Perspire to Inspire

Everyone born on planet earth leaves behind one indelible lesson for others to learn, out of only two.

1)       A lesson which serves as an inspiration for others to follow, or

2)       A lesson which serves as a warning for others to avoid.

The pertinent question is, “Which one are we going to leave behind?”

We have but one life to live and we better live it well because if we don’t do anything with our lives now and make no effort to make it better, we may be living in regret for the rest of our lives. It would be of no use then, to complain and grumble about how messed up our lives are.

Most of us plan our meals and our recreation but fail to plan the details of our lives. This planning will only be possible if we discover our lives’ purpose. Those with a purpose in life are those who will be able to make a difference in their lives.

Some live their lives sitting down before the television and computer, living their existence through them and then blame everyone and everything else for the failures and disappointments in their lives. These are aimless people who just drift from one day to the next. They will be in for a shock one day when they find themselves at a dead end.

When one blames someone or something for what had happened to him, he is in fact proclaiming to the whole world that he himself is a loser. Yes, he has lost the control of his life to those persons or situations whom/which he cast his blame upon. He is saying that the other person or thing or situation is in control of him and his affairs. Blaming will not get us anywhere.

Having a purpose is like having a steering wheel in your car. The steering wheel steers the car and gets it going to its destination. Likewise our purposes steer our lives and get our lives going to where we want to go.

We should not just be happy with living ordinary lives. We must desire to live extraordinary lives with a purpose. How do we realize our lives’ purpose? Well, we are all endowed with skills and talents and we all have some interests and desires which we want to fulfill. Now if we would only merge our skills and talents with our interests and desires, we will be able to discover our lives’ true purpose which will enable us to live extraordinary lives with passion. Then and only then will we be able to live a life of inspiration and not a life of warning. For that to happen we must work towards it; we must perspire (ie: work for it) before we can inspire.

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Lessons I Learned

It was just gastric pain, I thought, but it became worse on a Monday night. I writhed in pain the whole night and dragged myself to school on Tuesday morning. Seeing my pale and contorted face, my concerned colleagues demanded that I go to see a doctor immediately, but I flatly refused. I was more in a dilemma than in pain as I think back. It was the busiest time of the year, right smack in the middle of the final exams.

“Who will do my work if I go back? I have to submit a number of reports. I have to mark the exam papers. I have to collate the results and prepare the final analysis. I have to complete my School Excellence Module report.” With such thoughts racing through my mind I decided to bear the severe pain and stay on in school. My colleagues had to literally evacuate me from school.

At the hospital I was kept under observation from 10am till 2,30pm and the diagnosis was ‘acute colic’. When I returned home with my husband the pain grew worse. I was throwing up even sips of water. By 5pm my condition grew worse and my husband rushed me back to the hospital. This time they admitted me saying I might have gall stones. A scan taken the following day showed something else. The doctor told me that I had obstructive Para-umbilical hernia and needed to be operated on early the next morning. He said that the part of the intestine, which was obstructed, could burst thus endangering my life. Even then, the doctor said that the operation involved a risk because of the hernia operation which was performed in my umbilical area in 2008. According to him the mesh which was placed in that area (It was secured with 8 swiches and 16 staples) had to be ripped off and that would cause some bleeding and scarring. To remove that, he said, they would have to cut me open vertically and horizontally.

My head spun upon hearing that. Numerous sms’s were made to my family, colleagues and friends in church. Everyone prayed fervently and kept enquiring about me anxiously. My family was with me all the time. Church friends sent out prayer requests and continued praying fervently. Some church friends came to my side to pray that night. My colleagues came to visit and cheer me up. I was greatly consoled and felt immense peace in my heart. I knew God was in control and that I would not need an operation. Although frightened of the unknown, I surrendered the unknown into the hands of my Lord Jesus, thanked Him for my family, colleagues and friends and dozed off. That was the first time I slept peacefully in that whole week.

The next morning my Prof entered the room with a team of doctors saying that the operation will take place at 10.00am as scheduled. Upon examining me he was surprised. (So was I) There was no pain when he pressed on the affected area. He could not feel the hardened obstruction which he had felt the previous day. He told me that the obstruction had moved from where it was lodged. Therefore, he said, that the operation was not in immediate need, but if something like hardened bowel gets lodged in there anytime I would have to be operated on without a question. Therefore I must ensure that constipation never occurs.

It was a time of jubilation for all of us. We thanked God the almighty for hearing the prayers of His people and healing me.

