Bits of the Gospel

The night she died, her mood was high. Anita smiled frequently and broadly, talking energetically to those who came to see her. She wanted to share out all her riches--riches she had earned through sweat, her own sweat. For sure, the richer in experience a person's humanity, the more she is critical of herself, conscious of the limits of her human progress, conscious of her reality, the more she knows how and when to trust. When you know reality through such people, a witness of this kind, your whole personality is engaged, not just your reason. Your whole personality is drawn to her and you notice in her values that fortify her. "I will leave all my property to Agape Centre," she declared to her lawyer. "Please, change my will to suit this. I have already given my two children their share. My daughter lives like a queen just across the road. She owns that estate. My son lives happily in Thailand. He has enough to spend even if he were to retire at the age of thir...

One of the things I have noted about my readers is the way they quickly grasp my point of view and positively comment on my posts. In a very down-to-earth manner, the discussions ensuing become real lessons for me. I love people in my own way. I like others because of their capacity to say exactly what they mean, how they are direct in their communication. Without this, how would wisdom be defined? With this capacity to focus and name things precisely, that definition of Wisdom that is perennially acceptable still holds true. Wisdom, it states, is knowing what the right things to do and say are, then saying and doing them. Now, serving people of various cultural and religious background has taught me a thing or two. I will state three. One, be confident if you want to inspire confidence. This applies to all the other virtues. Two, listen to people and tether the terrible urge of solving their problems. They are capable of doing this themselves. All they need is the assurance that the...

Let's smooth our lives, scrub off old and dead skin, it might be the right action, for this time outlives, every man and woman. We're already facing the word, the contact must be felt, for by nature is silent, and silently shapes the world, giving new life first. Let's make ourselves ready, today, not tomorrow my friends, because the Word is God's and you can only be happy, to get by it moulded. This is purple time, yes, it's advent season, if you want to listen, now, God's promises in rhyme, and you can with him reason. In and out, we all go, but what matters is shape, get yourself a proper shape, before He sets all on the go, with Him in a timeless shape.

Is death really to be feared? Does death speak the last word? Without pushing far a reflection, the last word is from God's Son. You, being a son, or daughter of God then, you speak the last one. Is death to cause a scare, or push us towards overcautiousness? Even though it's not rare, death hasn't the last words, you know it, though not aware? It should be understood, not as a terminator of life, but as a passage to God, who stands as true Life, where joy and not strife, laden all who it ruled. It is transfiguration, in fact, a change for better. And so I should say as a christian, "I'm not afraid of death bitter, because I know I will be risen, by Him who promised life." "Eloi, Eloi!" we cry, a feeling of aloneness. yet, He's there as we cry, to cry with us and wipe our tears. He's God with us, saviour! Deo Gratias! Fr. Nick

Well, let me alert you that this is an emotional and personal confession. I did not want to write this. I did not feel like penning this post. In fact, as I key in this article, I have mixed feelings. I feel as if something big has suddenly dropped off my bag. I feel as if someone has snatched away my golden case. Yes, there is sorrow connected to detachment. Yet, I have another feeling of anxiety which is actually more pressing. I have this feeling that I am about to begin a truly exciting adventure. Yes, these two feelings are alternating frequently. I have been slowly persuaded to write this by my four friends, now mentored learners. I did not want to bid them farewell by they brought up the topic so frequently that I had to give in. When I celebrated a farewell mass on Thursday evening, I realized then that I was not alone in feeling that my imminent departure had caused pain to majority of pupils and staff in the school community. The announcement was taken by many as a conspira...

Mukethi smiles frequently. Her smiles are spontaneous, eruptive and broad. I'm writing about this for several reasons but especially for the fact that her genuine and beautiful smiles are contagious. Let me explain. Mukethi embodies beauty not because of her body complexion. In fact she has nothing about her that you could call physical beauty. Yet, Mukethi stands out from among her agemates some who have lost their natural beauty to creams and skin lighteners. I stand to take the podium in defense of grace! While I do the talking, I know that I am not fit to make a specimen. I will let Mukethi's beauty take that role. Without seeming petty, let me propose the measure of beauty. Physical beauty is skin deep. You can lighten your skin only for a day, I am told, by simply taking a tablet. That impresses the viewer only for a while. In that case, you rely on others for you to feel beautiful. So this kind of beauty is easily tampered with. It is actually commercialized, a target of...

