Passion and purpose

(A book review)

Book: Encounters of a bedside nurse – inspiring insights on impacting individuals

Publisher: Haven Publications, Lusaka

Book author: Grace Zimba

 

In a continued bid to read and review books by Zambian authors, I came across this little gem right here in Lusaka. Look beyond the very basic cover design and formatting, and you will find words well worth reading. Nurse Zimba offers insight into the life of a very important care-giver that is often overlooked.

The autobiographical story that Grace Zimba narrates in eight chapters is a brief but insightful record of her calling to be a bedside nurse. She uses the word “calling” rather than profession, to draw attention to her lifelong passion, and she is right to do so. She speaks of a common scenario, “It is amazing how a number of us find ourselves treading the career pathway paved by people who seem to want us to pursue what they think should be our dreams… and consequently [many] have walked through life as frustrated individuals”. She identifies the passionless life as a life “off-track” from our true purpose. We sacrifice our callings for any number of reasons and we serve there with little passion, and we find in this booklet an example of passion and conviction. The nation would be a very different place is every place was filled with people who were passionate about their task!

Service which goes unnoticed and often not appreciated, is still important when one serves a higher purpose. Nurse Zimba is characterised by a deep personal faith that raises the bar for her work as a caregiver and the compassion she shows her patients. She was catechised and baptised at St John’s UCZ church in Kabwe, but in her own words, that was not her turning point. As a teenager in 1978 she witnessed the change that took place in her sister’s life after experiencing transforming faith, and she was drawn to hear the gospel as well. She narrates, “My turning point came in 1978 when two youths, Evans Chibesakunda and Mwiche, visited our congregation at St. John’s. The two young men were zealous for God and they formed a youth group and began holding meetings on Sunday afternoons. I refused to attend the first meeting, but one of my elder sisters attended. When she came back, I noticed that something had changed about her. She was not the same person that I had known all those years we were growing up together.”

When she finally heard the gospel, the demands for repentance and personal faith gripped her heart, and from then on Grace Zimba would never be the same. All this would impact of her attitude towards nursing and impacting people’s lives. One of those principles was empathy, “understanding another person’s condition from their perspective. While we may not fully understand the extent of pain being experienced by the hurting individuals, empathy implores us to place ourselves in their shoes and feel what they are feeling.” She drew this principle from the command to do unto others what you would have them do unto you. She explains what this looked like in practice. “When on duty, I need to observe my patients and take note of those who have been abandoned by their relatives. As a nurse, I try to fill the gap. Society will always categorise human beings according to their economic status and social standing as well as levels of their education; but before God, all people are equal.”

Later in the book, nurse Zimba talked about the challenges of nursing family members, of a suicidal patient and dealing with patients who are stigmatised. The value of this book is not in the poetic lines or vivid descriptions, but in the frank tone and matter-of-fact approach of a real life story. We also see the kind of faith in action that needs to spread and take the place of so much theatrics that has taken the spotlight in Zambian church circles. Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, the book shows us a deep conviction that will surely inspire others to ask if they have such a passion; and if not, to not waste another moment living without passion and purpose.

The thrill of home grown theatre performance

It may go against the current trends, but I will dare to say it anyway. Theatre has the potential to take centre stage in entertainment (Yes, pun intended!). In a world where global entertainment empires decide what shows on our TV screens, we have a chance to personalise our entertainment, to set it in the context of our home towns and culture. Stage drama is an excellent way to provide drama, comedy and romance set in familiar places - on the very street corners you pass every day, or at the local bus stop, with words and phrases that bring the story home in a way that international entertainment cannot. The way mass media has lost ground to social media, stage drama can take ground from mass entertainment.

[Images from "My Pursuit" -  a musical drama that was performed at Ster Kinekor on 8th October; produced by "Ili Kenge Events" under the able leadership of Henry Chibutu and Mwase Kumwenda, with support from "Stand and Sing of Zambia"  (SASOZ) proprietor, Logan Nyasulu]

I attended a musical performance, "My pursuit", last October, and I cannot explain how it brought the story home of exile and homecoming for the young girl who rejected her churchgoing roots. It created the feeling that I was watching something happening next door! Something about sitting a few rows from the performers brought the story home with emotive force.