This was a very good learning experience for me. First I learned that I am not indispensible. When I fell sick the work which I had left behind was completed by others. Secondly I learned that by my absence a vacuum will be created in the lives of my loved ones. I learned that, that vacuum can only be filled by God. Thirdly I learned that good health is never to be exchanged for anything in this world. One cannot do anything worthwhile in the absence of good health. Next I saw the goodness in those around me and grew to love them and appreciate them even more. My family who were there all the time for me even when they had to attend to important things, my friends who prayed around the clock sacrificing even their sleep and my dear colleagues who notwithstanding all the mountain load of work they had during the most busiest time of the year, after SA2, chipped in to cover all my duties without complaining. That was the beauty I saw in each one of them and I appreciate their help in my time of need and I owe them a lot. Finally I learned that when God’s people pray in faith claiming His healing, He hears them and healing takes place without a doubt.

I thank my family, my friends and my dear colleagues for their unflinching help in my time of dire need and I thank God my Father Almighty for letting me go through this experience and teaching me important lessons which I will treasure all  my life.

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My Philosophy as an Educator

Life is a non-refundable GIFT. We either make it or break it. I believe in living my life to the best of my God given abilities by being a blessing to all those around me and with all whom I come in contact with. I believe in leaving behind a legacy for those after me when I ‘go back home’.

I did not choose this career by default. I had long wanted to follow in the footsteps of my mum and my aunts and grabbed the first opportunity, when my dad retired, to apply for teaching.  I had a sister and two brothers who were still schooling then. My parents were greatly relieved when I took the responsibility to provide for my family. I was only 19 then.

I have seen all kinds of children from 1979 till today 2010. I have grown wiser too. I used to get angry with my pupils when they failed to produce results, back then. Now instead of getting angry with them I look for the root cause. 

I believe that every single child has the capacity to learn in some way. Each child needs to feel important. Every child has to feel wanted, loved and has to have a sense of self worth or else he or she will not perform. Children do what they see 90% of the time. Therefore the child’s environment, family background, physical, health and other conditions, etc have to be taken into consideration. Given time, every child will excel, but in a different way from another child, if he/she is taught with understanding and heaps of patience. At the heart of every educator, there must be a passion to mould each child without extinguishing his/her zeal for knowledge and without taking away the child’s sense of self worth.

Do results matter? Yes and no. Yes, when it comes to comparing the school with other schools. Yes, when the child does not get into a good secondary school. Yes, when other parents boast of their children’s good results. Yes, if the child is capable but lazy. When we look around the world today, most rich and famous are not degree holders. Who then makes it in life? I firmly believe in inculcating moral values and teaching life skills to the little ones from a very early age. If that is done by every parent and every educator, we will not have to fret and the child will not have to suffer. There are so many ways for the child to make it in life.

Being positive in every situation and having a splendid vision for the future is very important. Complaining and grumbling will get us nowhere. Every successful person has succeeded in life, by having a positive vision and affirming it daily. Our thoughts and words have the power to create our future. Therefore we have to be conscious of what we think and speak. We have the ability to create a positive environment around us wherever we go. We must have specific measurable goals and act upon them without procrastinating.

Learning does not stop at JC, Poly or University. I believe that learning is life-long. Every educator has to continuously improve his / her knowledge by reading relevant books and articles. Times have changed. Every child is born with computer skills these days. We educators, have to equip ourselves with the relevant skills to teach the 21^st Century children.

Finally I do not want to miss out the important people and important times of my life. Today I am here, tomorrow I may be gone. There will surely be someone to fill my post as a teacher, but the vacuum in the lives of my husband and children will never be filled. After immersing myself in my professional duties all these years, I have come to realize that ‘health is REALLY wealth!’ Spending sufficient time with our family is imperative. Taking time to rest and rejuvenate is equally important. This will only enhance our ability to perform better.

Most importantly, I believe that one must always live, move and do everything in God’s holy presence for without Him we are nothing, and all glory and praise must be given to God our almighty Father!

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Time to take Control !

If you have read my previous article, you may be wondering if I am an extremist with regards to the television. Well I assure you that I am not.

We have seen the negative effects which most of the television programmes and advertisements have on the viewers. Now, there are good educational and motivational programmes, which do edify the viewers, but again one must exercise extreme caution and restraint while viewing them. The viewer must be aware of the secrets of consumer seduction employed by the advertisers and the programmes which lead one towards immorality and  impiety, and the programmes which cause one to waste precious time and  trade one’s health for cheap pleasure. In short the viewer must be in control.

Some useful suggestions :

1)  Never watch television when you are bored, tired, sad or angry. This will only lead to watching unnecessary and mind numbing programmes which rob you of your time, energy, health, money, success and prevent you from building a healthy relationship with your loved ones.

2)  Look up the directory and take note of the important educational and motivational programmes. Exercise caution in choosing the programmes wisely.

