Twenty Nineteen…what a treat?!

Going into it, there have been moments when I couldn’t begin t o see how I was going to make it through…And somehow, I am here, ever so grateful for it too. I am spending a lot of time with Miguel. He is an entire blog on his own.
I have a new appreciation for each member of the body. And taking it one day at a time.
So happy to be back, I hope you have been all that and a bag of chips. Leave me a note in the comments, tell me how I may pray with you; and what I may give you, to make your day better.

Till next time, easy does it. 🙂

My Name Is Not Suzanne!

I chide. Her name is Suzanna. She is kind, and giving of her time, and car. After class at the Institute this passed weekend, as per usual, I walked towards the main road, to make my way home, when this vehicle pulls up, and it’s occupant, a petit lady, fair complexion, big thoughtful eyes, calls me by name, and offers to give me a lift to the closest taxi, much to my relief and pleasure. Firstly, because I didn’t have to walk much, especially after a long class that day. Secondly, getting lifts from vehicle-driving people is something I see happen to other people, so this was a nice surprise for me. A welcome one too. Thank you Suzanna. And if I have misspelt your name, pardon me.

We got talking about my time on the air, and the circumstances surrounding why she no longer hears my voice on there. To which, I candidly shared from my heart, details of which, I had not shared with anyone since the incident. She made it comfortable to share. She saw traits that may have hampered the resolution of that situation, and shared them with me. The experience of Suzanna is something I am grateful to God for. Do you ever meet someone new, and for some reason or other, they get you, without the years invested in getting to know you? Well, that twenty minute drive from Naalya to Bukoto, wound up in a shared moment of prayer, before she went her way, and I went mine. It speaks to how good Our Father in Heaven is. In that time that we spoke, a load was lifted off my person, if you will. And going into this week, that peace of God that passes all understanding has continued to keep me. The thought of the reality that is the Angel of the Lord encamped around me, further buttresses my resolve as I make to take on the tasks that He has predestined for me to do, complete with a smile, and a spring in my step.

Dad tasked me with turning around the water game at home, and you should see me try to make heads and tails of the entire task. Thankfully, he handed me material to better grasp what needs to get done. And the task doesn’t look as daunting. I realise I will need a ladder, maybe four. The really tall ladder-kind. Where amI going to find those? Oh well, you know how I like to share these challenges with you. Kindly share some tips on getting the water around the house properly routed, pipes, tubes, and all. How do you rig the solar power so that it heats the water, when you need to take a hot shower at the end of a long day? If I can see it in my mind, making it come off the pages and into our reality, I imagine, will serve to thrill and inspire, not just myself, but my siblings, my parents, my blog family 🙂 Who knows, I might even sell the community I live in on the idea to save water this way. Let me get started on it. I hope to compile a portfolio of accomplished tasks as I go, and in time, I hope to share those with you. If you know someone that you know you would like me to meet, especially if this water and solar thing is a strength of theirs, then what are you waiting for?! Tag a sister. Make an introduction, please? Thank you in advance.

No one person ever really sets out to understand how people generally meet and what will become of said meetings. I, for one, would like to repopulate the Sahara with trees. Lots and lots of trees. What does the other person want? And can both our different dreams find a method in which to interact cohesively, for a better and brighter future? And while I am not one to speculate, I rest in the truth that God works all things together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His promises. As the thought firmly rests in my mind, and a cheeky grin sweeps across my face, I know I have to go out there, live and love like Jesus Christ loved, all the while keeping my peace. Those that remember the fiery Yvonne from the second decade of life might beg to differ. Growth has taken place, and continues to happen. I am a lot more patient. With myself. With others. The world could use some patience. On the roads, or the trains, in the airport terminals. In the banking hall queue. With one another. Take a moment. And inhale deeply. Now exhale. Did that feel good?

My hope for myself and in as much as for myself, also for yourself; is that the next time you feel the urge to give your opinion on a subject, or pass judgment on a deserving human being, is that you will first and foremost, intentionally take a deep breath. In. And Out. And check with yourself and see, if it still is the same response you were going to give a breath ago, and choose love over fear.

There are a few tasks that I need to accomplish, and they are going to require that I give of myself one hundred and ninety percent, which isn’t even humanly possible, which is why I am grateful for Jesus Christ and His finished work at the cross, which informs my spirit and all, that I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength.

I am thinking about sustainable mobility within the context that is Uganda, and East Africa and the unit whole that is Africa. Like clockwork, whether you’re in down town Nairobi city, or Kampala, of Mombasa road, as the sun greets the day at dawn, taillights are inches from headlights, in the morning rush hour like they like to call it, the commuters. As many destinations as people in those vehicles, gridlock snakes its way around different schools, health clubs, early morning mass chapels, government offices, and privates businesses. Don’t be fooled, the human traffic is just as jammed, with pedestrians making the long trek from their places of aboard, which are miles outside of the central business district; braving the interlocked road ways and their Christmas in May traffic lights, and errant boda bodas who generally don’t follow traffic lights directions, they cross at zebra crossing points, and other obscurely marked points where many a pedestrian have lost life on account of a hit and run, makes me think about the Masai Mara Wildebeest migrations that happen in the moths of November through March, where they spread into the Ndutu area which is part of the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and in the souther and central sectors of Serengeti National Park. They then give birth, what is called calving, in the months of Mid February to March. They face north with some herds thriving in Grumeti Game Reserve and Ikorongo. The spectacular Mara River crossing occurs in September where the animals make their way through the crocodile infested Mara River to Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This migration involves over 1.4 million wildebeest along with hundreds of thousands of Zebras.

Till next time,

Easy does it.
🙂

I Am Sorry For The Way I Have Treated You.

