WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE?

It was a dream that I could not forget, last night I dreamed of the death of my farther who has passed on long time ago. I still cannot understand as to what the significance of this dream’s meaning and would appeal to those who can interpret it to explain as to what this dream may mean. My father passed on some years ago while I was still a little boy, the cause was a car accident, but in this dream it was some thing else. It appeared to me as if there were three of his associates, or as his cousin brothers or brothers who were with him at his death side, one was holding a javelin spear that went through his left side of his upper chest as if it went through the heart. The main brother or a true confidante who was holding this javelin spear indicated that “sincedwe kukuba ndimane ndiyilola endleleni ukuze yenze lomsebenzi esiwufunayo” meaning that if he had not sharpen the spear on his way, the spear could not have done the job they wanted. It felt painful when his breath/ soul departed from his body as if it was mine, thus I woke up shaking. I then had to wake up with that feeling of pain in me, as if my pain was of my farther at the moment his soul left his body.

Who moved my cheese was only the question I could ask earlier on during the day before this dream that nearly became true to me. I was thinking of the book called “Who moved my cheese?” and wanted to read it again during this time, but unfortunately I no longer have a library, my books are being destroyed by rain outside and this book is one of them. When relating and reflecting to the dream, and this book, I could only feel pain that was felt by my father when his soul departed from his body. I woke up and thanked the Lord that I was still alive, only the book that some can call a material thing. Yes it is something I can replace at any time during the duration of my life. While growing up, my only way of consoling my soul was on reading the books that I had interest in, at times it takes you years and years to build that library that you can always reflect on as I wanted to do when I had this dream last night. It only takes you a day, minute, or a second to destroy that library either through rain, fire, theft or anything that can destroy that library. I was only left with the question, “Who moved my cheese?” which could have consoled my soul during this time of pain so as I can heal. It is during this time when one ends up replacing the book with a can of beer, I then went to the fridge a grabbed a can of a can and started writing what I have just experienced in the past few minutes.

In Shakespeare’s Julius Cesar set book, Julius is murdered by those closed to him who believed that Julius was not good in leading Rome at the time. The then become brave enough by taking his body to the people of Penompei to tell them that they are the defenders of the Roman Empire by this instead causes war. It is those close to you who sometimes take part in destroying your reputation than people who do not even know you and this is shown in Julius Cesar’s book. In commemorating the legacy of Nelson Mandela we are called again to reflect on the achievements that he made in becoming one of the heads in the Mzansi coin especially on respect, love and reconciliation or forgiveness. The question then becomes as who amongst the oppressors have come on board and has requested for reconciliation or forgiveness? Is it those who appeared at the TRC? Is it those who have seen that they have benefited during the apartheid policies in discriminating black? Is it those who were soldiers who were on the mission of killing blacks in ensuring that the number of black people is decreased? As much as I would like to forgive, the question is how do you forgive someone who has not requested for forgiveness? As much as I would like to forgive those involved in killing my father, how will I forgive them if they have not come up and requested for forgiveness? Who will I forgive someone who has stolen my book “Who moved my cheese” if that person does not come forward and request for forgiveness?

In his teachings, Nelson Mandela opted for a peaceful settlement, who is benefiting as we celebrate twenty years of democracy. The class struggle will still be there if we do not go back and assist each other in shaping the democracy that was envisaged by our forebears such as Nelson Mandela. Who moved my cheese book can assist us not to use emotions in the cause of asking these questions but to reflect back to the teachings of the heads and suggest what we think can assist all of us in shaping the democracy that we see today. As a legal studies student, and a political science fundi I have realized that the statutes that are interpreted in our courts of law are only in English and Afrikaans and that also has its own impact as we have seen in our recent cases in our courts. When looking at the NDR for example, we will note that blacks have managed to gain Political Emancipation but are struggling to achieve the last two stages of NDR being Social Cohesion and Economic Emancipation because there are gaps that needs to be rectified as questioned above. It is only when we all sit again on the round table to reflect back on the Kempton Park resolutions, SA Constitution Act 108, of 1996 and the TRC and 20 years later in curving the way forward for the next generations in celebrating the peaceful settlement led by Nelson Mandela.

