways. In so much as it doesn’t affect us directly; we feel it’s none of our business. Nigerians and Nigeria’s resources are our business! We are part of the ecosystem. Every individual decisions and actions affects us all one way or the other.” It is high time we began to “de-mystify” the solution to our nation’s predicament. The solution lies with us taking ownership of the various ‘pains’ we experience. The pain affects all of us, so let’s begin to respond to the pain by changing what we can in our own little way to remove the pain.
All our individual efforts today will bring about a change that will give birth to a new Nigeria tomorrow! God Bless Nigeria!
