Missionary, mercenary or misfit?

Heard this funny tale today about how guys in Europe were viewed whenever they decided on a career change to move to Africa. Anyone who was coming down to Africa was either a missionary, mercenary or a misfit. My atheist friends would tell of how the European came to Africa initially with a bible...we had the land, and when he said let us close our eyes and pray, when we opened them, we were holding the bible and they had the land.

My favourite topic well..perspectives. What do you think you are doing when deciding on a path to follow. We sometimes make radical decisions and delve into the unknown, and it is fortitude and being firm and steadfast in sticking to your decisions that ultimately makes the difference. As they say, nothing comes easy. the harder it is, the sweeter the rest at the end. This does not mean you suffer blindly in the name of "stickability", a term coined by one famous Griffin in one of his career talks back in the day. If HE is beating you day in day out, abusing you and giving you a few (ok maybe a lot of) broken limbs, give up and look for something better. Perseverance is good, but it also has its limits. If that piece of work is making you mentally unstable from the stress...is it really worth it. Maybe you have a plan, that may excuse the "stickability" element, but weigh and think through what's best for you in the long run.

Don't ask me why I don't follow my own advice...well mganga hajigangi and there has to be someone who acts as an example, good or bad.

So do you think I am a missionary, mercenary or a misfit?..niambie nisikie

Be grateful for what you have and careful what you wish for

I have had a week of leave (very rare where I come from) and though it turned out to be about half that time, I got to reflect on my own life. Prayed about it too (I know this sounds funny, but yes, I do pray to be grateful for all the happenings in my life and my family's as well as asking for direction from our Father...Whoever knows me really well knows what I am talkin' about). As I looked back at my life, a few things were thrust to the fore that appear to replicate each other in their timing and what they mean.

Back in '98, I think I was the last fella to be made SHP (I wont elaborate on the initials..a bit embarrasing) Others had already gone through the trainings and had a helping hand in running their respective areas of concern. me on the other hand, my guide as it were was non existent, and I had 80 odd heads to look after. This was learning the hard way, with no proper guidance and seeing that I was to be "Father of the Mother house" on an anniversary year, the pressures were extreme. I had no choice...couldn't run away from responsibility and had to toughen up. Bottom line, I survived '99 and lived to tell the tale.

Fast forward 2009...ok rolling into 2010. Very difficult life in a decimated department which meant an almost vertical learning curve (dy/dx tending to one for the Engineers). Then we got propelled at breakneck speeds to levels of responsibility that I for one to be honest was not prepared for. So as I sat discussing this with some very close friend of mine (anajijua) I explained how I found my situation unlucky whereas others thought I had a silver spoon. In a way that person maybe right, but there is another side to the coin, which will take some one and a half or two years for me to come to terms with. I appreciate the challenges I get thrown at and the blessings (though it takes time to identify them as such and appreciate them for what they are)

As they say life aint easy, but al eat it with a BIG spoon and take time to reflect on it.