DO JUST ONE GOOD AND STAND TALL | By Denniece Black |

Ever heard of the acronym “ARK” – Act of Random Kindness? I have heard it said numerous times. My question usually is, “why random?” Why not “PAG” – Purposive Act of Goodness?

Today I am endeared towards speaking about a delicate matter – choosing to do just but one thing and sticking to it.

First you have to identify one good thing that you can offer to yourself, to others and to humanity as a gift. Humanity comes with a whole package of virtues and other deeds that are meant to be nurtured for the benefit of self and others. I am inclined to believe that we all mean good (at least most of the times), apart from those isolated days that we are seized and out-powered by the temptation to do evil or just not to do good. There are those moments when we don’t necessarily exhibit that goodness when dealing with ourselves and even with others. No wonder our reputation always goes either before us or behind us. We can choose how and when this reputation should be invoked. You see your reputation is either an richly attractive fragrance that lasts in people’s hearts whether you are around them or away from them. But it can also be a bad odour that people don’t want to confront!

BE KIND

The choice of kindness (which isn’t as easy an act in our generation) can be invoked by practicing this virtue all the time. To achieve this, one ought to be kind to oneself f. Yes, there are those moments we are hard on ourselves maybe because of the errors of the past, the lack of tender care we give to ourselves. This choice of being friendly and considerate is a genuine ingredient for healthy human relations. Have you ever noticed that as you arrive at work, that cleaning lady, that watchman, that colleague is gracious in his/her kindness? Have you been keen to notice how that cobbler who repaired your broken shoe one time is being sagaciously kind in how he/she treated you and you were running to work? Do you still notice him exhibiting the same to other people whenever you pass by? He doesn’t just do that to earn himself a living but does it to all and sundry? How about that middle-aged lady who sells grocery and vegetables? She always acts kind whenever you go to purchase and even gives you a bonus for coming back. Then there is that brother of yours whom you sometimes wonder whether he swallowed some type of “kindness pills” that make him act kindly to everyone he meets? While I have known kindness, I have learnt it better from watching people practice it without being fazed by the world that appears unkind. If you want to be dressed in kindness, practice and don’t dare look over your shoulder. Just do it!

BE GENEROUS

Are you a generous type of person whose is willing to give plenty of something or everything? Do you offer time to others, money to the needy and give any relevant kind of help? Then do not hesitate to go on and do it, for it is in giving that you receive a hundred-fold says the Good Book! Or are you the type that is surprised by those who give and give without ceasing until you wonder why they are so magnanimous, munificent and lavish? In my life so far, my mother has been the personification of generosity. I have observed that she has ability to give most of what she has and even becomes oblivious of her own needs. Such kind of generosity is not only alarming but rare in our contemporary world. While this virtue most often put her in trouble with my late dad, she silently and at times secretly kept giving – she still unequivocally does! When gently asked what provokes her to do that without tiring, her response usually is, “I learnt to give. I will always give, why son, God gives us so that we can give to the others.” Choose to give as a duty. Who knows what legacy you will be remembered for?

KEEP TIME

People who keep time have always impressed me. I treasure them and respect them. They do so not because there would be a punishment if they didn’t keep time, but they know the overwhelming benefit of it. Take for example you have a business appointment and a social date with someone. It is almost obvious that the former appointment might be taken “seriously” and quite a good number of people would rather be in time for the meeting or be sorry for being late. A social date might be ignored because most people don’t attach “seriousness” to such an event and keeping time is not a big deal for a date. For me, on the contrary, it is a big deal! I contend that any event that has time set for meeting should be respected. Discipline for time keeping can earn one a great reputation and also help one be readily relied upon in executing any time-bound goals or missions in life. Woe unto those who don’t care about keeping time. If your conscience is not moved by lateness for any kind of appointment that obviously means you don’t value your own time and other people’s time. Why should you keep someone waiting for you for a whole thirteen minutes? A thirteen-minute flight would have covered approximately 12,675miles in those 13 minutes… that is really a big distance above sea level! Ask those who have missed a flight, like me, what it means not to keep time.

KEEP YOUR WORD

I am clearly reminded of the adage, ‘promises make dates and dates make promises.’ That is why I have learnt not to deliberately make a promise that I am not sure I can honour. I have also noted that we most often take it for granted when we promise people we shall do something. For example, how many times have you promised or told a friend, relative that you will call them and never really got to call them? Or promised to catch them on Facebook, Email, Whatsapp, Text message and never kept your word? While it sounds so mundane a thing that many people seem to brush off or just ignore, I find it a violation of the human conduct to say you will do something and you don’t do it and you are even unapologetic about your failure to keep your word. I think it is better to shut up your big mouth of empty of promises than keep it open and yet do nothing about it! In the event that external factors conspire to prevent you from keeping your word. Just do one thing – communicate. Tell those that you promised that you could not make it but you will make it at an alternative time. Choose to keep your word. You will be remembered for such a gesture that many take for granted.

