Every Human is a social Being subjected by necessity to interact with the society in diverse ways ranging from the immediate family to the school, church, mosque, work, market, hospital and the list is endless.
In bringing to limelight the strength embedded in embracing harmonious and peaceful coexistence, I shall primarily relate stories and scenarios in order to bring home my points.
While am yet to even dive deep, a quick flash of my formation days at the minor seminary reminds me of our routine morning solemn silence and meditation exercise which was often moderated by my then Rector, Very Rev.Fr. P. X. Ekutt. In his usual way of taking us through that refreshing exercise, he would read motivational verses, quotes and introductions. I fell in love with one of the introductions and I like to quote, “be still and know that I am God” a verse from the holy bible. This to me is an invitation not limited to validating and admitting God’s presence and existence but an instruction directed to our subconscious mind to be in tune with our physical which is the most important way of beginning a day. Since to be optimum in functionality, the mind, the body and the soul all must be one and could be term inner peace. A peaceful body is an undistracted body.
When a person is at peace with his or her self it radiate through his relationship with the society and the attendant effect is global peace and progress.
In one of my moonlight story sessions with my parents while growing up, I remember a particular story about the tortoise and the birds. In the story however, the birds were invited over for a party in the sky. Since the tortoise was a friend of the birds, feathers were donated to the tortoise to fly with them to the party in the sky.
While at the party, the tortoise directed all the birds to pick names which they did innocently and the tortoise chose its own last. The tortoise was to be known and called “everybody” throughout the party time. When the time for refreshment came, the ushers brought assorted kinds of food and drinks to the birds but said is for everybody. The tortoise quickly claims all foods and drinks since according to him was to be called “everybody”. The birds were left with nothing to wet their thirst and as such became furious with the tortoise and unplanted their feathers one after the other and left the tortoise in the sky. The tortoise not knowing what to do fell from the sky to his abode in the earth and scatter his once well arranged body thereby having his present day disjointed scaly body.
Quickly, as stated earlier, the story is only a case study and the myths of the tortoise scaly back is only an illusion and has no bases of knowledge or believe. In the story too, peace and love prompted the birds to go extra miles of giving out feathers to the tortoise who later betrayed them. Love heals. In love and harmony only do we stay in peace with one another as it was in the story before the betrayal.
The tortoise (politicians) in our system of Government (Nigeria, as a case study) who because they are “everybody” divert funds for constituency development into their private accounts and delay development. They enact laws and amend constitutions to favor them and family. They leave our system of Education Unattended but yet flew their children out for studies abroad because they exhibit the tortoise traits.
But I envision a society of the birds with Love and equity. Where a Christian and a Muslim can live and dine together with equal rights and gains. A Fulani and Tiv can intermarry; the Northern Fulani will see the Igbo from the East as a friend and not an enemy. Churches will preach repentance and not prosperity and flamboyancy. Government will lead with love and concern; budgets can be released for public scrutiny and implemented. Our schools receive proper attention and infrastructure. These and many more will happen in the bird-like community; the power of peaceful and harmonious coexistence. In this kind of society development will be rapid, the will be jobs and growth will be eminent, healthcare will enjoy a good boost.
The birds loved and enjoyed each other’s company, so is what is on obtainable on the steemit community. A platform for cross fertilizations of ideas, a place to meet friends like the birds, a place to get motivation and learn skills and these are achieved by great minds with strong believe in living in peace and harmony.
