Blank Pages

I have had to deal with the fear that most writers face in this year more than I have in any other year. I have had the painful pleasure to learn from the blank pages. The blank page is a symbol of all the hopes and possibilities that could fill those plain pages. One cannot look pass the blank page without seeing the seemingly grim stares. But the artist, who with words intending to weave his/his story on such hostility, sees the page as the canvass on which to paint, or the stage from which the story unfolds. 

The blank page taught me great lessons, nuggets which are true of all beginnings. It is in such I find cause to share the dread and thrills of been faced with a fresh beginnings on another 31st December;

1. Fear connects us to our humanity but tasks us to a meaningful journey. It is a notable quote of the once British Conservative politician, writer and aristocrat who twice served as Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, that "Fear makes us feel our humanity." Humanity hopes and favours a grandeur narrative. The blank page offers an amazing opportunity to be human in hope and aspirations. I however presume nothing is as scary as the thought that, one is not able to fulfill their hopes or is not apt to the superhero narratives in their minds. We all have hopes of new beginnings and the torments that these hopes might never be fulfilled do cause us to feel the frailty of our humanity. The beauty of such dread however is that it is the greatest prompter of learning and the need for humility. Fear has proven to be a great tool employed by others to connect to a meaningful journey, one that requires more learning and humility.  When faced with the dread of a blank page because the hopes your humanity wields might not be fulfilled, pulse and learn, strategize and confront those fears.

2. Courage is not the absence of fear. We all know this to be true. Nelson Mandela however chipped it better in our memories with his words, "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." Blank pages offer me the lessons of perhaps another page of trying to find my rhythm. I have had people appreciating things I write, I have had others criticizing my work and this is true for most of us reading this now. Our best efforts may be ridiculed by others, recognized by no one but must it cause us to give up? Of course not! History has taught us time and over again that, fortune favours the bold! Keep pursing for the old hymn provides counsel, "Keep the fire burning, and kindle it with care." It is thus of us to be present to write, paint, and pursue whatever endeavour new beginnings offer at the risk of making mistakes, being ridiculed or never noticed because indeed all the people who broke through confronted the blank page at a point in their lives.

3. Faith is non-negotiable. Our progressive humanity tends towards reasoning, which is by no means wrong. The truth however remains that reasoning cannot explain all the possibility of tomorrow.  Evidence for rational thinking doesn't exist in tomorrow; it is a product of history. One can thus approach the future in faith as a rational option. Steve Jobs obviously wasn't a philosophy but had an amazing contribution to the role of faith in life; "You can't connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path."

In summary, the feeling of having an incredible opportunity and yet approaching such with the hesitation of fear of not fully maximizing such options are human. We must however confront the blank pages with courage and faith. I pray humanity’s progress in the year ahead.

Pistis

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

The article 'Elpis' (http://theagleswingfoundation.blogspot.com/2012/07/elpis.html) remains one of my favourites. I had no intention of writing a 'Pistis' version but the memory of yesterday leaves me nothing, but an aching finger to type the events and share it.

'Elpis' was a writing of hope; 'Pistis' however is a faith talk. Before I dive into the Greek myth of 'Pistis' allow me to share the inspiration to talk about faith.  I had taught about Joseph, the biblical character to a small youth class in the morning, gone for a meeting all through the afternoon and had an insightful conversation about why men and women do some of the things they do sometimes. Not many inspirational droplets had jumped to me all through the day until I had the honour of being dashed a huge dose of inspiration by beholding the departure avenue of the Kotoka International Airport. Of course, departures in any form are as emotional as anyone could dream it. I was seeing off somebody I have grown to cherish and love. The kind of person I can be all I am with and still feel completely at home. I do not have many people in my life like this, so as the truth is, I do miss her. But it is in the memory that she will be away for a while that strikes the inspiration; the fact that she will always be with me until I see her again which hopefully will be soon. The use of hope borrows from 'Elpis' but the faith that she will always be with me is the 'Pistis' all humanity shares.

In Greek mythology, Pistis (Πίστις) was the personification of good faith, trust and reliability. The Greeks say, Pistis was one of the good spirits who escaped Pandora's Box and fled back to heaven abandoning mankind. So although, Elpis was the only gift left, Pistis was in the box at a point. I have gained new insights to faith and these are:

1. Confidence is an evidence of faith. The word confidence borrows from the Latin, 'Confidere' which is to have full trust and amply personifies 'Fides' the Roman equivalent of 'Pisitis'. How often does humanity claims faith but with little confidence? Elpis is the having of the dream whiles as Pistis is the evidence of the things not seen. Confidence is not wavering; it is the expression of feeling of certainty. My first lesson on faith is summed up by the famous American author, Mark Twain. He says, "To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence." I like this quote first because it is humorous but importantly because it sums up what faith is, the fact that we may not know all the future holds and promises, yet the firm certainty that what we hope for will happen.
2. Coming to faith is accumulating trust. Faith requires a significant level of trust. Humanity lives by trusting. Trusting vehicles, professionals, and entirely everything we use. The level of trust at any point in time is promoted by a judgment of competence. The judgment may be based on facts or gut. However the source of trust, trust remains specific with an expectation.  We only exercise faith when we are satisfied by our judgment of competence although sometimes, the chosen option(s) appear the only available choice. However the circumstance surrounding what and who we trust, we build confidence only by trusting the competence of the trusted to deliver on the specific expectation.
3. Faith is a prudent option. Preceding the second insight is the knowledge of why there is little faith and confidence by extension. Our culture has taught us very little about trust but I choose to learn from the reasoning of the notable French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian philosopher, Blaise Pascal. Pascal indicated of faith that it is a wise wager, and rightly so, it is! There will always be doubts, opinions and unknowns, faith however pursues with certainty to gain that which it wagers. Is it risky? Of course it is! But the truth remains that, 'The heart has its reasons for which reason knows nothing' (Pascal). Conviction in the heart is what must guide faith's course.