This apology comes so many moons late, depending on where you are reading this from. I hope you’ll hear me out.
We were friends. The future looked promising. You joined the team, then roles were reversed, and I couldn’t handle your newfound personality. Which is why I quit the job. I really was quitting you. I couldn’t bear to do another day with your ever-growing ‘head’, or at least that is what I told myself. Fast forward to today, I can’t shake the feeling that I could have handled that situation differently. Instead of withholding my love from you, I should have loved you through the growing anatomy. At the time, it was easy to walk away, and walk away I did. I wasn’t the friend you needed me to be, and for that, I apologise for the way I have treated you.
I was a student in your class, with quite the commentary to back your lessons. You said my future was promising. Entrusting me with assignments and tasks that you’d hoped I’d get done, promptly, and excellently. But did I? Instead, I pulled two shifts, at the radio station and in the producer’s booth, all in a bid to keep some fuel in the tank, and some spending money in my purse, much to the detriment of my grades, because if I didn’t submit my work to you late, I would serve up a cocktail of excuses and reasons as to why the work did not get done right. I was young, didn’t know better. The rhetoric is different today. I have been reading a posse of books that are teaching me to make intentional steps towards growing myself first, before I can hope to grow others around me, and thereby growing the nation and the world. I realise I cannot return to your class to be a better student, I do, however, know that learning doesn’t stop, and in your honour, I’ll honour all future teachers that I may encounter on this journey.
Some of the observations I am making are here. “People are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; there therefore remain bound. ” – James Allen ‘As a Man Thinketh’
This Lady is thinking along those lines lately. Growth Plan Lines. Unless I intentionally make a plan to grow, and grow well, then I resign myself to weed-like propagation, and not real output. And if I’m only getting one shot at this life, then, I want to do it right, albeit thirty something years late, grow, I shall.
Why don’t we automatically and actively commit to personal growth? Assumption, for one, trips us into thinking that the growth will happen naturally, and with little input from ourselves. You’ve heard the adage, ‘Experience is the best teacher.’ Must I experience the pain of a situation to gain the lesson therein, though, queries my salient persona. My Dad says, “When you find yourself like you’re plain sailing, it is then time to slam on the brakes because there’s big trouble afoot. Look around you, and discover where the problem is coming from, because life is not about plain sailing but rather, solving problems.” Thank you Dad for sharing your life lessons with me.

Which is why I am making a change from accidental to intentional growth. Jumping out of the rut, if you will. “What rut?” you ask? Take a moment and skim over the differences between accidental growth and intentional growth:

accidental growth                       intentional growth

Plans to start Tomorrow            Insists on Starting Today

Waits for Growth to come         Takes Complete Responsibility to Grow

Learns Only from Mistakes       Often Learns Before Mistakes

Depends on Good Luck              Relies on Hard Work

Quits Early and Often                Perseveres Long and Hard

Talks Big                                       Follows Through

Falls into Bad Habits                  Fights for Good Habits

Plays It Safe                                  Takes Risks

Thinks Like a Victim                   Thinks Like a Learner

Relies on Talent                            Relies on Character

Stops Learning after Graduation        Never Stops Growing

I hope this helps you as much as I am hoping to grow from it. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”
I want to reach my potential and become the person I was created to be, as I imagine, you do too.

In conclusion, I run the risk of digressing from this apology, should I rumble on about what lessons I am encountering. It would be a joy to meet up with you again, some time soon, that way I can show you what steps of growth I have taken and continue to take, as I travel this road called life. I hope we can reunite, because I imagine a world of peace, and transformative change, with you. Where citizens identify a problem, and collectively, huddle together and come up with ways of tackling the challenge for the greater good of the community, sans ‘tusaba gavumenti etuyaambe!’

As the week comes to a close, and I mentally as well as physically prepare to be in class tomorrow, I am reading about Leading Missional Communities, which essentially is about rediscovering the power of living on mission together, and once that power is harnessed diligently, I envision a better world for the grandchildren and the great grandchildren. Did you get round to planting that tree? Any photographs you are willing to share with me, to account for your care of this tree? Rest. here’s no pressure. I do, encourage you though, to make it a priority in the week to come, that you shall carve out time in your week, and plant a tree or four. I hope to share my photographs of any trees I would have been taking care of, and post them on here, in the days to come. Thank you once again for sharing of your time, as you gave this post a read. I hope that you and yours are well. If there is any way that I may pray with you, for you, drop me a line at tindiyvonne@gmail.com and let’s do life together.
I just might be starting at a new job in some time, so I am thinking about how to present myself, office attire and all, not forgetting the grace, and patience that is void at most new areas, especially as is witnessed by the newbie, coming in. I shall have to get off my derriere and go looking at some outfits, and sweat up a storm in the park, just so it’s an all round experience, for both myself, and my soon-to-be colleagues. I hope I remember to share with you how that plays out. There’s a plane trip in the near future, I can’t contain the anticipation of the ride; notwithstanding flight bookings, airport pick ups, and airbnbs , for the duration of the conference. Meeting and making new friends. Praying with other christians. Wow! Not one to count my chicks before they are hatched. Think of that as a blog story board.
Till next time,
Easy does it.
🙂

Her name’s Agnes.