This time round, I feel that it is good to shelf my fiery article on the attitude of Kenyans towards their own leaders and that of leaders towards their citizens. I have decided to post a prayer that has been in my heart for a couple of days. I know it is not just a prayer but a poem, an emotional presentation of my thoughts and feelings to the almighty. Lord, despite the darkness, I can see you clearly!  Your hands has not yet grabbed me, but I can feel your touch, your caress on my head. Lord, with all the darkness, I still see you clearly! You're in my thoughts, as I seek solutions to these problems. You're in all my imaginations, in all the vast horizons; like a small seed. You're there in the flowing rivulets, in the plains and mountains. You're with the children and their mothers, their siblings and their fathers. You're in all that's born and dies. Lord, I see you clearly, despite the dense fog of life! You're in the mind ...

I think several people have had the trouble of putting up with a lazy or uncooperative staff member or even a family member. This particular staff is a very intelligent lady but had not energies at all. She would not do more than clearly stated and when she had to do what has stated, she did it annoyingly slowly and without any motivation. Due to this attitude, anybody would have sought to eliminate her [read: retrench her!]. While I was pondering the possible ways of getting out of the quagmire, I landed into the book "the power to influence people" by O A Battista. He has given very practical tips on how to handle people. I thought of trying it. If I failed in changing the whole situation, I would grow in patience at least, I told myself. I began the journey one fine morning. I had just come entered my office and I received a call from another priest. This lady was there already preparing files for work. As I answered the call, I saw the perfect timing for the surprise ...

A few days ago, an old friend called me to inform me that he was back in the country and he was really longing to see me. I was excited. "When do you feel ready to come to see me? I am able to adjust my timetable to have a few moments of relax with you," I offered excitedly. "I have just arrived at home. My mother is actually arranging my holidays already. She wants me around for a whole week. I will have to go to Mombasa for a week rest. That way I will have a chance to meet my brother and sister who are both working at the KPA. Anyway, can I come this Sunday afternoon?" he queried. "I think that is perfectly fitting for me. I will have celebrated my two masses by noon. Then, I will also have met the Junior Youths who are organising a prayer day. All that means I will have all the time for you. I am just eager," I hinted again. "Come ready to chat yourself dry. I am all ears already."   My friend arrived that Sunday at half past noon load...

I am not writing about politicians and the political situation in this country. I want to write what is flowing out of my heart now. I want to write about life and its many ways of giving you directions, its own "screen tips". When you cannot do anything, as in when a friend is grieving a loved one, something tells you to keep your mouth shut. Follow that tip. Accept to suffer silently. Accept the insolubility of the problem. Whenever you come to a very hot debate, when you cannot agree, there is an inner voice that elbows you to remain calm and even to shut up. Yes, follow that life tip. There is no need to be bitter because you know you are right. Actually, since you are cock sure of your knowlegde, you should be all smiles. Why suffer for being right? Why suffer under your own wrath? The greater the obstacle, the more glory. When you feel down and almost giving up. That very time, call all your strength that you may soldier on. You are about to become a hero or heroine. It...

Anybody who has been following the predicaments of this beloved country of ours must have suffered to some degree. We watched, horrified and mesmerized to say the least, as our own countrymen butchered one another for a flawed election. We have seen leaders duping an entire population and brainwashing others. We have seen MPS fight outside and inciting us young people to fight while back in parliament they are friends who hike their salaries and argue over power sharing as if that is what we had sent them in parliament to do. In sum, we have seen all sorts of evils land into our territory to devour us. Kenyans are a people with a unique sense of hope. While the Rift Valley was burning and blood flowing in place of water, we saw people of good will gather lorries of food and other necessities to go and console our very own Kenyans turned refugees in their own country. While the leaders were busy arguing over who should address the public first, we witnessed a section of private sector l...

The uproar caused by Ringera's reappointment as the chair of theanticorruption commission is, perhaps, what Kibaki's advisors wanted togenerate. Kibaki is a politician because he decides the course of the political wave in this country. He grabs the headlines by all means [for the wrong or right reasons]. His bold action of ignoring public opinion and the opinion of the parliamentarians is itself a move to draw the attention of the public and of the legislators from the urgent and pertinent issue of the Special Local Tribunal. For sometimes, we will be discussing this. By the way, it is not the integrity of Kibaki in question. It is Retired Justice Aaron Ringera being discussed. If Ringera's reappointment is quashed he willstill remain a friend to Kibaki. If he stays, Kibaki will have a friend up to the time he leaves office. We are, in fact, also discussing the Rt Honourable Raila Odinga. Is he in talking terms with the president? May be not. Those who told us that the two...

