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 ...

Elpis

Hope, like a gleaming taper's light, adorns and cheers our way; and still, as darker grows the night, emits a brighter ray. -Goldsmith

English language has been blessed with the expression 'Pandora's box' which is directly borrowed from the Greek myth of Pandora. The Pandora's myth was made famous by Hesiod's poem 'Works and Days'. Hesiod was a Greek oral poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC.

The myth has it that Pandora was the first woman on Earth endowed with beauty and many gifts. She was presented to Epimetheus, the representative of mankind, as a form of vengeance by Zeus when Prometheus his brother stole fire from heaven. Pandora was given a beautiful container which she was not to open under any circumstance.

Impelled by her curiosity given her by the gods, Pandora opened it, and all the evil contained therein escaped and spread over the earth. Evil had been leashed on Earth except for one gift left in the box, Elpis!

Elpis is the Greek word translated hope in many Greek text including The New Testament. There are forty-eight verses in the New Testament containing elpis, with but one reference translated as faith (Heb. 10:23), all others were translated as hope.

Ancient Greeks defined Elpis, in their mythology as the personification and spirit of hope (It was an extension of suffering not as good). It is in this background do I share my reflections on the words of a wise Hebrew King; "Hope put off makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

These words are part of King Solomon's collections of wisdom in Proverbs, recorded in chapter thirteen verse twelve. In one breath the wise King shares the taunt as well as the freshness of hope. Holding such powers to make the heart sick and to give fulfilment as the tree of life will. Some writers paint these sides well; "Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torment of man."  This is an idea expressed by Friedrich Nietzsche. Benjamin Franklin expresses a similar thought as "He that lives upon hope will die fasting". These statements are profound statements about such pain as the idea of hope could engender. These line of thought brings us to see hope as an evil and a concept that cannot in anyway be a virtue and should therefore not be considered by any person.

Other writers, paints the refreshing nature of hope not only as beauty but as a need to fulfilling life. Helen Keller puts it this way, "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." Napoleon Bonaparte expresses a much profound statement about leadership and hope. "A leader is a dealer in hope". Helen and Napoleon shows a clear alternate path to Friedrich and Benjamin words, not only in words but also in the astounding examples of their lives.

STEPS

All the euphemisms of life eludes to a journey

"The height charms us, but the steps do not; with the mountain in our view we love to walk the plains"

                        -Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Almost nine months ago, the idea of blogging caught my attention in a seemingly unimportant manner. It was a conversation I chanced by. Just peeping into the conversation for a few minutes I had the conviction to learn all I could about creating a blog and the first post  was dully up on September 12th, 2011.  Check out our  humble beginnings from here:(http://theagleswingfoundation.blogspot.com/2011/09/theory-of-constraints.html).

Nine months down memory lane, we have this post as our thirtieth share, nine members and one thousand six hundred and ninety three visitors as of writing this article. I had always dreamt of writing although I had never considered myself a good writer. Clear was my dream of writing and the idea of blogging was an opportunity. Call the circumstances of knowing about this opportunity purpose, chance or luck but after I got convicted of this idea, I had a choice of execution to exercise. One that certainly demanded of me steps and still very much do.

A common mantra we share is the idea that thoughts are relatively easy, actions are difficult but putting thoughts into action is possibly the most difficult of all endeavours. Getting things done takes commitment, passion, discipline and the list goes, but I will want to share a few lessons I keep learning on how to keep things running effectively:

STRANGERS

For me, there are no my people and strangers, no bad people and good people. All people are equal for me.
Viktor Yanukovych

This statement by the Ukrainian Statesman and President is the summary of this conviction I share with you in this post. The theme of strangers came to me after my experience with three different people I was very well meaning towards but because they considered me a stranger, they will not connect and thus lost the opportunity to connect to a new person. It equally reminds me of the many people I have considered strangers and have therefore lost the opportunity as it were to connect with them.

Being in the corporate world now, I fully understand what social acquaintances are really worth. The value of teams and customer service can never be over-emphasized. I write this in perspective of love for humanity and personal branding.

I am pretty familiar with the childhood advice of 'Do not talk to strangers' because I received it quiet often. I know such upbringings have definitely had a tone on our welcoming of strangers. I do not seek to advocate for a whole sing along open all doors policy, I only write on the lines of prudence and good judgment.