Agnes Black, from that rich melanin she wears, like silk in Turkey.
On a cold Tuesday night, back in the eighties during the October rains in Nairobi, she
welcomed a bundle of joy, in the corridors of Kenyatta Hospital. We were discharged
and she returned to the estate with me. Some days were tougher than others, water
with some sucre made for my dinners, and all the while she would tune in to local
radio that would be speaking about pockets of rebel dissidents having been
ambushed. I wonder if she thought about how to break the news to me, if he didn’t
return. Fast forward to early nineties, I made my formative years of school roaster,
first at Mwami Kasole’s KPS and thereafter Sr. Genevieve’s St. Theresa Namagunga
Primary. She would make the trip from Kansanga to Mukono to see me, checking on
my progress she called it. Writing about it brings all sorts of feelings to the surface
for me. I think about the sacrifices she made on account of making sure that her girl
was making good work of her school stuff. I remember her bringing Ivan along to
watch a play I may have been acting in.
The reason I bring this up is, she is the most important lady in my life, having given
me life. She might be hands on with her care, and all that is for the benefit of those in
her care. I did not witness or experience her upbringing so in a way, I am working
from a place of insufficient information, and for most Sherlock Holmes, you need the
facts to know how to approach a scenario.
She has been on this earth a little over six decades and still looks and carries herself
with such youthful exuberance, compared to her age mates. A little more activity
would fit nicely into her daily routine, but look who’s talking, I could use some
physical activity myself.
I live with her. I am coming to the realization that the vernacular saying, “Omwaana
asigala mwana eri abazadde bbe” which translates in to “A Child remains a child in
the parents’ eyes”. There hasn’t been a time, when we both are on talking terms, that
I have made to leave the house, having picked out my outfit, brushed my hair, shoes
are looking sharp, that she has let me walk out without making a commentary of
what she feels I need to change, if it isn’t the hair, it’s the lotion I am using,
something always needs to be done again once over, because in her sage view, first
impressions can only be made once. And she makes a legitimate point.
We may share the same genetic markers, we also have individual tastes and
preferences. I am yet to learn how to communicate our dynamic differences and the
very present possibility to live together in harmony in the same locale. We don’t
have to live at odds with each other because of a difference in opinions. I like the
relaxed approach to most anything, while other may prefer a prepared, well put-
together approach to most everything as well.
In life there are a handful of things and situations that are within anyone’s reach, to
change, to adapt to, and to make better. In Uganda, when the torrential rains come
through, the residents of locations such as Bwaise and Rwiizi, owing to the
availability of meteorological information to the people in the affected areas, and
how to utilize the excess runoff from the rain; these residents are taken unawares,
their property and some relatives are swept away into the open waterways which
are in no state to do what they are made for, considering the loss of human and
animal life, excess rain water run-off which find their way into the main roads,

residential areas, open market stalls, and cumulatively make for a terrible
atmospheric experience, especially for any first time visitors to this here Pearl of
Africa, that I call home.
In conclusion, the one person you and I can change, is you and me, respectively. So
while I have a lot of love for Agnes, I need to make some changes of my own, to
myself. My attitude is one of the things I can begin with, by choosing and displaying
the right attitude daily. I can determine and act on important priorities daily. I shall
need to figure out a way to measure my progress in these areas. My health is
another consideration, knowing and following healthy guidelines such as more
vegetables in my diet and some more physical activity, which when done right, will
inform dress sizes and appropriate shoes, not forgetting the natural hair regime I
have been on for some time now. Family oh family, I am making strides in
communicating and caring for them all daily, my family members I mean. Imagine
we sleep in the same house, but some days have me feeling like we are nothing but
roommates in a dorm, a really nice dorm. Not on my watch, going forward. Another
area that I could do some work on is the area of my thinking. I shall practice and
develop good thinking daily, especially when I am anticipating the traffic to be
colossal, I shall think good thoughts, like how God has cleared the roads for me, and
a trip into town from the house, which ordinarily takes 2 hours, after good thinking,
took me 20 minutes to make, no?! Wishful thinking? Think what you want, I choose
clear road thoughts. Then there is the area of commitments, I am going to be
deliberate when making and keeping proper commitments daily; if I said I’d take out
the trash before bed, takeout the trash, I shall. Results. Not reasons. Looking at my
purse strings, they are really pulled in tight, voila finance is another area that I could
get working on, by making and properly managing dollars (that is deliberate, the
volatility of the Uganda shilling is quite heart-bobbing) , daily. All those areas won’t
see progress unless I am feeding my faith, and this I will do by deepening and living
out my faith daily. Specifically, love Agnes out of the firm stance she chooses to take,
when the conversation goes someplace other than where she wanted it to go, extend
her more grace, be kind, and longsuffering – I imagine I have water in my mouth,
which water I cannot swallow and wont spit out, and this guards against any rush
insensitive retorts I might find myself want to shoot back during those hot
conversations we tend to have from time to time. I’d do well to pray for her
intentionally, which I have been doing, until I met Priscilla Shirer from the War
Room movie, she is teaching me to make prayer strategies wherein I inquire of God,
what His direction for my life is, in light of my interactions with Agnes dearest,
amongst all other people I interact with.
She has given her life for me, I can understand her needing to give her two cents on
an outfit, how I am turning up, although some days I’d rather just skip the critique
and get on with me day.
Agnes Black, I love You.

It’s True, Y’Know?!

