Unemployment, corruption, hunger, bad leadership, dwindling economy; the lamentations of our lips every day! Well, it is not wrong to talk about the problems especially if it will touch someone to act. Sadly, many are talking seeming to enjoy the daily proclamation of our ills but equally unwilling to effect change for others or even self to benefi...t from. Which way do we go?
In a country where unemployment is a major and an increasing threat to social order, it is important that we not only ask ourselves good questions thay will challenge us to start solving our problems but start acting. It is funny but unfortunate to discover how in the midst of increasing cries of unemployment, we find decreasing numbers if not absence of sincere, honest, dedicated and disciplined artisans. Our fathers knew quite a lot of them who diligently carried out their work and fed and trained their children and even met other daily responsibilities. We find today a generation so in a rush to make wealth and as such willing to cut corners and damn the consequences; these are unwilling to patiently study and those who study by the merits of some sponsor’s support think it must be a white collar job or nothing else.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an artisan can be defined as a person who is skilled by making things by hands. This can include craftsmen, who mold pots, works of art, electricians, automobile mechanics, sweepers and even messengers at work can be included under this category for the purpose of this topic. You can be the best, be known, respected and rewarded as the best in any field of endeavour through diligence – this is key to success.
The holy books talks about a man or woman diligent in their skill or business: Seest thou a man (or woman) diligent in his/her business? he/she shall stand before kings; he/she shall not stand before mean men (people) – Proverbs 22:29. This talks about diligence in whatever good work you can do. Because royal people dine with kings, the passage conotes therefore that diligence in whatever skill you have can make you a King-material in that field and of course, a king is not a poor man. Kings are made in the heart not known by their robes. The Legendary Martin Luther Jnr once said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” His words exhort on the importance of doing your work well. Beethoven and Michaelangelo, Shakespeare and their likes were ordinary people who chose to do things in extraordinary ways and thus today they are celebrated as extraordinary people. They never worked as staff of SPDC, CHEVRON, EXXON-MOBIL, Etc. They discovered their talents, harnessed it and decided through hardwork and diligence to be the best; it was their choice.
We must bring back diligence in our work places; let the sweeper, cleaner, automobile mechanic, the electrician, the bricklayer, etc think of and work hard to be the best of their kind. If this is actualized, not only would we have driven poverty, hunger, unemloyment and violence far away from our nation but we will have many Kings and Princes on our streets and many more mouths will be fed and less stomachs begging for a fill. Let’s get started and if you have, strive harder!
In a country where unemployment is a major and an increasing threat to social order, it is important that we not only ask ourselves good questions thay will challenge us to start solving our problems but start acting. It is funny but unfortunate to discover how in the midst of increasing cries of unemployment, we find decreasing numbers if not absence of sincere, honest, dedicated and disciplined artisans. Our fathers knew quite a lot of them who diligently carried out their work and fed and trained their children and even met other daily responsibilities. We find today a generation so in a rush to make wealth and as such willing to cut corners and damn the consequences; these are unwilling to patiently study and those who study by the merits of some sponsor’s support think it must be a white collar job or nothing else.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an artisan can be defined as a person who is skilled by making things by hands. This can include craftsmen, who mold pots, works of art, electricians, automobile mechanics, sweepers and even messengers at work can be included under this category for the purpose of this topic. You can be the best, be known, respected and rewarded as the best in any field of endeavour through diligence – this is key to success.
The holy books talks about a man or woman diligent in their skill or business: Seest thou a man (or woman) diligent in his/her business? he/she shall stand before kings; he/she shall not stand before mean men (people) – Proverbs 22:29. This talks about diligence in whatever good work you can do. Because royal people dine with kings, the passage conotes therefore that diligence in whatever skill you have can make you a King-material in that field and of course, a king is not a poor man. Kings are made in the heart not known by their robes. The Legendary Martin Luther Jnr once said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” His words exhort on the importance of doing your work well. Beethoven and Michaelangelo, Shakespeare and their likes were ordinary people who chose to do things in extraordinary ways and thus today they are celebrated as extraordinary people. They never worked as staff of SPDC, CHEVRON, EXXON-MOBIL, Etc. They discovered their talents, harnessed it and decided through hardwork and diligence to be the best; it was their choice.
We must bring back diligence in our work places; let the sweeper, cleaner, automobile mechanic, the electrician, the bricklayer, etc think of and work hard to be the best of their kind. If this is actualized, not only would we have driven poverty, hunger, unemloyment and violence far away from our nation but we will have many Kings and Princes on our streets and many more mouths will be fed and less stomachs begging for a fill. Let’s get started and if you have, strive harder!
- June 27, 2015
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