Don't get me wrong, international screen productions will not be replaced any time soon, and they don't have to be. Much like mass news media and social media, the two can co-exist. However, there is a vacuum in terms of presenting local stories to local audiences, and little chance that our Zambian stories will over run the international scene just yet. Rather than hold back the local talent, we can use theatre as a means to use local talent to tell stories in a homespun way. We just need to approach it right.

Drama is also a developmental tool. We hear like sustainable development goals and other UN resolutions. We hear about Wildlife conservation projects and global warming. But all these things seem to be a world away, distance and detached. Theatre can help bring these developmental issues home to us, with local scripts, analogies and music.

Beyond all this, we can use drama to examine our worldview. Its important for us to reflect on our identity. So many things about our norms and our taboos, our values and even our moral contradictions as a society, need to be brought to light. Love, hate, spirituality, success and family life can be seen in a unique light, with dramas set in our community. Truth about the transformation we need, as individuals and society, needs a localised spotlight. If drama can be embraced by schools, youth groups, colleges and adult enthusiasts, we can provide a constructive way for society to reflect on what drives us and where our lives are leading.

Man on a mission

If you catch a music video on TV, more often than not you will find that a high-maintenance lifestyle is in the spotlight. The singer portrays the "good life", and fans aspire to get into the same spotlight and life of luxury. There is nothing wrong with expensive jewelry and customised cars. There is also nothing wrong with life in the spotlight (after all someone has to be in the spotlight!) The challenge i show such videos and films affect our understanding of ambition. More often than not, if you ask a young person how they see themselves in future, they will talk about how many zeroes they want on their paycheck. Fair enough, press further. When you ask what they want to DO that will earn them that paycheck, they will blurt out some foggy idea that will sound something like winning the lottery or being paid for looking good in an executive office chair. In other words, they aspire to a life of high spending but do not aspire to productivity.

Okay, this pearl of wisdom did not hit me all at once. I am coming from a generation that looked at careers like fashions - what is everyone going for, which has the guaranteed paycheck? And I am not saying that these considerations are not important. But we need to start looking at our competences. What am I skilled at doing? What sort of things can I do, which always bring people back asking for more? Before we consider the upper class living, we must consider the productivity aspect. 

I knew a man who spent between 15 and 20 years playing the lottery, waiting for that big bread. He would spend Sunday afternoon listening to the radio, each day believing that "This is the day they call out my winning number!" The years came and went. They never called his number. Perhaps we need to focus more on our purpose, on apprenticeship, on small steps rather than big leaps. If a big break comes along, well and good. But until then, we must sharpen our skills and be the best we can be, at what we are supposed to do.

I wish our music videos could focus more on our mission, our task as citizens, as co-workers, as employees and friends. If we rewarded character and skill, rather than bootlicking and nepotism, maybe, just maybe, we will all be better off. Just some thoughts! We should prefer to be the man on a mission, rather than the man waiting for that lucky break. If nothing else, we will be able to say "What a ride!" And we will have served and helped a lot of people along the way.

5 good reasons to record your life story!

What makes an interesting story? To oversimplify, a good story needs (1) a character we can identify with (someone just like us), (2) a serious challenge to overcome (whether it is external problems or personal weakness) and (3) a goal worth reaching. I am sure you have noticed that this is the pattern of just about everyone's life. Life is a journey, there is the destination we hope to reach, and the challenges (and lessons) we have learnt along the way. 

Geoffrey Botkin describes what film goers want to see. I feel this can be stretched to apply to other story telling. He says audiences want to see "The modern audience ... wants to see vicarious thrills in a dramatic two hour presentation of a morally interesting story introducing a heroic character with whom he can identify." People like to see these elements in written form as well.

So what does this have to do with writing a biography?

1. We all have a story to tell

We can all talk about the three elements mentioned above. We all have a context - personal history, where we grew up, went to school, our temperament and mindset at different stages, etc. We all have faced challenges. Whether it was a rude neighbour or an exam system with 'leakages' or an illness. We all have goals and ambitions. (Even though these sometimes change). We all have lessons learnt, experience which may be invaluable to others who are yet to make big lie choices. In other words, we all have a story to tell.