Good sense will basically teach that, all the relations a person has, even of the closest ones, such were ones strangers. I know some people who are reading at this point are switching in their defenses, just before you do so fully allow me to tell you a story:

A lawyer ones asked a wise man, what it will take for somebody to be judged as righteous, innocent and worthy of praise. The wise man pointed the lawyer to the basic intent of all laws, to deal lovingly with ones neighbour. The lawyer pushing the bounds asked who then a man's neighbour was.

The wise man told a story of a man travelling from a far city who suddenly met a group of thieves. The thieves took everything he had and beat him and left him lying half dead in the middle of the street. The man in his desperate need for help heard footsteps and thanked God for sending help because the man was dressed as a priest. Unfortunately for him, his groaning did not touch the heart of the priest enough because he was so much in the 'Spirit' going to minister.

Similarly came near him one who obviously was a servant in the godly courts. The wounded man faintly screamed for attention, moaning on the ground, at least deserving of pity. But the Levite could only think of the offering he had to render at the altar, so he left the man to die in order to make time for service. The half dying man, in so much pain of both rejection and physical hurts,  gave up all hopes of ever been helped and thus retired faith, waiting for dead to cease him.

He then heard a touch on his body, struggled to open his fading eye only to see a Samaritan, one he didn't even like neither was he liked by him. Reasoning with himself among two options, either this Samaritan is sent by death to finally end his pain and misery or he is an angel from God. But he wondered if God would send such a stranger as an angel.

The long and short of the story is that, the Samaritan helps the dying man, takes him to the hospital, pays the bills, feeds him and gives him allowance for contingencies. All an act from a stranger!

At this point Jesus, who told the original story, asked the lawyer who a man's neighbour was, the Priest, the Levite or the Samaritan? This story has gone down history isle to be called The Story of the Good Samaritan. I just told my paraphrased version but the essence for me is that, the seemingly godly people were the most culpable of the stranger's phobia and therefore treated him as such because he was not their neighbours.

The next time you are tempted to write off a stranger, think of him/her among two things, he/she is either in dire need of help and looking onto you as the angel sent by God or the stranger you are rejecting is the solution and the addition that will jazz up your life unto purpose.

For those who will reason among rational lines of what if the stranger is not good enough for you, or what if they come in to hurt you or things like that, I honestly may not have an answer for you but to wish you well and pray that you are guided by prudence in all your choices to strangers, but remember 'Never distrust a person until he/she has given you enough reason to do so', for Abram received angel into his house without knowing. I guess he was only been calmly with strangers.

May we all treat each other with the respect and love we desire and most certainly deserve, Love and relationship are universal quest and need because we all are supposed to be the universal solution to loving and relating!

TO OUR COMMON HUMANITY- CHEERS

You Matter in Essential Matters

One sure thing I would be grateful for in 2012 although the year may be quiet a young one is the privilege to have presented me with very challenging issues and debates on morality, existence, essence, conscience, beneficence, origin, destiny, values, etc. These are hard questions philosophers and the best minds all through time have fought and pried into. Some critics mock life and deny such pursuit's essence yet haunt for life's meaning in the bosoms of their own quiet hearts and minds. No human being has ever escaped the need to grapple with these tough issues. The main argument to me over the past few days has been whether all this grandeur and order is a fact of matter plus chance plus time or that the evil and difficulty to grapple with all the complexities of life is a noble deliberate plan of a higher transcending being. It may not be easy to just choose one but we have to if we must live, it may be a choice of faith or reason but eventually you MUST decide a world-view to live with.

Each of these fundamental positions begets principles that anchors on it. Paradigms are fundamentally conceived from whether or not life in itself proceeds out of randomness or it is purpose-driven. These two key world views make a huge difference in how we make all life decisions. We all have a choice to believe in either one or worse off abstain from deciding at all but the truth will still remain that all your decision ever to be made will borrow counsel from your sub-conscious belief of origins.