There is a lot of talk on the importance of education for all. The Kenyan government took up an ambitious task of educating its populace in the year 2003. President Kibaki had been voted overwhelmingly even because he had promised free primary and secondary education for all. The announcement that education would be free was received with mixed reactions. Some people felt that it was a project bound to flop. Others applauded the move and even went ahead to pledge support. Years after that enthusiastic reception, we have many children out of school. Reason. Simple. You can not provide education without first of all providing the other basic needs. Mwandiki is an orphan. He is the typical case of the poor of this country. He has no one and nobody at all. He has been in the streets of Meru town for several years. When he showed up in a children's home, he was accepted on condition that he would follow the rules and regulations of the centre. Having lived free and loose with the sky as...

The media houses are constantly talking about the Kenyan situation as it unfolds. The story of the destruction of Mau forest and the consequence drying of rivers has been around for sometimes. Before that came the painful truth that Kenya is a thirsty country because of lack of rains. Kenyans are a hungry people because of failure of rains for about three seasons in a row. We are a people faced with every possible challenge. Without forgetting that the Cabinet, led by the two principals has already decided to push the errant MPs to accepting the Special Local Tribunal by going to a much lower choice [may be not a choice at all] that of TJRC. Kenyans are now getting used to the reality that after one crisis another is coming. If we focus on solving the problems of the North Eastern Province and other dry areas in Kenya, some unpatriotic fellows will be busy cutting forest cover in the Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, or other water catchment area. Well, simply reducing the grain basket of this...

Today my pupils are doing their final duties at school. Tomorrow they will live. It is the beginning of August Holiday. Eighty four of them will be sitting for the National Exam [ KCPE ] next term. The rest will be spending their third term [about 9 weeks] revising and revisiting whatever they have studied in the last two terms. They will be expected to attain the minimum of 250 Marks out of the possible 500 marks in order to be promoted to the next class. Today I have seen relaxation in the eyes of the teachers. I have seen tension dissolve slowly in the actions of these pupils. There is chatting and giggling all over as the children end their term. Yet, these children and their teachers are part of the Kenya bearing the burden of lack of water, food crisis, power rationing, environmental degradation and unnecessary political bickering just to mention but a few problems. These children full of energy and will to build a bright future are leaving school today for a three-week holiday w...

Sometimes I wonder how, how to give without the feeling, the dreaded feeling of emptiness, the terrible feeling of loss. I wonder how not to lose, while I give truly. I know it's more blessed to give, to give than to receive. But I still wonder how to give, I ponder a lot on this I reflect deeply on giving so, I have observed the act. If you give and then, and then your hearts regrets the action, then your heart will feel, empty, empty like your hand. When you give, let your heart give, give to avoid regrets.

If you do not feel good, good, as in really proud, that you are dearly loved; then, ask no one why. you alone have the answer. If you wish to get that answer, answers, very satisfying responses. then ask yourself why, because it's only your eye, that can see clearly why. Certainly it's not the fault, of the one who loves you! You can trace the fault, only in you, the one loved. Yes, you are the cause of it. By the way, we all are loved, cherished, adored and elevated, by the Supreme God, the God of Jesus Christ. Yet we do not always feel that. Look inside!

For a Kenyan who lives outside Kenya, the only news one is likely to get are those filtered by the journalists and foreign diplomats. That is the reality. For those living in Kenya, there are a little bit more genuine sources, less biased and probably less selective. Now, a renown political analysts Mutahi Ngonyi has consistently helped us Kenyans to look at the Kenyan situation, not as an hopeless one but as a necessary passage in the making of a new Kenya. I am a priest and one of my duties is to become a listening presence to my people so that I may relay their sensations and desires to God from their own point of view. This is to say commenting on the situation of Kenya is obviously the fruit of this ardent listening and reflection on my part. I would like therefore, to beg the indulgence of the professional political analysts, if not their forgiveness, before I dare even to begin. The political instability seen in this country since the December 2007 elections is clearly a cha...

We are in the first week of August. I am busy in the computer room preparing an IT exam for my class. Then comes Aun and Ronnie [not their real names]. They want my attention immediately because, apparently, their problem can't wait. 'Alright, tell me something folks,' I start the conversation after saving my work and sitting down near them. 'We need your help,' Aun starts. 'I was talking to Ronnie about my own fears for the imminent computer applications exam and coincidentally he too had the same fears. We thought of coming to see you immediatelly. We felt you may help in calming down the waters!' From the look of things, the two girls are serious. I study their faces to make sure that I am not simply being too linient. 'Ok. I see your worry. How may I help you then?' 'I think that you don't need our help there,' comes Ronnie. 'We seriously feel that we will fail this exam terribly,' adds Aun. 'Am I right to say that you jus...