2. Your story is more interesting than you think

They say "familiarity breeds contempt". You are so familiar with your own story that you may think it is not worth telling. But the things you take for granted may in fact be "stranger than fiction" to someone else! 

3. Real stories are more helpful than some fiction

Real motivation and inspiration comes from ordinary life stories. As long as it is not "hagiography", stories that create exaggerated "saints" that have no weakness and make no mistakes. Even in the Christian Bible, many of the best characters have made the worst mistakes (King David and the Bethsheba episode, Peter and his denial of Christ, Lot and his blunder at choosing to live in Sodom, and so on, except the incarnate Son of God of course). 

We can easily spot the one sided stories that skip the "bad choices" episodes of life. Real stories are helpful, because we can learn from the mistakes too. Maybe we can even benefit more reading about the wrong turns, than from the good days. If one has the courage to share the detours that caused panic or heartache, you will tell a truly precious story.

4. Writing your story will help you see your life more clearly

Sometimes we re too busy in the rat race to sit and reflect on our lives. But writing can be a good way to reflect on life, and even plan for the future. It gives perspective and it can be humbling. Reflection is a lost art in society, and many choices would be different if we took time to reflect. If you feel a biography is a long way of, start with a diary or journal. Reading through your own entries can give perspective, ma be even more perspective than it will give to others who read it!

5. Writing your story will help change the reading culture

Many books present the stories of people so far removed from Zambian life. We sometimes struggle to relate to their situations. But Zambians need to read Zambian stories, to see how life hanging principles apply in our setting. It will help others evaluate their own life's journey. This will help us abandon the culture of avoiding deep thought or reflection. This will help us make better choices, reflecting on the long term consequences of beliefs and behaviour. Your book will be your contribution to shaping the Zambian culture, and family tradition, hopefully for years to come.

So you may say I am biased, after all, I edit and write for a living. But I also have a passion for stopping the run-away train of urban culture. It is time we gave it some direction and soberness. It is time we owned it, but filling the book shelves and stocking the DVD wracks with our own works. Nature abhors a vacuum. Something else will fill the gap, ( just look at some of the films at books people already have!) 

There is hope. The music industry is showing promise. There was a time when buying a Zambian CD was unthinkable. We can do that with the book industry too. Get in touch if you want help writing a biography! 

A blunt axe and New Year resolutions...

It dawned on me ... the problems is not always how we execute the New Year resolutions. Sometimes the problem is the resolutions! This may sound bizzare, but give me a minute to prove my case!

Often we sit alone, dreaming of an alternate reality we want to create. In a few minutes, we have our goal for the next 365 days, and we get to work. But notice the flaw. The plan is often vague, a cloudy image of ourselves seated by a lakeside sipping something colourful from a glass with ice and a little umbrella. Then we say "That's the bulls-eye!" This dream has more about the destination than the journey! So to make our resolutions more practical, we need to do a number of things. These are things I am doing for myself, and hopefully I will bring a better report for the next year!

1) Plan the steps in the journey, not just the destination. Consider, how will you get from point A to B to C?

2) Consult in the planning making process. Don't just consult on the execution! You may be trying to execute a flawed plan! Be sure you have the right skills, or help, for this goal. TO rely on simply thinking positive will be a positive mistake!

3) Put the plan through the furnace! Find the most ruthless (but honest) friend you can find to put it under the magnifying glass. Be ready to even reject the plan and start from scratch.

4) The harder you work on the plan, the less energy will be wasted on a flawed plan! After all, "If an ax is blunt and the edge isn't sharpened, then one has to use more strength" (Ecclesiastes 10:10).

So my resolution this year is to sharpen the axe, to consult more and collaborate more. There is nothing more frustrating that trying to chop wood with a blunt axe. 

Then the rest is in the hands of divine providence!

Economic with the truth

One friend recently told me, "The only people who will tell you the truth are your enemies, (when they are upset and reveal what they really think about you!) or your close friends (who speak boldly about your faults and not just your strengths). That got me thinking.

We tend to be economical with the truth. How many times have you let that guy is his brand new polka-dot jeans and striped shirt go by; Even when he asks "How do I look?" and you simply give a thumbs up, restraining the laughter.

But then again, you can't always blame us. After all, we don't seem very good at digesting the truth! It is always easier to shift the blame and make excuses. That "log in the eye" tendency is universal. It is not limited to culture or location! We are quick to shoot the messenger.