I asked a senior colleague I respect his options very much today for example his world view and all the answer I got was, you will be very confused if I share them with you. The simple question that came to me was, is he confused by his own position because suggesting that your position may leave nothing but confusion seems to suggest to me that you only have a confused position. And I must say I honestly understand his position because many over years have tried to understand and have not found truth but vague standards as it may be in many instances. But a less obvious question stems out from his answer, maybe I have not much understanding to comprehend such matters of essence and such great value yet.

I decided to write this post because of the second question I came up with. Are we as a society running away from objectively and honestly seeking TRUTH because of the complexities and sensitivity that may be around it or we are just taking on assumptions and rumours of other people gullibly? It is quiet possible to get a response such as these things may only be decided as matters of faith and thus it should be left at that. Good as it may be, I wonder if matter of faith may stem from TRUTH and assuming not, does such matters of faith affect and contribute to Socio-economic development in any way?

Without being philosophical the answer is clearly YES! As a matter of fact, such things as we call faith is the foundation for all the systems that we have; education, financial, religious, just name them. Are matters of such importance and such varied implication been left to individual preferences and personal feeling to decide? Maybe prisicely so.

I post this article to insight the curiosity of all of us into matter of essence and great implications such that we may begin to consider the foundation once again because if the foundations are destroyed, what could ever be built? I entreat serious engagements on debates of essence. We advocate a position as we have found TRUTH but that does not in any way stop your own search. I think we only lose when we lose the passion to find TRUTH. I urge that we seek answers wherever it may be found even in the corridors of doubts. I humbly employ people to openly share with such zest their findings as with the zest truth was sought. Let us all have a course to think of such things as:

1. Eternity and Existence
2. Morality and Essence
3. Accountability and Conscience
4. Values and Ethics.

Let me end this with two quotes, the first is from Goethe who was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath who says, "If you want a wise answer, ask a reasonable question" All I entreat is that you may find questioning matters of essence important and not one to run away from as the case may be now. Let us approach these issues boldly with reasonable questioning. 

Finally is a quote from the lyrics of a song from the movie The Crow which is a 1994 American action film:

"We walk the narrow path
Beneath the smoking skies
Sometimes you can barely tell the difference
Between darkness and light.

Do we have faith
In what we Believe?
The truest test is when we cannot ...
When we cannot see ...

The campaign is to test that which may have been called faith and to find what truth is. Join the cause for you matter in the search. Many cannot see, and those who are sure of the light must bear witness of it! We must seek through our hearts, minds and souls and every clue would be needed.

HAVE A BLISSFUL YEAR BEING SURE OF SUCH THINGS AS MATTER!

Memories of the Last Decade

Over the weekend was a remarkable transition in my life. It was the birth of a new year as the old kissed my now, goodbye. This day was one of reflections into the past and a memory of the last ten year made an impression on me. I share my lessons as I have known in the last decade.

Exactly ten years ago was when I had entered high school as a fresh entry. I remember being driven to school by a good family friend together with my mother. I remember that day just as yesterday because after I had been checked in, I sent my things to my dormitory, returned only to find out that my mother had left without bidding me goodbye (Obviously one of the most lonely times I've ever known).

The memories are sure in my mind because of the challenges I had to go through to get an admission into a high school and the miracle it has taken to bring me this far. Below are ten of my most treasured lessons I have gleamed along the way:

