Translated it means, “I have seen a Prince become a slave; I have seen an Iwofa (an insolvent debtor or family member, who is for a time, the property of his moneylender master) become a wealthy man; there is nothing new under the sun; I have seen it all.” Do you look down on yourself because you are doing a menial job today?
Do you know that if you do that menial job very well, with distinction and devotion, you are bound to be noticed and eventually breakout out from the level of poverty to a higher level? In life, everyone is important, no matter what we do for a living if it is a path of honour.
The following story, told by the eloquent speaker, Peter Marshall, who served as the chaplain of the US Senate for several years, is culled from the web and reproduced verbatim to buttress this point. Marshall loved to tell the story of the “Keeper of the Spring,” a quiet forest dweller who lived high above an Austrian village along the eastern slope of the Alps.
“The old gentleman had been hired many years earlier by a young town councilman to clear away the debris from the pools of water up in the mountain crevices that fed the lovely spring flowing through their town.
With faithful, silent regularity, he patrolled the hills, removed the leaves and branches, and wiped away the silt that would otherwise have choked and contaminated the fresh flow of water. The village soon became a popular attraction for vacationers. Graceful swans floated along the crystal clear spring, the mill wheels of various businesses located near the water turned day and night, farmlands were naturally irrigated, and the view from restaurants was picturesque beyond description.
“Years passed. One evening the town council met for its semi-annual meeting. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught the salary figure being paid the obscure keeper of the spring. Said the keeper of the purse, “Who is the old man? Why do we keep him on year after year? No one ever sees him. For all we know, the strange ranger of the hills is doing us no good. He isn’t necessary any longer.” By a unanimous vote, they dispensed with the old man’s services.
“For several weeks, nothing changed. By early autumn, the trees began to shed their leaves. Small branches snapped off and fell into the pools, hindering the rushing flow of sparkling water. One afternoon someone noticed a slight yellowish-brown tint in the spring. A few days later, the water was much darker. Within another week, a slimy film covered sections of the water along the banks, and a foul odour was soon detected. The mill wheels moved more slowly, some finally ground to a halt. Swans left, as did the tourists.
Clammy fingers of disease and sickness reached deeply into the village. Quickly, the embarrassed council called a special meeting. Realising their gross error in judgment, they rehired the old keeper of the spring, and within a few weeks, the veritable river of life began to clear up. The wheels started to turn, and new life returned to the hamlet in the Alps.
“Never become discouraged with the seeming smallness of your task, job, or life. Cling fast to the words of Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.” The key to accomplishment is believing that what you can do will make a difference.”
Last Thursday, was World Sight Day. I called on readers to join the crusade to free our country of blindness – Partnership for Sight. Several people asked to become partners. In the true spirit of Yoruba philosophy, I say, “Thank you.” I am greatly appreciative of their effort and kind words. Someone even sent me telephone recharge credits. I thank him from the bottom of my heart. Partnership for Sight Initiative is a revolution and will work with this column (courtesy of the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc) to show that working together we can make a difference.
But that difference is first about YOU. To be able to help others keep their sight, you must first keep yours. Partnership for Sight, WhatsApp group, is complementary to “You and Eye” column. You will still need to read this column to get the best out of it. It is harmonising the benefits of the print media with the electronic media for a perfect solution. Taste, see and believe. The WhatsApp group can only take 250 participants.
Join today by sending sms with your name and your WhatsApp phone number to 08054005447. It is an experience you would like to share with friends and family.
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