RESPECT

I am reminded that respect is not necessarily solicited but it is earned. This means we have to have some level of decency through an admiration of ourselves and our abilities. Then this air of earned moderation can enable us recognize the worth in other people and hence strive to treat them with the same or even more admiration. Self-respect will definitely lead to respect for others. Perhaps the words of Laurence Sterne can be an encouragement to many when he said, “Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners” There you are, choose to practice respect and you will definitely navigate the journey of life with little to regret but more to be proud of because respect for all prepares a way for a satisfied life.

Now there could be many good things we can do in this life; humility, temperance, courage, patience, persistence, honesty and all.

Purposive Act of Goodness is fulfilling something commonly known as the “rule of the sea” which simply states that, “Be Good and Do Good”

Come on good people, let us spread this Purposive Act of Goodness!

Fare Thee Well Old Buddy

My Old Buddy,
You have taken a final bow,
You wrestled with the last pangs of pain,
Like a woman in her first labour,
But we thank you for the fruits of your labour,
You struggled to speak to us the last words,
Even we tried to read your lips in vain.

We rejoice in your wisdom,
Which has span seven decades,
God chose that you rest,
For thine time had come,
We had prayed you live longer,
We shall keep praying as you rest.

I will forever celebrate your life,
Your life's lessons are not in vain,
You were my friend from childhood.

Till we meet again,
Rest in Peace Tata Bonventure,

Fare thee well old buddy!

THESE NAYSAYERS | By Denniece Black |

They loot us,

Then hoot at us;

At times they cast lots on us,

Counting not the cost on us;

Yet we love them so!

They sleep on their jobs,

Give “their” people our jobs;

Turn “us” against ourselves,

As they dine with themselves;

Yet we praise them so!

They drive in tinted cars,

Wear tinted glasses,

Splash us mud as they speed by,

As we hopelessly stand by,

Yet we elevate them so!

They reside in high places,

Looking at us in our low places,

Gaining oft the victorious glances,

As we but receive non-sympathetic glances,

Yet we elect them always!

They tear each other in public,

Claiming their cause if for the public,

Making us talk, sleep, eat but them,

Forgetting that life is not all about them,

Yet we trust them so!

So as they privately toast and dine,

Then wash it down with fine wine,

We can keep whining,

And see who keeps winning,

If not these naysayers – our beloved politicians!

Let us pretend that we are united

Yes, let us pretend that we are united…

I am enveloped in this gloom which I am sure as it blooms, the boomerang effect is devastating. I am seated here in the middle of the night reflecting on all the events that are happening in the top echelon of the country and a big cloud of hopelessness is doing its rounds. What is obvious is that the social media has in a sense been honest in expressing the disgust. The mainstream media has, on the other hand turned a deaf ear to the realities of the day. I am almost certain that the rainbow of hope will never show up. The covenant of unity has been broken. The promise of progress has been extinguished by the fires of selfishness and tribalism. Let us begin from the top. Our president has been speaking in the most eloquent of ways – leadership in Kenya does not belong to all but a few. It is not without doubt that there is a glaring dichotomy between what he speaks and the wine he drinks. In truth, the wine he drinks is more important than what he tells the nation. Recall many times when terrorists attack us he talks tough and promises tough action against them. The inaction thereafter is visible even to the blind.

Leadership in our country has qualified as a tragedy. My kinsman Achucha Jr., reminds me more often that a bigger portion of love stories end up in tragedies. Is it true that our love affair with our leaders has proved that ours become ‘melodramatic tragedies’? You see for those “lovers”, they always live in false hope that the significant “other” will live up to their expectations. So, in essence you find a degree of “blind commitment” that is exhibited in; the actions towards, the thoughts about, the promises and all about the other. This leads both or one of the lovers to be in a love ‘trance’ or drunken ‘stupor’. We forget about ourselves and always think about the other at the expense of our own personal happiness. We forget that to live an ideal life is not only to love self first, then the others next but we do the vice versa and we are okay with it.

Our leaders ‘love’ us so much. No, we love our leaders so much that we forget about ourselves. We have chosen to defend their actions and lack thereof with the most vulgar of words on social media. I have read with my head bent in shame about friends, colleagues, classmates, young men and women to whom I have held with respect and high esteem. Most of those we have interacted in University – the highest academic institution. I have read writings from individuals I have been lecturing with, in the same institutions and worked with others in very high profile portfolios in life. This love for which they unequivocally profess towards the leaders and the apparent hatred towards the “other” leaders renders me speechless.