People quit people. People don’t quit jobs. Some will say they can’t “adult” on some
days simply because they are having a delicate situation wherein to balance ethical
expressions amidst a jostling in the wrong direction by the one that should be
steering us in a different direction. When someone does not spare you the courtesy
of candor and care, but writes your name down for those to be considered for
severance pay. Man, this issue digs deep into my experience, I dare say, retelling it is
going to necessitate that I am calm, and relational, as is expected of every good
leader. Over the last couple of months, have I learnt that anytime I find a problem
with something around me, it is my fault. It is my responsibility to solve the
problem. And if you’ve solved some problems in your existence on this earth, you
can attest to the possibility of solving any problem, being hinged on being able to
identify the problem accurately. This will require asking a series of right questions
in the right way and tone, so as to create a safe space for all the parties concerned to
then open up to the roadmap of solving the identified problem.
Therein in did I learn that I am confrontation averse. It made me sick to my stomach,
whenever the opportunity to engage in confrontation necessitated the resolution of
one problem or other. I would rather go around the issue before I must confront the
problem. This was exhibited in my choices of friends, jobs, societal communities I
served in, and or walked away from. I have since learnt about Kingdom style
confrontation, that is wrapped in grace, and acknowledging people for who God says
they are, and love them into the Kingdom.
Going forward, I know not to conclude from a person’s actions that their intent was
to harm but rather invest the time in this person, to establish what the problem is,
call them like God calls them, sons and daughters of Light, and therein determine
what the need, serve it to them, in the hope to inspire the greatness on the inside of
them to burst forth, and heal a hurting world. Treating another person with
dishonor because you did not deem them worthy of honor, only serves to escalate a
situation that would have otherwise been resolved amicably. What comes to mind,
for you? Would you mind sharing with me, in the comments section, please? I thank
you.
Some of the leadership I have been through mostly chastised me in the hope that I’d
submit to their leadership. I didn’t make their work easy, I’ll say. I know better now.
I am learning to be a leader myself, and whilst I might want the results to manifest
yesterday, I realize it take time, and intentionality, with my daily routine, how I
choose to spend my time, and who am I giving my worship all the while. And the
Good Shepherd calls me to abide in Him. Spend time in The Word. The type of
leadership modeled in Psalm 103 is what I long for, as well as aspire to, but not my
will, let His will be done, amen.
Jargon like secular and Christian, when making references to styles of music; and the
judgement that peppers most conversations, “What?! You used to do drugs?!” serve
to feed the judgement rhetoric, which further drives a wage between those that
know Christ and follow Him, and those that desperately need Him and have walked
away from the church building and body in hurt. Talk is cheap. I would know. I
talked for a living. Our actions is where the money is, oops, is where the

transformation is. We blame our parliamentarians, police force, government leaders
for the breakdown of morals in the country, turning a blind eye to the mother who
binds her child in chords and locks them in the house, unattended, while she
gallivants around the village. We need to do more. We can do much more. Invest
time in the people we crisscross paths with, in our day-to- day goings-on. Count to
ten under your breath just before you give that smarty-pants colleague of yours,
your two cents on the matter they just presented you. Give grace freely. Don’t
withhold your love. Forgive. Burn the records of wrongs book. When was the last
time you bought someone a meal, and stayed to share it with him or her? All the
while speaking about the ones most important to them, their wellbeing, and
progress at school for the school-going ones. Let me know when you do, yes, you’ve
been invited and challenged to make a leader of someone you interact with. Will you
disciple them? Are you being discipled? Remember, good questions, asked in a good
way. Safe spaces. Identify the problem. Speak to the Holy Spirit. He’ll guide you into
solving it. Not by power, nor by might, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.
Going forward, having been empowered by this new information, I look forward to
watching the full picture unravel before my eyes, as I daily put in the work to be a
good leader, drawing from the wisdom and courage of Jesus Christ, and watch the
Pearl of Africa be known for better attributes than the dictator, or Ebola scourge.
I see lush vegetation sweeping across the plains of Uganda and feeding the rest of
the continent. I see citizens who honor God and one another, and live in harmony
with the environment, and during the rainy seasons, water channels are working
smoothly, and safety carriageways for pedestrians elevated above the water line, for
the safety of the people. I see children who honor their parents. Leaders who honor
their followers and take delight in serving them, humbly. Is somebody snapping his
or her fingers? For me to snap out of the reverie I’m having?! Stand corrected, this is
not a dream. I thank God well in advance for answering my prayers, amen.
Listen, I don’t know what decisions or problems you are trying to figure out and
resolve, but I know this. The God of heaven and earth loves you and wants to bring
Heaven down on earth, into your situation and give your ‘bateesi’ something new to
talk about. But you have to want to. God’s waiting on you. Make steps daily to better
discover who you are in the Lord, and ask Him to reveal to you how you may
partner with Him in the direction in which He’s taking you? I want to celebrate with
you, and or cheer you on, heck, I’ll pray for and with you. Take a moment to drop me
a tonne of love in the comments section. The Grace wave is up. Everybody needs to
jump on this and together we can ride this wave to the betterment and progression
of our nation as a people, in the business of winning souls for the Kingdom of
Heaven. Cultivate a personal growth plan, and daily refine it. Like a flower in bloom,
watch the leader in you blossom. Make your world a better place for everyone.
Blessings.

Till next time,
Easy Does it!

Biker Chic

Howdy Friend. Was February good to you? How’s your heart? How’s your mind? Comments is where I plan to read all about your encounters, and responses to these questions. I am grateful. My heart is full. I don’t know what the future holds, thankfully I know Who holds the future. My default position therefore is one of rest in love and victory.

I first used a motorbike in 2004 while on campus at Makerere University, regards to the Information Technology class of 2004. I have since continued to use this mode of transportation. It keeps me from experiences that sound a little like this;
‘I sat in traffic from as early as 6a.m. only to get to my desk at work at 9a.m.’ and that is if said ‘conversationist’ caught a lucky break where for example, traffic police decides to block one lane of incoming traffic, to pass out triple lanes of opposing traffic, who use up their lanes and that of the blocked off lane. At any given time of the day, I shall make the motorbike commute from the house and be in town after twenty minutes.

That photograph was taken some time last year, and for the title to this blog, and the framing of the picture, can you spot the irony therein? I look forward to reading from you in the comments section. About the same time, I have toyed with the idea of making a down payment on a motorbike. This then puts finance into focus, my prayer is that He will teach me to count my flocks that I may be wise in the land, scripture memorization would give me a D for paraphrasing the way I did there.
If previously I had been in the habit of being bourgeoisie with my expenses, I’m speaking about bonds and varied investments, setting up standing orders among other methods of getting savvy with the money. Especially in light of the dream that is to procure one, preferably a Ducati Vaele.

You might be wondering, how do my loved ones feel about my dream. First off, I have not mentioned it to them, however I have mentioned it to God and the anticipation for this gu testimony is off the scale, shout out to you Glosswan for teaching me about the gu testimony remark. I am in the process of finding a table over which He’ll set a table before m…how does that phrase end? Drop me a line in the comments.
As with most loved ones, I imagine they are not going to be too thrilled with the choice in vehicle, my hope though, is that they’ll support me. Is that asking too much? Have you gone through something that I could learn from, you think? Drop me a line in the comments section, won’t you? Thank you.