A recent article in the Post Newspaper defended banks, saying they are not the reason that small businesses cannot access funding. He pointed to another common label - that Zambians do not pay back loans. And so even on economic and political issues, the finger pointing continues...

So we want the truth, but we want it sugar coated and in manageable bite-sized bits. What the heck, throw in the whole sugar bowl!

The problem is, this can lead to a lot of problems. On the large scale, justice is perverted. Enough sugar and even poison will taste sweet. This is lies we sell to the world. On the other hand, there are lies we sell to ourselves, like an addict who says "I can stop any time". Yer, right!

So want the truth, but only so much, or not yet, or on some topics but not others. We want honest leaders and sincere salesmen, but when the question comes home, the standard is altered somewhat. "Don't get caught" seems to be the standard.

Why do we have this love hate relationship with the truth? Simply because some truth is easier to swallow than others. The problem is, when everyone chooses which truth to hear, we end up with ... the world we live in! Perhaps that's why someone sang about the man in the mirror. Whether he managed to live up to that advice is another story altogether. The solution starts when we stop judging the truth, the truth should judge us.

7 Steps how to read a book: #6 Put your thoughts on the shooting range

If we are to improve our reading skills, we can't end by reading and shelving a book. You need to find a friend or a forum to discuss what you read. Put your thoughts on the table, and let others agree, disagree or otherwise questions your new discoveries. Even at the risk of your ideas being mercilessly cut down! As you discuss a book, putting it under the microscope, so to speak, your ability to digest and draw conclusions will improve greatly.

We already do this with TV shows, discussing why Herman and Angelina didn't realise that Miguel was replaced by his evil twin, and if the true Miguel would escape from the Island. (I am not a soapie, at least not since 'No one but you'!) See how, in our enjoyment, we are not satisfied to simply watch. We find a way to reflect (and so continue enjoying) what we have read!~It shouldn't be any different with books. Read interesting lines or scenes from the book, challenge attitudes and behaviour, bring up what you like, what you hate or what confuses you in a book. Explore it the way people 'explore' a TV series.

This may sound strange to some people, especially that most are taught bad reading habits in school. In Zambia we have many dedicated teachers a lecturers who are passionate about what they do. But a secondary school (high school?) teacher with a class of sixty-five pupils has a tough time giving individual attention to pupils. Education turns into rote learning, where there is no interaction, the crowd must simply memorise and reproduce the notes in an exam. This way, someone may pass with flying colours, but never understand the real life use of that information. Reading is often treated as something done for the exam and not for personal development. Thinking and skill development may be off the radar.

In a thought provoking article, Geoffrey Botkins explains what he learnt at Cambridge, the British University that has been producing leaders for literally centuries. He found that they use a mentoring teaching system. One on one discussions with lecturers are compulsory, while lectures are optional! The ability to explain and defend one's work in an assignement is treated as more value that simply memorising data. This ability to digest, analyse, decide and defend a viewpoint, is essential to moulding a world class leader. This approach to reading, with an "awake mind", would totally transform a society!

Find someone who will listen for a few minutes, and share favourite quotes from a book. Ask if those are true of real life, true of some people or all people, and how you might have expressed the same idea. That way, we will sharpen each others skills.

How to analyse culture

Geoffrey Botkin wrote about the danger of being blind to the forces that shape culture, and being carreid along with every wind of change. He wrote, "People who are mentally unconscious cannot perceive what’s happening in the world around them. This cultural blindness causes men to stumble into slavery, or perhaps to surrender their collective future. Blind people are easily taken advantage of, and blind nations can become slave cultures or, even worse, comatose cultures. There is never cultural neutrality, and never an inconsequential idea." 

Read the whole article on "How to analyse culture" on the link below:

http://westernconservatory.com/articles/how-analyze-culture

7 steps how to read a book: #4 Spot the bad argument

Reading a book is an art. It requires skill, and the skillful are rewarded. The good reader but be able to distinguish between good arguments (points) and bad ones, otherwise he or she may end up swallowing the false logic.