For the record, I have had the most honourable privilege of studying with individuals derived from almost all the tribes in the country. I recall those days I was in primary school, we used to make good the diversity of our ethnicity. Secondary school was even more fun because the blend enabled me to learn a lot from my other brothers from the other fathers and mothers. See, in the process I managed to be fluent in about 7-11 local dialects. I recall my time in the University was not also put to waste because of my ability to navigate the tribal boundaries and I was more often mistaken to belong to any of the other tribes because of my ability to speak, albeit with sufficient degree of fluency. I have to make a pregnant proclamation. In all my entire schooling, I believed that we were united. My tribe has never defined me nor did it define any of my friends then.

Let us bite the bullet: Kenyans, we are not united! Do you want us to pretend that we are? Unless we own up to this stack reality, our quest to achieve a level of unity, even to a small degree, ours will be efforts in vain. See, we had this ghost of a commission dubbed the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (read: Mzalendo Kibunja’s Commission”). It is ironical that a man to whose name translates into a “patriot” eventually became a “puppet” in what his commission did, failed to do or they were basically clueless. Does the commission still exist? Well, they did their part (what every commission is set us do); earn their salaries and choose allowances, etc and retreat to wherever and account basically to no one. Because after all, who cares?

We are not united because by the strength of the words of hatred and fire that the social media is spitting; we are not united by the degree of what is viewed as “unbalanced” appointment in the government positions that don’t reflect the face of Kenya; we are not united by even the composition of employees in private institutions; we are not united because positions in the counties are dominated by members from the same ethnic groupings.

Kenyans, let us face it. We elected a government. We need to support it. While at it, we need to make the government accountable. We need to confront the realities of the moment with honest and brutal truth. We don’t have to shift blame. Let me be clear here, since I am a political neutral. The opposition will remain that – the opposition. Whether it makes relevant noise or otherwise, it is still the opposition. It is a sum total of also leaders elected by a “minority” of Kenyans to represent them. But, whom does the buck of running the affairs of the country stop? The government!

So now allow me to ask:

How can we be united if our view of problems facing us a country can only be debated depending on who we support in the political divide? How can we even be united when Kenyans are dying in droves and we have the audacity to not point fingers in the right direction and defend a government whose expertise is at deflecting the right questions? How can we not expect the government not to offer security to Kenyans when insecurity is rampant? Do we want the opposition to do that?

Kenyans, who has poisoned the chalice of our unity? It is not our politicians. We have done it unto ourselves. How can we fall in love with a politician who is so distant to us that we can even spew hate of amorphous proportions in the name of defending them? How can we lose our own decency, dignity, humaneness just because we believe that our “own” is untouchable, immune to criticism, he/she is always right and the “other” is always wrong? Sometimes I seat myself down gently, read the utterances of my peers- men and women I have respected, worked with and feel ashamed, disappointed, disjointed, lost in oblivion. What became of the fantastic person I knew? What is beneath that nice person that leads to such hatred, vile and hero worship? See, I will be reluctant to work with you again, even dine with you again if all I can see about you is the manner in which you tell me the other side of you – that you are tribal and full of hate. And, mind you, whatever is written is written – in indelible ink. It will not be forgotten.

So, while we pretend that we are united – we are not. I will purpose to do my part. I will welcome all those who are respectful to others, tolerant with others, use decent language when debating matters of national concern. I will not define you by your name, your tribe but by your humanity and all the positive values and ingredients that you bring to the table of livelihood. It is that that will earn us the initial steps to holding us of purpose, wrapping our hands around each other, looking at each other in the face with honesty and thus building a united nation for you are me and I am you. We are all Kenyans.

I am just that – me

You might think;
In all my silence I am stupid,
In my entire passiveness I am dull,
In all my patience I am weak,
In all my whispers I am deaf,
And you could be right.

Yet I know;
It is in listening that I speak,
In my meekness that I learn,
In my tolerance I find peace,
In my whispers I can be heard.

Yes go on and think what you must;
That I must do what everyone does,
Act the way all do,
Move as the masses do,
Eat. Drink. Gossip. Sing. Dance?

No,
That is who they are, not me,
For I am just that – me!

This man my father – O’DeBlack

This man – my father,
While he looks old, fragile and frail,
His wisdom runs fresh, fair and full,
For a man who sired over two dozen kids,
And raised them all alone;

For a man whose advanced age,
Is loosing his eyes – but not his ears;
A grandpa whose joy is in the company of his grandchildren;
All whom he can identify by their voices – neither their names nor faces,
A man who was my first roommate while growing up;

Is the man who will live as long as Providence occasions,
The man I celebrate who kept his lineage eternal,
Is the man to whom I sing this victory song – this man, my father!