1. God is King and Jesus is Lord: In my short thoughtful life I have grown to know that, there are majority of things we don't control as humans. Lords and kings hold the final power to make things happen. Their authority and mandates are binding. The fact that my birth was not my decision and the family I was born into was not my decision informs my fundamental faith in a Lord and King aside of myself. Not my parents! Because they didn't have an idea of who I was, what I liked and above all they didn't have a catalog to choose me from (I may have lost that vote). I have seen my parents in as much need as I have been over the last decade and the only things I personally have known to work is when I commit to God' Spirit and to Jesus. Things work out for me when Jesus is in control!
2. Essence is in Service: I have grown to know that meaning and fulfillment is found when one commits to service. In service I have found joy and meaning, such as I have not been able to find anywhere.
3. There is always more to who/what we believe is possible with us: We mostly judge and see ourselves by our environment, education, parents and things we are familiar with. But from my background and where I schooled I know that more is possible with/for us.
4. Faith is a golden Language: We may not necessarily know how things will turn out but hoping with a firm assurance that things turn out right works miracles. Faith creates broad-ways when the future is hazy and the vision unclear. Faith gives commitments and passion to pursue. Faith is a language, an expression of inner believes and it is indeed a golden language. Believe in your own ability if no one else does, for people only learn to speak to you with the faith you speak with yourself. 
5. Humility is the price to pay for greatness: Humility is the sum total of a gentle spirit and a gracious nature. Wisdom and intelligence are mostly hidden is despised places just as opportunities. It always takes humble heart to notice them and pursue them irrespective of how humiliating others may see it. Nothing good is too small for us to do. Nobody chances on the big things unless he/she is ready to do the small things. It takes humility to accept and learn from the pain, failures and challenges which stretches us for real greatness.
6. Pursue Wisdom, understanding and Knowledge: The key for a life of greatness is found in wisdom. One should commit to a life that seeks to learn always. We do not stop growing until we stop learning. Knowledge paves the way for all the contribution you will ever make to earth. Understanding what life is about, purpose of life and how to live life are key things to pursue.
7. There is a beast and lamb in me: I have come to know everyman/women even the best ones have a propensity to do evil. I have grown to know there is a gentle and honorable man in me as much there is a brutish and vile man. The truth I have found is that, out of the two selves the one I feed and give attention becomes my expression and personality. One of the two selves must be subdued, famished and rejected for the other to thrive but the choice lies with us. I choose who to feed!
8. Solitude is a golden safe haven: I have realized that dependency on people will rip you of the opportunity to find great gems. All the great ideas, wonderful stories, beautiful pieces and remarkable gifts are discovered in solitude. Running into people arms because you can't enjoy your own company is stifling your own imagination and creativity. Imagination is the room to behold the future and it is best practiced in solitude. Meditation, time-alone, quite time, and personal sober reflections are the best grounds that breeds great geniuses. 
9. Share: No one will ever know what you have until you volunteer to share it. No one will pay a price or even invest in your big dreams and talents until you first sacrifice it by sharing. In sharing you grow, In sharing you gain credibility. I have found out that it is only in the corridors of sharing that the great coincide with amazing success.
10. Love is Diamond: Strange things happen with love. I will not say it any better but to quote the wise writer, Apostle Peter, "...Love cover a multitude of Sin" Deep love is an experience to behold! One that have might stronger than death.

10 years, 520 weeks, 3,640 days, 87,360 hours,  5,241,600 minutes, 314,496,000 seconds. This has been the time line since I first entered high school. It has been a build up of the passing seconds. I guess the greatest lesson then, perhaps, is the fleeting nature of time. If someone has something to do, it better be now for time and tides indeed waits for no man.

Strength from Pressure

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

- Jeremiah 12:5 NIV

Humanity's pursuit for happiness and fulfillment predisposes it to almost always wanting to embrace pressures with negative feelings. We believe these negative attitudes are spun because no one feels comfortable under the heat for a long time, nevertheless I think most importantly it is so because the strength and blessings produced from the phenomenon of pressure is underestimated. 

We pause to ponder just for a while human existence without pressure. Before you discount your contribution to life and forsake your diligence on the campaign ticket of 'More Pressure,No More Work' consider the numerous application of pressure for daily living: -- inflating tires -- playing musical "wind" instruments -- drinking through straws -- flushing toilets -- watering lawns with hose or sprinkler -- drawing water from wells -- blowing up balloons -- operating barometers -- maintaining body shape, especially around the abdomen -- breathing And the list goes on unending (funny as it may be yet it even takes pressure to force things out of our water closets).

These are only application to inanimate things you may think.But just for a minute perceive its implication for human life in the automobile industry, the music industry, manufacturing, sanitation , environment, science and technology, fashion and interior decorations and ultimately the health industry. Million amounts of money are spent on diseases implied to obesity which could be reduced with inducing a bit more pressure on our bodies.

The lesson for today is not just to look at these obvious facts but to look a bit more deeper and examine pressure in essence as a reproductive force. Nobody can reproduce and increase without an application of pressure! A man is as potent as the amount of pressure he can contain in his spongy tissues. Precious as babies may be yet they are born at neck-breaking pressures of mothers (Physically pushing in our part of the world).