If it should go well, and I become a steward of this motorbike then I hope to share my experience with the younger ladies, among other things, how to love their husband and raise respectful children. Memorising scripture is something I am working on. Bear with me. Unless you know the Word, what’s to keep the Enemy from twisting it with lies and throwing you off your game, after all he came to steal, kill and destroy your joy, your peace of mind, your relationships. Know this. Jesus loves you. More than you know in this moment. Might you consider exploring what it means to be loved by the God of Heaven and all things seen and unseen, created in the spiritlies and physical? Let me break it down for you, when that voice in your head keeps going at you about how you’ve messed up, and how you do not deserve to be loved, God says He has loved you with an everlasting love. Spot the difference? Or should I say the lie?
That voice might be telling you that nobody loves you; God says in His word that He loves You, nothing can pluck you from His love.
That voice might be telling you that your marriage won’t survive this. God says He knows the plans concerning you, and they are good plans, not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope.
Those voices may be saying a host of things to you right now, and I would like to submit to you, to trust God at His word, in every area of your life. I’d be happy to walk with you for part way of the journey. Can’t make you promises for the future, we make plans, God directs our steps. So, see your feedback from the comments, yes?

I hope to make a cross continent trip on a good bike. Visit Alexandria, and traverse the Sahara, by which time I hope it will be called Sahara Impenetrable Forest, seeing as I’d have been partnering with other like minded people, to reforestate the desert that has been characteristic of most maps that speak of Africa, both then and now, but not my will, let the will of God be done in this matter, in Jesus name, amen. And go all the way to the Southern Cape and back home to Kampala, I hope I can take you on that trip with me. Speaking of which, I am going to need one of those three hundred and sixty degree video cameras, that I can then mount onto my helmet, thereby effectively taking you on the trip with me, albeit your current geographical location. Speaking of which, if you don’t mind volunteering possible bikers routes, drop me an idea or ten in the comments’ section and who knows, I just might be in your area one of these days, and maybe we could share fish and chips and a cuppa tea, what do you say?

At the end of the day, I submit to you, live a little, grow a little more everyday, challenge yourself, try something new, do something that scares you, just take care of yourself. Take some people on the journey with you, release those that would like to jump off at whatever point in the journey, and always trust God above everything else. Make other peoples’ dreams come true along your journey of self-discovery. Be kind to everyone. We are human beings first. Not human doings. Be kind to yourself as well. Be good to yourself. After all your body, and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Carry yourself like you know. Hold your head up. Shoulders out. Don’t hassle the tummy, just walk a bit further when you do. Be Great.

It always is a pleasure, making a moment to inscribe my hopes and dreams and share them with you. I hope you do the same, with me, or not, no pressure. Make the future better for them today. Use the dustbins, make compost, plant a garden, and then capture how it all makes you feel, on paper in ink.
Speaking of which, I am going to make a definite plan to put a book together, what I am not yet clear on is, do I plan it a chapter at a time…I’ll tell you all about it as I go along.
Till next time,
Easy Does it.

 

In Between Flights

It’s the dying hours of the month of February 2018, and I am found in the lap of thought about a flurry of situations. #DuckExpress #RoadItTravelsNeedsWork
Having been reassigned duty posts, has seen my transportation circuit switch from the occasional stop for coffee at the boulevard, to a breezy pass through the concrete jungle passed the fairway and green, to the new assignment. I find the change of scenery feeds my motivation for a motorbike, if we are speaking honestly, among other things. The consideration for that mode of transportation arises from the snaking lines of traffic that line most highways at all times of the day. If you reside within the central business district, then you have found yourself smack dab in the thick of it, whether you’d woken up before the cockerel crowed in the A. M., and you were sure you must be the earliest motorist on the road, thereby assuming that your commute would take fifteen minutes, but alas, you finally sat at your desk hours later than you had hoped to arrive… Chin up. Any time we find ourselves in a situation that is particularly challenging, bear with me, I submit to you, take the least travelled road, at least in as far as finding a solution that is not cookie cutter, and the reward you’ll experience in having found a solution will propel you on this journey to then find solutions for the challenges meeting those around you, who knows, we just might make a ode to you, for having been the solution provider in our time. Just think on it for a moment.

Away from the commute, I find myself in need of a stylist, and considering this new-found ‘be the solution to the challenges you are met with’ mantra, it is looking highly likely, that the stylist in me is going to be put in the crucible that is the furnace of ‘to be great or to be late’ to the party that just happens to be dubbed ‘The Stylist Emerges’ and give some of these make believe labels, a run for their money, because I have been equipped with everything that I need for this life. I could believe it, and run with it, or sit by the front lawn of my parents’ yard, ‘ab’okuluujja tubatumidde’, and singing ‘woe is me’. No thanks, to pity parties.
What this spells for me is the bottomless expanse of encounters with fabric, and stitching patterns, as well as the thought of then, sharing what I have learned with up-and-comers that I am certain to run into, on this journey that is called life. The experience therein presents a wealth of growth, and like that child in front of a rolex stand after school, waiting on the rolex chef to hand them a piping hot meals, the glee of it coming through the brisk rubbing of their tiny little palms, the anticipation written on their miniature faces, the child in me smiles at the prospect of her very own styling company and a clothing line or three. I realize I am sharing some dreams of mine with you through this expose. I’d like to hear from you, what are some of your dreams? And how may I help make any of them come true? Leave me your story in the comments section. I look forward to hearing from you.