I read a story about a man who wanted to test the wisdom of his three sons. He gave each of them an apple, and each apple was half rotten. One boy ate the whole thing. The second son threw the whole thing away. The third son cut off the rotten part and ate the good part. This shows how a good reader should be able to separate the good and bad in what he reads. Even the same author can have good and bad arguments. The analogy was applied to all of life. (I think the book was written by Richard Baxter). So lets identify some bad arguments.

Here are some examples of  false logic:


Birds fly.
A chicken is a bird.
Therefore, a chicken can fly.

 This argument is used is more complicated ways. For example, when some preacher is being criticised for spending the churches money, he may say:

Pharisees opposed Christians.
I am a Christian.
Whoever opposes me is a Pharisee.

Do you see the false logic? These kinds of arguments can be used in sales, politics or day to day conversations. And many times we are convinced before we reflect on the validity of the arguments. Another example would be, someone trying to justify his behaviour:

After all, everyone is doing it.

But that does not mean it is right! Many arguments are misleading, but we may be convinced because someone famous or trusted is speaking. 

Another example is a false "either/or" argument:

If you don't support Chelsea you don't know real football

The good reader must have a critical mind. Don't eat every apple, and don't eat every bit of the apple's you eat!

Rumours - GMO for the mind! (Poetry)

If you have lived long enough and have a little keen observation

I have no doubt you will relate to this common situation

WHen data treacles down the grape vine and changes form

The story modifies, twists and grows and amplifies, filled with lies

No one bothers to come and ask for your witness testimony (IF only!)

People receive the 'news' and accept it as fact; They swallow, digest and react!

My mistakes blown out of proportion, I'm painted as wicked as Nero!Others defend their image and get painted as heroes!

The crowds that used to greet go silent. (I wouldn't be shocked if they turned Kill-Bill violent!)

Written on each face, a scowl that tells me the rumour has taken root, found a cosy place
Yet no one has come to ask - No one wants a fact finding task or intercedes for grace

Those words become a mask to mask the truth that they wont ask

Gossip goes down like a t-bone stake, juicy, tender, GMO and fake

Wont someone give me a break!

But in all this atleast I know my real friends come to inquire because they care

For them, its more than just another juicy morsel to share.

So before you listen to a story that is seeping through the vine

ANd before you share it, think: Is it true, is it fair, will sharing it be kind?

Sometimes you have better things to feed your mind!

*Food for thought - No G.M.O. for the mind!*

7 steps - How to read a book: #1 Motive and mindset

There is a right way and a wrong way to read a book! If you approach books the way you approach watching a movie or listening to the radio, it is no surprise that you struggle with reading. It is like swapping the rules in volleyball and basketball – it will not work! So how can we enjoy and benefit from reading books?

Recently I started reading “How to Read a Book” by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren. It reminded me that good reading is actually a skill that can be developed. Some people are too quick to surrender and say “reading is not for me” when the skill can be learned. Some of his insights are worth sharing!

The author talks about two attitudes to reading, (1) active and, (2) passive. The active reader makes an effort to digest what he reads. Compared to a sport, in basketball the one who throws the ball and his teammate who catches it are both active. Likewise, the writer was active in writing and the reader must be skilful in “catching” what he is saying. The active reader, who develops his skill, will be successful in his reading. Active reading means you are a player in the game, not a spectator. Effective reading needs an active mind.

The writer also distinguishes between reading for more information (of the same kind we already have, more or less) and reading for deeper understanding. If we only read material at the same level, our understanding will never grow. But if we challenge ourselves by reading material which has more than we presently understand, we can potentially experience personal growth. Choice of reading material is as important as our attitude to reading.

A lot of modern books and magazines try to make material that is not challenging, in order to indulge the readers who are avoiding critical thinking. You can’t blame them. The average reader wants to make a little effort as they do when watching a cartoon over the weekend. There is little challenge, but there is also little personal development. Others have mastered the art of memorising books for exams, without really understanding them, and therefore they can barely apply that data to their work. Our goal should be reading for personal development as well as enjoyment.

The first step to enjoying and benefiting from books is “counting the cost”. Do a cost benefit analysis and tell yourself, “The time and effort needed to read books properly is worth it. For personal growth and greater critical analysis, I will gladly make the effort to read the right stuff, and to read it properly.

For more, wait for the second part in this series!