It is said that, one of the most obvious symptoms of mental impropriety is doing the same thing obviously the same way and expecting different results. I have met many people desiring success and dreaming great things and yet operating at levels they have operated in for years which has no promise of success. The honest truth is that nothing gets done without doing, and new things are done requiring of us new skills, strength, understanding and attitudes which are at best adapted to through a form of pressure.

We must learn to appreciate that the productive endeavors we even find pursuit-fulfilling has a direct demand on our talent, resources and abilities. The bigger and more prospering these ventures become the more obvious it becomes that it needs more time, refined skills, clearer comprehension and ultimately in-depth strategy. These qualities are not inherited, they are choices to adaptation reproduced out of pressure. Harnessed pressure always produces much more beneficial results than a relaxed, no diligent approach. We know a thing is as flaccid and weak as much as the pressure it lacks!

This blog is not in anyway advocating stress, but what we are advocating is that, be strengthen as you go through the mill, stand the heat, hold on although you may be stretched beyond imaginable. Turgidity is enjoying the endurance, enjoying the pain because of the gain (Body builder and exercising people know this truth).

Your dreams are possible, your goals can be achieved, destiny can be fulfilled if only you can bear the pressure it takes to make those dreams firm enough for reproduction, multiplication and progress. Don't despise pressure but be strengthen by it because whatever does not kill you will certainly make you stronger!

The Theme of Life

A Life Theme is the idea or motivation that drives you throughout your life. It is the answer that you are always “searching” for. Basically, it is your quest for the “meaning of life”. - Catherine Pratt

Each individual's life theme is a yearning to understand the central theme of Life. We may all have heard the popular saying of King Solomon of Ancient Israel- "There is time for everything". A careful look into realities all around us confirms the truth of: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

There is no true representation of the world than the set of statements above. These statements put the whole life of a person in a spectrum of ironies (Consider each of the 14 strand of statements carefully with emphasis on highlighted words). Life is a cycle of complex-woven strands of ironies!

It is highly important at this point to suggest that, life's essence is not to fight the ironies but to optimize your existence in the midst of these ironies. We share this message because many people spend fruitful year fighting against the natural course of life. They may even end up setting as their life theme a journey against the very course of the time. You could decide, for example, to pursue as your life theme a life of physical immortality on earth. It really sounds noble but it would have been much fruitful to set out on a journey of making the best out of the life you have now and perhaps attain immortality allegorically because nobody will live on earth forever! Is this in anyway suggesting that we should not understand the ironies of life and should by thus approve on mediocrities? Should we follow the flow?

This question is exactly what we explore in this blog.The twin fold message we share today is to help you appreciate the truth of the ironies in life and then to help you maximize your life in such harsh realities. Consider the three things shared below as a means of optimizing your life in a life of ironies.

1. Know the Truth: We will certainly examine the question of 'What is Truth' in future blogs but let us for now say that know the facts, get to know the prevailing opportunities and threats in each strand of life's complex without prejudice as much as possible. This is to challenge you to feed your mind, spirit and body objectively enough. This opens one up to adapt to the changing times without being subdued by it. Adapt and do the most productive thing in each layer of the irony spectrum by knowing and understanding the TRUTH concerning that particular time.
2. Walk with Sincere People: One of the greatest threats to any person in this ironical world is to assume that what is happening to him/her is far above what could ever happen to anyone. Have friends and loved ones who will share with you their own ironies and with whom you can also share. Read from the vast collections of biographies and autobiographies of people you respect and love. Give yourself the opportunity to discover other sincere stories and you will realize that, you are not worse off after all. You will save yourself the blood pressure and frustration and know that there is so much hope for recovery and progress. You gain wealth of experience from Sincere People which will help you to live an optimum life irrespective of your own time.
3. Define a Fulfilling Life Theme: Whatever endeavor anybody has chosen for him/her self as a life theme is the most important tool in his/her journey through life. Such convictions determine values, perceptions and even culture and character. Engage yourself and determine for yourself a reason for life but remember to let such a theme connect with God your Source, with Humanity your friends, and to joy, peace, happiness and fulfillment your essence.

We will discuss in our next blog, Building Strength out of pressure but before then determine to be all that God destined you to be. Have no excuse to fail in life but have a reason to be a fulfilled being.