I also find myself being a part of a team, of complete strangers, which them speaks to the team dynamic. Looking back on all the other teams I have had the pleasure of being a part of, some experiences were fun, memorable even. Others, not so eventful. Going in, it is my plan to be the team’s chief encourager in chief, on top of the other duties I’ll be assigned to execute, and I need to be really good at that lest some members of the team feel inspired to torpedo this project with the characteristic squabbles and intrigue that may have been the demise of strong working teams, from passed experiences. With the possibilities for the game strategy playing into different hands, I intend to keep the power. Let me explain. You ever here someone complain about another’s bad leadership at their place of work or in their community, and in so doing abandoning their part in the responsibility of making the world a better place, because, in these exact words, everybody is doing it! One such complainant has relinquished power over to the one they constantly complain about, make no plan to get out from under said controller’s hold, because every body else is breaking under the weight of poor leadership, making their execution of their tasks almost impossible, if not utterly impossible. Not on my watch, said Yvonne. I am re-reading two books on leadership, which should make for a good work plan going ahead.

I am aware of how important taking care of myself, on this new fork in the road, is. The irony of that statement, given my faith in Jesus, is that on my own, I would bangle that up. You’ve heard the saying, ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself.’ Let me share some things I am learning. He loved us enough to come down in the flesh and pay the price I owed, stood in my stead at the guillotine, was killed, He died, was buried, and on the third day He rose again. What that means is I am a co-heir in this story.
Ever witness how royalty behaves around turmoil, anxiety or rage. Of course in this case, this royal is washed in love… There is a poise about them. Very rarely will they disintegrate into the seedy clashes that characterize downtown bar brawls of any shebeen which is another word for a kafunda, and if you are meeting the word kafunda for the first time, it is a small dug out that doubles as a watering hole for the cooperate types in Kampala
With that in mind, I am trusting God to take care of me. May He direct my steps and delight Himself in them. May His Kingdom come, in this time of life, and His will be done, in the name and power of Jesus Christ. Do you have any idea how He loves us? Have you encountered His love? Let me paint you a picture. Not one of those little birds can drop dead without His knowledge of it. Did you know that He values you above them little birds? He has counted the hairs on your head, yes even the baldhead. He loves you. Now imagine for a moment, that you believe what I just shared with you. The God of Heaven loves you and has made arrangements for life spent with you, if you’ll receive Him. Receiving Him, I mean, receive His free gift of salvation. I’d be happy to pray with you. Use the comments section to share what’s on your heart.

As you go into a new month, yes, March is moments away, may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep you, in the face of uncertainties. May the Lord bless and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

Talk

Talk

Proverbs Eighteen, verse twenty one, from the Amplified Bible says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.”
I am learning to consciously appreciate talk for everything it represents. Talk is defined; speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings; converse or communicate by spoken words
People die because of something said. Tongues can be weapons of mass destruction, launching holocausts and wars. Tongues can also be the death of marriages, families, friendships, churches, careers, hopes, understanding, reputations, missionary efforts, and governments.

People also live because of something said. The tongue can be a ‘tree of life’ as seen in Proverbs Fifteen verse four. Tongues reconcile peoples and make peace. Blessed are the peacemakers; as seen in Matthew Five verse Nine. Tongues can make marriages sweet, families strong, and churches healthy. Tongues can give hope to the despairing, advance understanding, and spread the gospel.

So, do tell, what will come out of your mouth today, death or life? ‘Sword thrusts’ or healing, as seen in Proverbs Twelve verse Eighteen.
Unless the wronged party expresses their dissatisfaction in how they have been treated, will the offending party realize their ‘faux pas’.
The beloved one sulking all day, does little to communicate, to the loved one, that this loud silence and sour countenance have need for dialogue for the beloved’s mood to then be transformed into a bright smile and light heart, detailing the loved one’s role in the restorative process.
The Golden Rule , otherwise known as the ethic of reciprocity, which means we believe that people should endeavor to treat each other as they would like to be treated themselves, with tolerance, compassion and consideration.

Some versions of the Golden Rule are;
Bahai faith: Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not.” “Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself. Baha’u’llah
Buddhism: …a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another? Samyutta NIkaya v. 353
Christianity: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew Seven verse Twelve King James Version.
Confucianism: What I do not wish men to do to me, I also wish not to do to men. Analects 15:23
Islam: None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. Number 13 of Imam “Al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadiths.” ₃
Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary.” Talmud, Shabbat 31a.

Let’s test this theory. If you found yourself on the receiving end of criticism, comparison and complaining, would you have the presence of mind, in the moment, to respond in a way that feeds the Golden Rule dictates? Share your thoughts on the subject with me in the comments section, won’t you?

Different people, religious schools of thought, societies, cultures and tribes, if you will, have their own interpretation of the Golden Rule. In Buganda there is a saying ‘Yagaliza munno nga gwe bweweyagaliza’ which when translated loosely, means, ‘Desire for the next person, what you’d desire yourself.’

When I was younger, I remember one of my siblings being unusually quiet, and had a poor appetite for most of Mother’s cooking. In an effort to get her child to bulk up and take mealtime seriously, she invited one of our cousins to the house for a meal. This cousin had no qualms with food. You can imagine the scene unfolding. Mother plated up for them on the same wide plate, a delectable layout of pilau rice with green peas and some beef. Cousin dearest ate steadily, crossing from their end of the plate and into my quiet sibling’s corner. The trick worked. My quiet, poor appetite sibling soon realized that they would come away from this meal hungry unless they spoke up. If they did not talk, nothing was stopping this hoover machine of a plate mate. And true to form, they let out a shrill yelp, “Mommy, this boy is eating all the food??!” I don’t remember how that played out, but thankfully this sibling has since developed a healthy appreciation for meal times, complete with the form that comes with it.

Another time, Mother dearest threw me a birthday party when during the celebrations, I had the urge to communicate something to her. Given how good a hostess she is, she was busy hosting, I couldn’t get a word in sideways. My young mind reasoned, if I can get to high enough ground, maybe then will I be able to get her attention. I found the closest high stool, climbed up onto it, and when Mother was within reach of my short hands, I distinctly remember grabbing a hold of her chin and blurting out, “Mommy?! I’m talking to you!” I have since come to learn not to be so ‘in-your-face’ with my need to express myself, it is an on-going lesson.

