A Season called Life…

“To everything in life there is a season”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 if your reading
There’s a time to laugh
and a time for weeping
A time to fast
And a time for eating
A time keep quiet
And a time for speaking
A time to sow
And a time for reaping
These seasons come in their own time
Without warning,
Without reason.
Sometimes, the timing… (“Kisses teeth”)
Untimely, displeasing
Sometimes, the timing… (“YES!”)
Rewarding, redeeming!

There is a purpose for every season under the Sun
It’s a plan that is good and is meant for everyone!
That includes you!
You are part of God’s creation
Part of Gods esteemed generation
Irrespective of your denominational persuasion
Surely if we leave this world in a better state than when we arrived,
That is the perfect demonstration…
of Gods love.
You see…
There is much to be done in this one life that we live
But how much time do we spend meditating to realise it?
Do we boast about tomorrow like the evil ones in James 4:16
Or do we use wisdom and number our days like a good Christian

In this season called life there is no tomorrow
So let’s try and live the remainder of our days as if another won’t follow
Let us be labourers of Christ cos the harvest is plenty
May we continually till the land and never run on empty.
On that note
I hope you leave here with a satisfied stomach
Jesus is coming back soon so we better get back to work
Make the most of this life cos you only get one
Eternity is a long time to spend somewhere
Especially if you happen to get it wrong…
Cease the day and be strong

Carpe Deum.

Family

The following poem was forwarded by my mother no less and I thought it appropriate to share as I think the message rings true for most of us.

 

F A M I L Y

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,

‘Oh excuse me please’ was my reply.

He said, ‘Please excuse me too;

I wasn’t watching for you.’

We were very polite, this stranger and I.

We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,

How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,

My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.

‘Move out of the way,’ I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heartbroken.

I didn’t realize how harshly I’d spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,

God’s still small voice

Think Often of One and Two

Not long ago I read a passage which I found to be wonderfully wise. Its depth lies in its clarity of thought and simplicity of expression. It was from a book on Confucius, one of China’s famous thinkers and philosophers. I share it with you below. 

May it help you focus on whatever is good in every situation and delight in those one or two things which go your way – every day! 

I once read an essay by the famous Taiwanese writer Lin Qingxuan, about a friend who asked him for a piece of calligraphy to hang in his study. The friend said to him: ‘Write me something that is extremely simple, but which will be helpful to me when I see it every day.’ He thought for a long time, and then wrote just four Chinese characters: ‘Think Often of One and Two.’

That friend did not understand, and 

STOP! Take a break!

Have you ever felt like this?

You wake up in the early hours of the morning in attempt to yet again cram in as much into one day as possible, work flat out in your non-contracted 12 hour shift, leave work, pick up an unhealthy bite, deceive your mind into believing it has full focus and concentration for the next after-work endeavour, work for a few more hours, get to bed in the early hours of the morning only for the cycle to repeat itself again. If you have ever had a dissertation to complete, new business venture to get up and running or extra-curricular activity to pursue, you can probably relate to the above.

Now if you’re like me you’ll probably convince yourself into thinking that continuing at such a ridiculous pace is justifiable because of motivational mantras such as, “I am still young and able”, “It’s only for a season” or “Perseverance is key”.

I’m here to tell you this…

STOP! Take a break!

The Impostor Syndrome

70% of all people feel like fakes at one time or another. Some 30% have it to the degree that it interferes with their work and their life. A phenomenon labeled ‘Impostor Syndrome’.

A psychological research from the early 1980′s found that many women especially skilled professionals had high levels of self-doubt. The more successful they become, the more they feel like frauds. They feel as though they’re fooling people. There’s a conflict between their self-image and external reality.

This is certainly true of some of the females I’ve spoken to who believe:

• Am I going to be found out one day at work for not knowing enough?
• Did I get this job by fluke?
• Is my partner with me because I’m low maintenance and doesn’t really find me attractive?
• Do my friends really like me or just putting up because of how long they’ve known me?

Reading a recent article in Shortlist magazine on Impostor Syndrome (IS), it confirmed my long held belief on this. I share below five practical tips on how to unlock IS and live the life you deserve.

Thoughts to Caffeinate – #2

“Your mistakes are what makes you” (Made in Nachmo, Jun 2010)

It may seem unusual at first but your mistakes shape the character you will eventually become. Success in any endeavor depends on the ability to learn from your mistakes.

Our errors are portals of discovery though we usually don’t see it like that.

Turn that frown upside down!

Do you realise that you are your own worst enemy?

It is you that defeats you – regardless of what the situation may entail. Whether you have been talked down to, made to feel small and insignificant, or had your work discredited, you have let that negative influence dictate your negative response; the circumstance has penetrated your persona causing you to stay down, kissing the floor… I’m here to tell you that it’s time YOU GET UP!

Thoughts to Caffeinate – #1

This column is intended to stimulate the mind and fuel those creative leaps with regular ‘caffeinated’ servings.

I will be sharing with you my thoughts, from the impulsive to the philosophical. Some will be straight-shooting, light and expressive whereas others slightly reserved and contemplative. Some may require explaining to put it into context however this first one is pretty self-explanatory (see below).

What really motivates you?

I’d like to share this animated video of a talk given by Daniel H. Pink based on his NY Times best-selling book – ‘Drive’. Quite remarkable; you just have to see it!

It’s been described as a ‘paradigm-shattering’ look at what really motivates us and how we can use that knowledge to work smarter and live better. 

Invictus

I recently watched a movie called Invictus. I know I know, it’s old. I saw the ad on the billboards and thought it looked rubbish – and I could not make out what the hell ‘Invictus’ meant. I watched the movie because my sister had put it on and to my surprise it was pretty good. The movie did not answer the question of what Invictus meant, and if it did, I missed it, so I dug around (which means I Googled it) and found out that Invictus is the title of a short Victorian poem written by the English poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903) – (for a brief synopsis of his life and what prompted the poem see Wikipedia).

 The poem spoke to me immensely – especially when viewed through the eyes of the most famous occupant of Robben Island, Nelson Mandela. I thought I’d share it with the rest of you too.