This woman my Getu – O’DeBlack

This woman Getu,
Sheltered and fed me nine months in her womb,
Never tired when heavy with my burden,
The pangs she felt when I visited this earth,
Were erased, replaced with a smile of joy.

This woman Getu,
Taught me how to smile and laugh,
Even at things that weren’t import,
Showed me how to eat and walk,
And I later ran on my own.

This woman Getu,
To whom I entitle as my mother,
But always call her by her name,
Embodies the meaning of generosity;
Her ability to give is unrivaled,
Neighbors sing in her praise as she gives all.

Getu my mother,
Personifies hard work and humility,
Virtues that I strive to inherit, practice,
The grace to empathize not sympathize,
Are seen how oft she thinks about others,
And oblivious to remember herself.

Getu my mother,
Taught me the gracious import of prayer,
Urging me in all but unspecific terms,
To be diligent in inviting the Almighty’s attention,
To all that I purpose to do,
And remembering to give thanks to Him,
In spite of the outcome.

Getu my mother,
Schooled me on how to overcome trials,
Tribulation and challenges,
Deriving her strength in the Lord,
Hope in failures turned to victories.

Seating and thinking of Getu,
Thousands of miles away from me,
Brings her closer to my heart,
Closer still to my heart’s desires,
Her eloquent testimonies still ring in my mind.

A blessed woman you are Getu,
A fortress you have always been,
My gratitude to you always,
God bless your heart eternal,
My love for you unwavering!

THE FACE OF SORROW

What then is the face of sorrow?
Can we see it in the unknown tomorrow?
Or in the gate of heaven that looks narrow?

Is it visible in a broken heart,
In a failed relationship,
A bereaved companion,
A barren woman,
Or omnipotent man?

Show me that face of sorrow,
I will look for it everywhere,
In a mother who has lost a child,
In a lost game for a football team,
In a lost game of love,
In a lost hope of a failed tomorrow.

Where else can I find this sorrow?
Is it in a family visited by disease,
Or that that hosts death after death;
Is it in a friendship where trust has been lost,
Or in a dream that has been crashed and shattered?

Is it seen in the twinklessness  of an eye,
Or in the absence of a smile,
The presence of a huge frown,
Or that full of tears;
Is it deeper than the eyes can see,
Or heavier than the heart can bear?

I know the face of sorrow, it is pain!

YOUR SILENCE is SUFFICIENT

Behold I swim in a pool of joy,
For even in your silence,
I enjoy the treasure of your presence,
Even in your unspoken word,
Your heart resonates with mine,
Like the keystrokes of the keyboard.

You are but infectious,
With your smile precious,
Thine is your soul  gracious,
And encouragement joyous,
Your heart pious.

Tell me a thing about your eyes,
For there are always twinkles,
That are nourished by the dimples,
And illuminated by droplets
Of hidden yet visible gratitude.

I admire your kindness,
And the virtue of gentleness,
That makes you a friend of many,
Like that of a generous granny,
You hold the hands of many,
Who find you even without money.

JUST BECAUSE I LOVED YOU

Just because I loved you,
God allowed suffering to visit you,
And challenges to constantly prod you.

Just because I loved you,
God put us distant from each other,
And communication disturbed each of us.

Just because I loved you,
Tribulations overwhelmed you,
And time caught up with you.

Just because I loved you,
The weight of responsibility blinded me,
And you felt that I existed no more.

Just because I loved you,
You chose another man to marry you,
Yet I was ready to marry you.

Just because I loved you,
I listened to the tone of your voice,
It sounded like the pain of a divorce,
When I heard the voice of your frustration,
I gazed at the eyes of your denunciation

Just because I loved you,
I noted your point of despondency,
At the feebleness of your pulse,
The retreating throb of your heartbeat,
And when I listened to your breath,
I knew that your love is no more!

THE CHOICE OF FAITH

The reality of life is but a mystery,

So cryptic is the puzzle of life’s destiny,

You could be richer in wealth but not in health,

Yet the destiny of both is too similar – but too different,

All you need is but one thing – faith.

The beauty of life is still a mystery,

So unfolding in the least of expectations,

For those victorious now could be losers then,

Yet the struggle of both is happiness – not pain,

Thus you need one thing – whose name is faith.

The promise of life is a perfect mystery,

Never a reflection of its crystal-clear blue- prints,

Since the wind of hope could be erased with another of hopelessness,

Yet all those who hope have doubt,

Thus the cries of the soul – it needs faith.

Though the mountain-climb is steep,

Though the sea’s windstorms are deep,

And the journey of life very rough,

Though the ride in the boat is bedeviling,

Though the turn of events is unpredictable,

Though the voice of reason is indecipherable,

Though friendships are unbearable,

Though self-set goals unreachable,

Though life’s burdens incomprehensible,

Look no further, search no more,

You have the answer in the choice of faith!