So, taking into consideration, the various presentations in the form of situations that you might find yourself in, whether it is an inconsiderate road user that you are met with, or an unkind stranger taking out their frustration on you, or the service provider who does not value you as a customer, take a moment to talk things through. Empathise with them, and work towards an amicable solution and for the sake of peace prevailing.

Since we are held responsible for every word we speak, I think we had better listen very carefully to what we are saying, not just to our brethren, but also to ourselves. Notice what Jesus said: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”(Mt.12:36-37). Let us look at the words, justified and condemned a little more closely. By being Justified — we are being freed from all blame, we are without guilt and we are shown or proven to be right. Condemned means — to be pronounced unfit for use, guilty. By our own words we can be free from blame and without guilt, or we can pronounce ourselves guilty and unfit for the use of God. If it is the Word of God — it is Life, it is freedom. If it is ourselves speaking — it is death, and words of death will destroy, kill everyone that hears us; and not only they who hear us, but ourselves as well. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Lastly James 3: 5-6 has some sound advice.
He warns that the size of the tongue is no measure of the power it wields. Just as the tiniest of sparks can ignite a great forest fire, the smallest of words, unwisely spoken, can cause immeasurable harm.

Uncontrolled and untamed, without interference, a fire can spread to leave absolutely nothing untouched, unscorched, and unaffected. It is startling to think that fire, of itself, could erase all life from the earth! Were it to burn and spread unaffected by rain, wind, or the efforts of man, it could conceivably cover the earth and burn all life and all oxygen from our world.

Anyone who has witnessed a forest fire and seen flames leap from one treetop to another can grasp the traveling power of fire. James wants us to capture this graphic vision of the potential destruction our words perpetuated in sin can achieve. The iniquity created and perpetuated by words can spread to the ultimate of all damages: death. Solomon writes, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). Does man have any other ability that can cause such a degree of devastation?
I leave that to you.

#HI2018
#secondofmany
#easydoesit

Guard Your Heart

Guard Your Heart.
Proverbs Four, verse Twenty Three, from the Amplified Bible, says Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Why is this important, you might inquire.
This is necessary for at least three reasons:

1. Because your heart is extremely valuable. We don’t guard worthless things. I take my garbage to the street every Wednesday night. It is picked up on Thursday morning. It sits on the sidewalk all night, completely unguarded. Why? Because it is worthless.

Not so with your heart. It is the essence of who you are. It is your authentic self—the core of your being. It is where all your dreams, your desires, and your passions live. It is that part of you that connects with God and other people.

Just like your physical body, if your heart—your spiritual heart—dies, your leadership dies. This is why Solomon says, “Above all else.” He doesn’t say, “If you get around to it” or “It would be nice if.” No, he says, make it your top priority.

1. Because your heart is the source of everything you do. King Solomon says it is the “wellspring of life.” In other words, it is the source of everything else in your life. Your heart overflows into thoughts, words, and actions.

Uganda has an intricate collection of lakes, springs, rivers, rivulets, and water tributaries feeding different parts of the country, thus the tag line ‘Gifted By Nature’.

If you plug a spring, you stop the flow of water. If you poison the water, the flow becomes toxic. In either situation, you threaten life downstream. Everything depends on the condition of the spring.

Likewise, if your heart is unhealthy, it has an impact on everything else. It threatens your family, your friends, your ministry, your career, and, indeed, your legacy. It is, therefore, imperative that you guard it.

1. Because your heart is under constant attack. When Solomon says to guard your heart, he implies that you are living in a combat zone—one in which there are casualties.

Many of us are oblivious to the reality of this war. We have an enemy who is bent on our destruction. He not only opposes God, but he opposes everything that is aligned with Him—including us.

In life, we are bound to find ourselves in situations that require a presence of mind. So much so that when faced with aggression or grief, we shall consciously choose to respond in a way that extends the other person grace. I am being taught, in moments of quiet solitude, that most times, all we are required to do, is rest in the truth that is His Word.

Trusting in Him with all your heart, and leaning not on your own understanding, acknowledging Him in all your ways, that He shall direct your paths, is such a cliché. Look around you, how many people can you read, that are in one anxious state or another, on account of money? Don’t be quick to judge anyone. Take a moment, breathe the space in, and slowly, almost methodically, pick out one or two signs around you, hat show the presence of anxiety, attributing it to money or the lack of it thereof. Share it with me in the comments section at the end of this blog, won’t you? Thank you.

I am learning to entrust Him with my doubts about myself and those around me, asking under my breath, that He’ll speak to me in a language that only I understand, do you see my need for His ability to call me by name, and that I may hear His voice and respond to Him, like the true Shepherd that he is to me. A moment-to-moment encounter of His presence is becoming my biggest desire of Him.

It is no longer enough for me to hear about Him through other peoples’ encounters with Him. I want to believe. Not because someone saw into the future and saw me, but because He is all knowing, and has loved us enough, individually, to take our place on the cross, was killed, died and was buried, and on the third day He rose again.

Permit me to share moments from the days this passed week.
The African Union marked it’s thirtieth, with H. E. President Paul Kagame ascended the echelons of that platform. My thoughts toward this sequence of events has me feeling optimistic, considering the press there is about Rwanda, I am yet to visit that beautiful nation. Have you been? What can you tell me about it? The technology savy cities and the food, mmm, street food? Drop me a line in the comments, won’t you? Thank you. I envision operationally efficient CCtv networks across the transport lines that cross the African Continent. I’m talking about railway grids, water ways, road networks, mention it.
Think about efficient medical drops by drones to far-to-reach areas. And will they still be far to reach, once the transport bottlenecks plaguing the continent have been automated and streamlined? You tell me. Thank you.

