I have never heard of The Goat Race until I got to Uganda – Luckily for me it was held once a year at the Munyonyo Resort where I was residing in Kampala so it was easy to get full gist and access to the venue. It is actually one of the biggest events in Uganda with celebrities, politicians and professionals from East Africa in attendance. Prior to the event, there was so much buzz about the event that I was caught up in it – I actually missed the seminar I flew all the way from Nairobi to attend in order to witness the much talked-about Goat Race. After the event in my hotel room, it dawned on me the importance of what had happened and it was a lesson I had always heard but it never dawned on how important it was; any wind, hype or storm can easily change your course in life if you do not have a singleness of purpose.
As the political atmosphere thickens in Nigeria, I can see how easily this 4th lesson is. Back to my room at the Munyonyo Resort, I realized there was nothing tangible derived from living for the moment. The whole event was over and the opportunity cost was higher than I could imagine. I jumped into the Jacuzzi to relax and reading Nairaland forum; a particular discuss got me into serious meditation; it was a lady after forgiving her sister for getting pregnant for her fiancé found it difficult to cope with the pain she felt whenever she saw them. It was five years after the sister had married her fiancé but the episode makes her very angry despite her wanting to forgive them. Just like an epiphany, lesson five occurred to me; anger is a manifestation of ignorance.
The lady was angry because she felt when she says; “I have forgiven you”, all will be well in utopia. An imbalance was already created in justice – her sister stole her fiancé and she has not sought for justice. She has been bottling-up her true feelings and has not asked God to judge the situation. There will be no freedom until there is true justice – it is until she gets justice that she becomes free of the situation. In God, justice does not necessarily mean punishing the culprit so that the appellant can get emotional closure but God will lift you to a different level of operation so that the level that caused you pain will become insignificant. God may give her a family that she would love so much that her sister’s family will never appeal to her. Lesson #6; justice and judgment are the foundation of God’s Kingdom.
This was why King Solomon’s quest for an understanding heart to Judge God’s people was pleasant to God. True justice is also the foundation of the Golden rule. As I wanted to contribute to the forum, I looked at the replies by other people – there were diverse opinions on the best way she should approach the situation and I realized something very strange, which is important lesson number 7, I learnt in 2010; argument neither influences nor does it bring any solution. Why argue with people when they will simply stick to their opinion? The lady, who initiated the thread and was openly seeking for advice, was seeking for endorsement rather than advice. As I kept on learning, I kept on gaining more understanding in 2010. Please, keep your fingers crossed as I bring you the final part; have a lovely week!