As we move towards the New African Light, we need to accept that people and citizens need to be educated and prepared on white people becoming presidents in the New Africa that we see today. In Zambia for example, Zambians will have to accept that white Zambians who have the best interest of Zambia as the current acting President will be given an opportunity by the Zambians as we move forward and it must not be something that we see as bad. This might be the case as well in South Africa, but are prepared in advance for a non racial society with all the backlogs and baggage that we are experiencing twenty years later? Who moved my cheese? Will this be the questioned asked by the next generations who will not be using emotions when coming to the Election period and would seek politicians to account in their actions? It must always be noted that the timeframe of politicians is five years in office, but the promises they make are for thirty, forty or fifty years and are not confined to five years as mandated. Will there be any transformation in the Electoral body in ensuring that the system assists the electorate to make politicians to account for the promises they have made during their term of office and not when they are no longer members of parliament. We have had RDP, GEAR, ASGISA, NDP, or Vision 2015, Vision 2020, where will these politicians be when these policies become practical to the electorate? The transformation is of politicians who will come on board and use their term of office in implementing what they are only voted for, if not, we have to review Plato’s Republic and not allow politicians to have that interactions with the citizens during their term of office and only focus on their scope of work. The term of office can be extended to ten years as long as they are there to serve the needs of the people they lead, they must not feel as if they are entitled to do so and they are on a nice time mandate. These are some of issues that the heads would have wanted to see in those we elect to lead us or we will have Naked Emperors as reflected by Prof Njabulo Ndebele in his article. I would believe that as an individual, Nelson Mandela was part of the collective leadership and would have wanted his people to educate him where he did not understand. Our task ahead is ‘never, never, and never again’ shall we allow our children to be colonized again by Colonializan of a Special Type that we see these days, we must always ask, who moved my cheese?

A Tribute to Dr. Myles Munroe

November 13, 2014

THE sudden and tragic demise of world renowned Pastor, Dr. Myles Munroe, International speaker, friend to world leaders and dignitaries from all walks of life is like a giant tree that has fallen into a verdant forest; but the luscious green and immortal beauty of the forest never dies. Dr. Munroe’s life was his message and the immortal books he left to posterity will remain as a legacy in the ages to come.

Mohandas Gandhi said, ”My life is my message and you must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean, if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

These profound words of wisdom immaculately fit into the life of this great Man of God, Dr. Munroe, whose life was his message and his love and concern for humanity will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on hundreds of generations to come, including the Christian communities and those from other religious faiths.

Dr. Munroe was a man of dignity and impeccable character who lived a life of moral integrity and practised what he preached. He was known internationally and spoke in over 80 countries worldwide, addressing millions of people, face to face, as well as on international television. His elegant and eloquent style in speaking and preaching influenced thousands across the world and many Pastors, Bishops, and International scholars in a great many academic circles are still trying to imitate his charismatic style in speaking, and his versatile and prolific prose style in writing.

Our own National Poet Martin Carter wrote, ”Death must not find us thinking that we die”; but what does he mean by his last few words ”thinking that we die?” Can a dead man think after he has been dead? Carter understood that the real person after death is the immortal soul that shall never die, like Jesus when he said:
”For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
For the spiritual minded, our brother Dr. Munroe is not dead, but his life is transformed into the heavenly world with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” John 11:25
Dr. Munroe believed the words of Jesus, and today he is absent from this mortal world where his journey has come to an end, but he is present with the Lord in heaven.
Myles Munroe, (20 April 1954 – 9 November 2014), was a Bahamian Evangelical Christian evangelist and ordained Pentecostal minister who founded and led the Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI) and Myles Munroe International (MMI). He was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the International Third World Leaders Association and President of the International Leadership Training Institute, as well as the author of numerous books.

Born in 1954 in Nassau, Bahamas, Munroe grew up poor in a family of eleven children. Raised in the Nassau suburb of Bain Town, he was a life-long resident of the Commonwealth. Munroe became a Christian during his teenage years, later attending Oral Roberts University (ORU) where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Education, and Theology in 1978, and a Master’s degree in administration from the University of Tulsa in 1980. Munroe was also the recipient of honorary doctoral degrees from various schools of higher education and served as an adjunct professor of the Graduate School of Theology at Oral Roberts University.
(Quote From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Dr. Munroe travelled the world to preach the Gospel and to unite and advise world leaders. He was the next Billy Graham in the Caribbean. His passing is not only a great loss to The Bahamas but a great loss to the world as a spiritual leader and mentor to thousands.
The Poet Kahlil Gibran wrote: “Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”
(Khalil Gibran, The Prophet)
Another poem by the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore best described Dr. Munroe’s final journey into immortality.

