WHERE LIES PEACE AND
DEVELOPMENT?
Peace will reign where we shun unhealthy
rivalry and evil thoughts. This peace in turn creates the environment in which
development occurs. Amongst other factors such as building sustainable
national institutions, three things that
contribute to national peace and development are: 1. Observance of the law of
balance; 2. The right use of the human word and 3. The right attitude to
wealth.
i.
The
law of balance.
This law cannot be circumvented
without repercussions. We find this law operating in the need to have balance
between work and rest; between giving and taking; between breathing in and out
and so on. With respect to nation building, we need to observe this law such
that what is due to each one in the polity is given to them. The workers need
to be adequately compensated for what they put in as their labor and
contributions. No part of the country
must be made to feel that they are being cheated or taken advantage of. The
non-observance of this law leads to nothing but agitations, unrest and
instability whereas its observance guarantees harmony, peace and progress.
ii.
The right use of the human word.
We have been told --“Let your
communication be yea or nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil!”
This statement means that useless talk leads to unrest and decline! Much talk
and talkative leaders lead a people to misery!
We must therefore be careful how
we use the God-given ability to form words. Politicians should avoid making
empty promises which they do not intend to fulfil as this breeds disquiet in
the polity.
Communication
between individuals is better done in love, avoiding hate-speech, mockery and
harming our fellow countrymen. This is because in accordance with the laws
of creation a type of speech can only bring about what is similar. Hate speech
will breed hatred and suspicion while the use of words of peace and love brings
peace and progress.
iii.
The
right attitude to wealth
The United Nations in 2015 put up
a collection of 17 goals known as The Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs). These
are the goals that nations must meet in the years ahead. Let us mention the top
4 of these goals:
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and
Well-Being for People and
Goal 4: Quality Education
Nations need to make resources
available to attain to these lofty goals. At national and individual levels, we
need to consider wealth creation. This must be coupled with the right attitude.
We should not seek wealth just so that we can become objects of envy to others
or so that we can oppress. Rather,
wealth is to be used towards development and progress.
Money on its own is not evil, but
the inordinate ambition to acquire it at all costs even at the detriment of
others is what is evil. We should not make the acquisition of wealth the sole
purpose of our lives forgetting that we must also spiritualise our endeavours.
(a topic for another day!)
We need to be diligent at the individual
and national levels so that we can work our way out of poverty, live decent
lives and be able to provide necessary healthcare and quality education for our
people. We should eschew the “get rich quick” mindset, embrace diligent work
and direct all our thoughts, words and deeds towards all that is good so that we
can reap progress and development as reward.
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