I end with a reflection from Pauline's thought from his popular love corridor (1 Cor. 13:13). In one breath, Paul indicates Elpis, and Pistis as two of the three most important things, he ices his thought nevertheless by saying, with all that Elpis and Pistis may be, they leads to LOVE, the greatest. Oh, my God!  I am in Love ...

Extolling Marital Love

It was comforting to hear the feedback from 'Twifo Praso Blood Bath'. This post seeds directly from a conviction I had from 'Betimore', the town I volunteered in after my time at the hospital. You may need a background, Catch up on the early post (http://theagleswingfoundation.blogspot.com/2014/06/twifo-praso-blood-bath.html).

This post has been motivated by a meeting I had with my SICE mate from Betimore. It was refreshing to meet him again after school. The last meeting was at his wedding and really gave focus to the conversation we had some eight years back. I share our youthful convictions in this article.

'Extolling Marital Love', is a title I first came across from the New Living Translation's Daily Walk Bible. It is the title of Day 194, a review of Solomon's Song of Songs. July 12th is the date for the reading and indeed, it did make for exciting read. The book has practically become one of my favourites. I remember the firm assurance I had eight years ago, declaring how much of love I would have as a promise from this book. I prayed for love as passionate as Solomon had written and was sure, I would receive it latest by a year’s time as my testimony for SICE.

Here is where the fun begins, let me however indicate that the preceding content may be painted with personal details. The poem Solomon writes in his book is said to be the very best of Solomon's writings. He joins the many poets as led artist in painting love stories generations before Christ. I have explored love as a concept in many poems and articles and I do not intend to do same with this article. You may however read one of the insights on the subject, it was a collection of lesson on love, lesson we all have need to learn. (http://theagleswingfoundation.blogspot.com/2012/03/beauty-of-love.html)

To what end do I then intend for this piece? To the end of telling my own love story. I started this blog to tell an African story of hope, leadership, faith and love. I take a twist to share the heart of a young African as he searches for Love. Indeed this may offer for a series but I resist the temptation to be adopted into 'Kumahood'. I tell the story with a heavy heart and I pray it becomes of help to you.

1. Believe in Love does not exclude rejection. Bear with me to start from the most recent. My February 14th post was of course inspired by a lady. She is a lady I had gotten to know for a short while. But one I had liked for the content of ambitiousness, confidence, comes through as ethical and of course attractive. Many stories to tell so I live with what I wrote exactly for her as my gift. (http://theagleswingfoundation.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-walk-into-parks-invitation-to-other.html). Funny as the story may be, I get 'sat down by her' and as it were as a sniper she shots my hope for love with accurate precision. After some days, I call her after a long day, only to be met with one of the harshest conversation I have ever had, labeled as 'Harasser' and 'Disappointment'. I honestly do not know if I were all the things she said I was, but what I know is I was a rejected folk. The article 'Strangers' on this blog was also inspired by rejection. (http://theagleswingfoundation.blogspot.com/2012/06/strangers.html). I have also rejected people; I have been mean to some of the people who dearly loved me. I have tried to understand why we all sometimes are careless with people who indeed love us. I am still perhaps too young to understand. But one thing I know, loving somebody does not guarantee that they will love you back, however, love them anyway. I do not mean be all in their face with love again, I mean wish them well and deal with your own heart. Respect them and let them be, that is showing them love.
2.  Perfect love casts out fear. I grew up pretty fearful, I may not have received unconditional love as a child but I know my parents tried to be the best they knew how. I remember been whacked by the side of a cutlass by the man who ultimately loves me more than everybody. My crime was my friend who was less than twelve year just as I was had played football into our louvre and broken it. I saw my primary schoolmates push me aside for been weird, bullied in high school for been tiny and I looked down on myself in college for growing from an unfortunate background. Such lovely condition can only make one less fearful I guess. Thank God I found confidence in him but I have lost some of the most wonderful people I could have married because I was afraid and thought they were too good for me. I write to the young man who may be reading this and needs confidence to ask that pretty, God-fearing young lady out, trust me, you will rather be embarrassed by her than to live with the thought that you never had the courage to ask her out. Fear and love are mutually exclusive and I have grown to choose love.
3.  Choose to make it all count. Eight years down the line, I remember the conversation with my friend when we believed in love. He is happily married and I am still to meet somebody with whom we will both label ourselves as 'Lovers', at least mutually. The years have been guided to lesson points, sometimes tough and lonely places. My oath to preserve my all for the one love I believed in has been tried and tested but still survives. I have written a manuscript for a book in two weeks from heartbreak, collected over eighty poems out of various inspirations these 'passing lovers' gave me. I have lived, exploring the beast and lamp in me for love's sake. The most important part of all the things I will write today is, make all the experiences count for purpose. God keeps bringing amazing people our way, each one tailored for a purpose. Let us choose to live through all that happens to us, such that others may from that learn a lesson to persevere. 

I conclude with some lines from two poems that came to me:

All as a poet, hope never to quit,

And never to weaver for archery my gift from God.

And the bull's eye of Love my pursuit to Claim.

 -What Begats Love?

From whom has this knowledge been sent from?
Stalking me to what end?
Flustered!
For I am without an expression,
But with joy I embrace the lighting bolt,
Yet to pursue even unto the pain of rejection,
That one day I may find,
With hope I scream with the echoes: I am but a Lover!   

- I am but a Lover