“On the day when death will knock at thy door,
what wilt thou offer to him?

Oh, I will set before my guest the full vessel of my life;
I will never let him go with empty hands.

All the sweet vintage of all my autumn days and summer nights,
all the earnings and gleanings of my busy life,
will I place before him at the close of my days
when death will knock at my door.”

Dr. Munroe loved the world and the world loved him. We mourn his death as an Apostle of a living Christian Legend. Dr. Munroe was a man of wisdom and wit, a gracious and elegant personality, a versatile literary scholar and author, a unique and fascinating figure. The quality of his messages will be remembered and immortalised. Let us comb through his sermons of truth and life and remember them for posterity.

by REV. GIDEON CECIL

Tribute to the Heads Continues… Celebrating the life of Nelson Mandela

On this day, 9 December 1986 Nelson Mandela watched the film 'The strange case of the English language' in prison

Some of the quotes that will be used in celebrating the icon will include the following: -

"Our hope for the future depends also on our resolution as a nation in dealing with the scourge of corruption." ~ Nelson Mandela during the State of the Nation Address, Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa 5 February 1999

"Frequently erstwhile revolutionaries have easily succumbed to greed, and the tendency to divert public resources for personal enrichment ultimately overwhelmed them." ~ Nelson Mandela from the unpublished sequel to his autobiography, circa 1998

"We must always remain modest about our achievements" ~ Nelson Mandela at the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Umkhonto we Sizwe, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, 16 December 2001

"Our compatriots who are disabled challenge us in a very special way to manifest in real life those values of democracy." ~ Nelson Mandela in a message to the Conference for the Disabled, 4 April 2004

"I admire young people who are concerned with the affairs of their community and nation, perhaps because I also became involved in struggle whilst I was still at school." ~ Nelson Mandela during the anniversary of Bastille Day, Paris, France, 14 July 1996

"Build our new nation by continually and consciously exorcising the demon of tribalism, racism and religious intolerance." ~ Nelson Mandela during the closing session of the 50th ANC National Conference, North west University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa, 20 December 1997

"I believe that, in the end, it is kindness and generous accommodation that are the catalyst for real change." - Nelson Mandela

"The world remains beset by so much suffering, poverty and deprivation. It is in your hands to make of our world a better one for all, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised." ~ Nelson Mandela during his 90th birthday dinner, Hyde Park, London, England, 25 June 2008

"I would like it to be said that, ‘Here lies a man who has done his duty on earth’. That is all." ~ Nelson Mandela from the documentary: Headliners and Legends: Nelson Mandela, 2006

"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world." ~ Nelson Mandela in an address at the Planetarium, Johannesburg, South Africa, 16 July 2003

"When we decided to take up arms, it was because the only other choice was to surrender and to submit to slavery." ~ Nelson Mandela at the 48th ANC National Conference, Durban, South Africa, 2 July 1991

"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does." ~ Nelson Mandela, 2000

"Learn about sex before you practise it; learn about safe sex. It is better to wait and grow up before you have sex. When you do have sex think of yourself and others you love. Use a condom." ~ Nelson Mandela in an AIDS Public Service Announcement, 1 December 2000

"The challenge of today, to youth and adults alike, is to make lifestyle choices which help to combat this epidemic." ~ Nelson Mandela in a message on World AIDS Day, South Africa, 1 December 1994

"Violence against children must surely rank as the most abominable expression of violence. It subjects the most vulnerable and the weakest to indignity, humiliation, degradation and injury." ~ Nelson Mandela speaking in South Africa, November 2003

"We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians" ~ Nelson Mandela during the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, Pretoria, South Africa, 4 December 1997

"We need a fundamental change of mindset with regards to the way we speak and behave about sex and sexuality. Boys and men have a particularly critical role in this regard, changing the chauvinist and demeaning ways sexuality and women were traditionally dealt with in both our actions and speaking." ~ Nelson Mandela during a youth forum on HIV/AIDS, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 22 September 2003

Thank you for joining us in sharing Nelson Mandela’s legacy. With every act of kindness we change the world for the better