The doubts in my head might sound a little like the rhetoric at a taxi parks anywhere in Lang-ata, Or Down Town Kampala, taking place amongst the taxi operators and drivers, and you might not come away as hopeful, a few lines earlier.

On the program this morning, a colleague shared a video clip of a church minister admonishing the worship team for showing up with no bra on. Needless to say, she brought the house down with her take on the matter. The conversation then descended into a chorus about the people wearing the inappropriate wardrobe in spaces that do not warrant the attention that the raiment attract. What do you think, “Does it matter what cover the book bears before you determine that it’s one you want to read?” Feel free to run with that statement, in the comments below. I would like to read about where that took you.

It will depend on what’s filling your heart. Jesus said, ‘Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks’ as taken from Luke Six verse Forty Five. A critical heart produces a critical tongue. A self-righteous heart produces a judgmental tongue. A bitter heart produces an acerbic tongue. An ungrateful heart produces a grumbling tongue.

“The words you speak will all depend on what’s filling your heart.”

But a loving heart produces a gracious tongue. A faithful heart produces a truthful tongue. A peaceful heart produces a reconciling tongue. A trusting heart produces an encouraging tongue.

So fill your heart with grace by soaking in your Bible. Soak in Matthew 5, or Romans 12, or 1 Corinthians 13, or Philippians 2. And be very careful taking in the words of death in the newspaper, the radio, the TV, or the blog.
And pray: ‘Set a guard, O Lords, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!’ as seen in Psalm One hundred and Forty One verse Three.

In conclusion, today, make your mouth a ‘fountain of life’. Be ‘slow to speak’ in general. Encourage more than you critique. Seek opportunities to speak kind, tenderhearted words. Say something affectionate to the loved ones at different times. Seek to only speak words that are ‘good for building up,’ that ‘give grace to those who hear.’

Be a person whose mouth is full of life.
#HI2018
#firstofmany
#easydoesit

Subconsciously I have come to learn a thing or two about myself.

Celine Dion’s ‘Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know’ plays soothingly in the background that is the headphones that adorn my head. And I can’t help but draw some parallels in the way I have handled some jobs, men, friends, girlfriends, and milestone challenges that needed me to make a firm yet grounded decision about whether to pursue or let live.

Usually that gnawing fear of the unknown outcome, should I choose one way, plagues my mind, and rocks the core of my being. The proverbial cold sweats kick in, and for the life of me, I have folded and walked away from all the above, although in no particular order.
The thing about 2015 is, no more miss goodie two shoes.
I want more. I refuse to make any apologies for what it is that I want.
I will fight for my peace of mind.

I am living like everything depends on me, primarily because the reality of it all is finally sinking in.
I move into my new home this week, and can see my first few months spent on the floor, with my books, a carton of water and crackers until I am able to do more with this new found personal space.

Live. Love Lead.
Till next time,

Easy does it  🙂

Just when I thought I had it all in my stride…

I saw my ex at this new joint in town, with his madame…I wanted to leave as soon as I got there,but my girl convinced me otherwise. After one drink, I saw them leave, which kinda relaxed my urge to leave the party. I held it together until today, I’m in traffic, and it occurs to me that he’s moved on,and I’m still thinking…hurting…I broke down, tried to keep from ramming into the vehicle ahead of me as i had to repeatedly wipe the salty drizzle from my eyes…
And I don’t want to hear about, ‘time will healall wounds’ I know that for crying out loud!
I just need to find my happiness again, i need to occupy my thoughts and memory with something a lot more profound. A part of me wants to hate him, with the hope that I will feel better…I can’t do it. I know I’ve moved on, I just need to find my spring…I want to laugh again, beam with pleasure from anothers’ compliments to me, time spent with me.
And I need my Mother to cut me some slack…I don’t need the constant reminder that I’m single. And no match-making, please. I need the transition to be as natural as possible for me.
Feel free to listen, understand then pour out some words of wisdom.
Till next time, easy doe it

My week’s start…

Another week begins and I’ve got only one of 6 assignments covered. The other 5 are group assignments and the group members are the kind that make up the list, do zilch, and yet expect a free grade.
My work-out gets better by the day. Today’s triple set of 10’s abs crunches have me abuzz, I got to class in time,, listening to Regina Belle off a Walkman while I wait for the lecturer to show up.
Whilst watching tele last night, I learnt about the Freegan lifestyle where some people in New York pick food and furniture from the trash! Don’t be grossed out. These guys go through trash from hotels dumpsters, coffee shops, supermarkets….and the stuff that gets thrown out, like packs of milk a few days from their expiry date 4 days earlier, or  a pack of eggs thrown out because one was cracked…all this makes for loads of food, and these people pay an average of $10 a week on food, how cool is that?!
I’m giving it some thought, however the thought of trying to get you guys on the same thought train might attract reactions such as “Shaaa! Bandaba batya?!”
Till next time, easy does it.

Two Misses…But God.

On my way to work today, there were two distinct moments in time when it should have been a collision. But God, the near-miss was like a scene in a Mission Impossible movie. Whizz to the left, almost grazing the Blue Fortuner driving on my shoulder, whizz to the right and got clipped by a Bodaboda, took me back to the incident along Wampewo Avenue months before, when I lost that same side mirror to a speeding Bodaboda who played chicken, and I called his bluff….but I digress.
That was in Kabalagala, just before I turned up onto the Muyenga-Kabalagala road, town-bound. Thoughts of Miguel flood my mind. I am already thinking about his school tuition, I am deliberately making plans to make sure he is good. Which plans I commit to God.

I found a place to catch my breath.

The other moment was at the Kitgum road junction at the brute antics of a government garbage truck that looks like it belongs in a museum, and yet again, God steps in and somehow I get passed him, without any contact.

I give thanks.

Till next time,
Easy Does It:-).