'A LIGHT HERO'

“Anytime you come they always bring light!”, my neighbor’s younger son said to me, amidst the excitement of power that had just been restored immediately I stepped into the compound. As they ran into their house to continue doing whatever it was they were doing had obviously been rudely interrupted by our dear power holding, I fumbled for my keys in my bag, struggling to open the door while smiling excitedly at myself feeling like an ‘angel of light’.

As I stepped into the quietness of my house, happy that at least I could conveniently do the work that I brought home, I couldn’t help but think of the conversation I was having with my boss shortly before I left the office.  I was passionately pouring out my heart about the seeming irresponsible attitude of most of my neighbors towards our  ‘light issue’ as well as cleanliness issues and how it would be wrong of them to expect their children to act contrary to what they do, since the kids were not blind to what was going on.

Growing up, this saying was very popular- “do as I say, not as I do”. Although in my home, it was used to make fun of religious leaders whose life styles were contrary to their teachings. But as I looked at some of these kids, and a lot of others, as well as my own childhood in retrospect, I realize how true this saying was. For instance, as a teenager, living with my dad, I used to sneak to friends’ houses instead of church when my dad forced us to. At the back of my mind, I always felt justified, because, I never saw him step into church and didn’t feel he had the right to make me do something he wouldn’t do.

So many parents in the same vein have lost that moral ground in the lives of their kids without even realizing it. And it so for many older folks, they have lost that right generally in the eyes of the younger folks. As such, you almost cannot tell someone younger the right thing to do confidently for fear of having it thrown in our faces because of your own short-comings.

This was my pain as I poured it all out before my boss just before leaving the office. By the time I finally found my keys and stepped inside, feeling good with how restoring power just as I showed up made the kids that excited and how I had become their light hero, it just hit me. How come I didn’t see it all the time?!

It was then I remembered what my Pastor always said about how any message you preach should always minister to you. Usually when a child cannot decipher the right paths of life from within, they look out for it. And the dangers of looking out is there is so much garbage out there, but if they are lucky they can find some light hero to guide them in the right path. I couldn’t help but think it was what happened to Robert Kiyosaki in Rich Dad, Poor Dad. When the values and dream patterns you look for is not complete in poor dad, there should be a rich dad to make up for it.

What it meant then for me was, I really had to live my life in such a way that when it fails for them at home (just in case), they can ‘count on my own life’s pattern’. And even if they find it good at home, they can always find something in my own life to add to it. A younger person is always more observant of your life than you think. And the seeming little things you do can influence their lives for good or bad.

I made a decision that day, I will henceforth, consciously work at being their light hero, they and other kids around me, so that I can one day, lay the right foundation for my own kids, and they can do as I do,  plus as I say, and it won't be a problem to me because it is the right path.  So help me God and don’t fail me Power Holding!

Miss Young