With the usual smile which some argue smacks of lack of seriousness, I stood with her in the hallway after working hours on Tuesday waiting for her feedback on last week’s article: “The Pursuit of Titles – Literary Fraud?” But before my office colleague who also dabbles in the literary art would do that, she enquired: “Why do you write?” With that, my smile grew sheepish, mentally asking what that has got to do with anything, especially considering the fact that that was not her first time of giving me a review of an article. “I think I have the gift of …..” I saw her head move from right to left and back again rhythmically signifying a wrong answer, even before I could complete the sentence. I found that queer.
“Wait… let me tell you why I write - it may give you an idea of the kind of answer I thought you’d give”, she said when she saw the look on my face. When she was done telling me her reason, her question made sense, and I saw its importance to the conversation. I reorganized my thoughts and said: “Something in a book, movie, song, or maybe what is said even in a conversation I’m party to, may inspire me to draw lessons from, which I consequently want to share with others”. Even with this, it seemed she wanted to shake her head again, but decided against it, not wanting it to drag on.
On my way home, I thought about the question again – realizing its depth and how it informs my motive for engaging in what I do each weekend. It quickly brought to mind a video I saw some time ago where a middle-aged man from amongst an audience was asked to sing by the speaker who incidentally is a comedian. With a nice voice, he sang beautifully and received applause afterwards. Then the speaker asked him to reach within him and find a reason to sing that song, and sing again. My mouth gaped in awe at the striking difference between how he sang some few seconds ago and how he was doing it at the speaker’s new instance – he seemed to have been possessed by the spirit of the late Italian opera singer, Luciano Pavarotti in all his ‘glory’ when he sang Bach’s ‘Ave Maria’. My goodness! He sang with some deep passion and verve that he received a standing ovation from all and a deafening applause. “What had changed?”, the speaker enquired. “He found a genuine reason to sing”, he told the audience.
Dear reader, why do you do what you do? Why do you go to work in that company each day? Because it pays the bills or because you would feel bored, if you stayed home? Do you have a reason beyond that? Have you given it some thought? I once met an older man who told me one reason he keeps going to work in a place he finds quite ‘boring’ is because he is able to impart something positive into his younger colleagues, as they look up to him. So why do you sing? Why do you play that musical instrument? Why do you engage in that sport? Why do you teach in the children’s service? Why do you read? Why do you write? Why do you dance? Why do you give? Why do you go to church, the mosque, the temple, the shrine or simply sit at home? Why do you believe in God or why do you not believe in His existence?
Dear reader of ‘My Musings’, why do you do what you do? Pause and find a genuine reason – and then continue. You will be amazed at the outcome.
Do enjoy the fruitfulness this week promises, and God richly bless you.
More Vim…Let’s Go…
The writer is a chartered accountant and a freelance writer. He can be contacted at [email protected]. Click here to read other articles he’s authored.
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