3)  Pre-record the programmes.

4)  Before watching the programmes let them run and delete all the advertisements.

5)  Now you are ready to watch unadulterated edifying programmes.

If watching television causes licentiousness to prevail and the negative influence caused, is sufficient to cause slow but sure death of the body, mind, and conscience of the viewers, then why, I wonder, do we allow ourselves and our loved ones to be controlled by it? I would not even wish it upon the worst criminal in prison.

If we fail to take control of our lives and let the television take control of us then we are surely but truly headed for a doomed existence.

Don’t you think it is time to take control? Why not read a good book instead?

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Have a VISION not TELE-VISION

Having a positive vision for one’s life is very important. Thoughts create our reality. If we think ‘failure’, we become failures. If we think ‘success’ we emerge as successful people. This is enforced in schools and reiterated by numerous success coaches.  But alas all their efforts are ruined by the other ‘vision’, the television! Now, you may disagree with me, but it is a fact that our future generation is fast moving down the spiral in every aspect although it ‘seems’ like they are progressing. Let us look at the following facts.

Television is hypnotic and addictive. It elevates the viewer’s emotion, reduces thinking and stifles imagination. In short it numbs the entire brain. Television gives us quick solutions for the insidious manipulation of human desires for commercial purposes. It increases consumerism and transforms its viewers into greedy, gluttonous and mindless consumers. It jeopardises health. Television camouflages reality and increases violent behaviour. It wrecks marriages. The sacred relationship between a husband and wife are turned into cheap thrills and sensual pleasures thus promoting infidelity, adultery, sexual promiscuity, indecency and immorality, and it causes its viewers to accept what is being shown as natural and commonplace.  Television not only numbs one’s mind but also kills the viewer’s conscience.

Then there is also the danger of being fixated on the negative happenings all around the world like, natural disasters, gang fights, robbery, bloodshed etc while there are so many positive things to dwell upon.  I am not saying that one should not watch news or follow the daily happenings around the globe. It is good to be well informed as that will help one to keep safe, but there is always a danger of becoming over focused on the negatives. Furthermore even during news telecasts there are advertisements, which sublimely transmit messages to our brain making us fall prey to what is being advertised.

It is so sad that well meaning parents, grandparents and baby-sitters seat their children, as early as one year, in front of  the, ‘almighty television.’ They unknowingly expose their precious children to an entire world of pure, unadulterated, ancient and modern vices from which they are working so hard to protect their children. Is it not an irony? It is not surprising that when their children display undesirable character traits they wonder where they went wrong in their upbringing.

Educators bemoan the fact that their pupils are not reading enough books and therefore are not able to write well. There is a rising need for in house councillors in every school these days. What teachers cannot do, the television does. Yes, teachers often find it an arduous task to sustain the attention of the pupils for more than 10mins but the same children sit in front of the electrical box, with glassy eyes, hooked onto the screen for endless hours.

“The picture on the TV changes every five or six seconds, either by changing the camera angle or cutting to an entirely new scene," writes Moody. "One researcher refers to these events as jolts per minute, noting that as time is cut up, the brain is conditioned to change at the expense of continuity of thought.”  

This explains why our pupils cannot sit still and concentrate on what is being taught, without being distracted.

In a July, 1996 speech, President Bill Clinton noted that, "a typical child watches 25,000 hours of television before his or her 18th birthday. Preschoolers watch 28 hours of television a week."

Thus in view of the above arguments, we can conclude that divorce, negative influences from the media, and materialism promoted by the media especially television are the three greatest threats to families in their communities.

We cannot have the cake and eat it at the same time. Likewise we cannot have a vision in our minds and continue to watch television. That vision in our mind will vanish into oblivion.

Wise is the person who refuses to fall into the television’s perilous trap, for he will be happy, healthy, prosperous and successful.

I have included a poem about the dangers of television. Please read and reflect.

God bless

Mrs Mary Augustine

I came across this interesting poem on a website. Just thought of sharing with you. Here it is....

THE 23^RD CHANNEL (instead of the 23^rd Psalm)

The TV is their shepherd, They shall want.

It makes them lie down on the sofa.

It leads them away from the Scriptures.

It destroys their souls.

It leads them in the path of sex and violence,

for the sponsor’s sake.

Yea, though they walk in the shadow of their

Christian responsibilities,

there will be no interruption,

For the TV is with them.

It’s cable and remote, they control them.

It prepares a commercial before them in

the presence of worldliness;

It anoints their heads with Humanism,

Their coveting runneth over.

Surely laziness and ignorance shall

Follow them all days of their lives:

And they shall dwell in their homes

Watching TV forever.

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