As you read my articles you can see clearly that I am often fond of writing reflections based on the proverbs that I learned from my ancestors. I do so because I firmly believe that ancestors of every nation, every ethnic group and of all countries, have passed on to future generations proverbs and sayings that have timeless value, proverbs and sayings that are profoundly meaningful in all times and in each time. These have timely and timeless values.
Today is no exception. Here is my reflection based on another of those proverbs that my grandparents quoted from time to time, especially in moments when those around them seemed to show off their work and their achievements.
In that nick of time, my grandfather would say: In the Chief’s kingdom, people come and go. When we stared at him with those faces that seemed to query: what is the meaning of that one? he would say: there was a chief before this one, he is gone. And before the former one, there was another; he is gone. There is one now: he will go. Then he would explain: our time here on earth is short, very short.
He would go on: my time here is short, very short. Your time here is short, very short. My reflection on his teaching is that these elders knew that life is vulnerable and temporary and are therefore keen to share this awareness with everyone. They know that life and the world pass quickly and none of us is permanent.
When one realises the temporality of life and world, one therefore becomes increasingly aware of the need to spend that short span of life wisely. One realises that power, however overreaching it is, comes and goes. They use it wisely. They use leadership as an opportunity for service. The holy writings say: The greatest among you should be your servant.
In this country, we hope that the leaders who have been elected will have this consciousness, this keen awareness that their power is temporary. It has come and it will go. All leaders, including political ones, religious leaders, leaders of social and non-governmental organisations, parents, mentors, and indeed all who have the duty to serve, must be just that: servants. Their time, and our time is short, very short indeed.
