Fr Albert Danso’s New Year message to Catholic Youth in Ghana – “Weave out your tomorrow today” [Part 1]

It is clear and obvious that quite a number our elders have regretted past errors and sometimes find it difficult to forgive themselves.

One-way or the other, for the countless but unpardonable mistakes, if they had known earlier the repercussions would not have caused them so much in life but unfortunately, these cannot be reversed just because it is late; and at their age and in their current situation and circumstance, there is nothing they can do about them.

Friends!, as an old year dies to give life to a new year, what are your plans? What do you intend achieving and how do you arrive at the goals? Are the goals realistic, reasonable, necessary, useful, achievable, and time-bound?

Unfortunately, most of the time this is not the case. The lives of most youth are like a seaman who drives a ship without a compass! Sadly, most often as Ghanaian youth, we do not know where we are going and how to get there! What we would want to become in the future and how to get to our destination is not planned.

To the few who have a clear-cut vision, are not bent on sticking to the fundamental principles of success: discipline, focus, passion about what we do, diligence and trusting in God’s grace and faithfulness. St Benedict says: “Pray  as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on you”. In short, work and pray!

As a new year rolls,

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1. Have a clearly-defined  vision and that should determine your choices in life: the academic programmes you choose in Senior High Schools and Tertiary; the kind of friends, human relationships and network you keep, even the kind of social and entertainment programmes you select, watch and attend, the religious group and Associations you join and most importantly, the kind of business and marriage partners you open your doors to! For most often, we are the product of our choices with God as constant.

2. Let’s save and not spend unnecessarily and exorbitantly on our necessities that add to our growth and not luxury that reduces our financial deposits and destract and destroys us. In life, it’s obvious that, one doesn’t expect to increase financially when he/she does not add but only spend!.

A lot of the money we spend on credit/airtime, electronics, dresses, weekly drink-ups and outings alone annually could have been capital for a small business or acquire a half-plot of land if one had cut down his/her expenses.

It is wise when sometimes one keeps all the receipts of the annual spending and sum up at the end of the year to see how much money is being thrown away unknowingly!.

If one is conscious about this, would spend on what is needed and not what one wants, just because everyone is buying.It’s about you and not anyone else for you only know your vision!.

3. Let’s be adventurous and ready to take risks in life. William James, a philosopher says: “life is like a dye: sometimes you win and another time too, you lose”.

An Akan proverb says: “Wote faako a, wote w’aade3 so”(which means, when you do not move, you make no progress)

Having gotten the clear vision, one shouldn’t be afraid to break grounds and start something new! Never be content with your current situation and environment, move like Abraham, from a known to an unknown land; from your comfort zone, trusting that no matter how long it takes and the numerous times you keep trying, one-day you would succeed and generation shall remember you for your invention and contribution to national growth having led a mark and an unerasable impact in spite of the numerous initial challenges.

Most often, our educational, societal and cultural background make us timid, fearful, and coiled in our shelves.Once that happens, the fear makes it difficult for one to come out with his or her talent to explore and break new grounds.

4. Choose your friends and associates wisely, tactfully, prudently and strategically.

“Man is not an island” so one-way or the other, directly or indirectly, one certainly needs the other to know him/herself as Socrates says(“man, know thyself), identify and build upon his/her talents and personality-trait as human being and most importantly, lean on the shoulder of the other by way of fraternal support and solidarity.

Sometimes a word of encouragement and a simple introduction to a person of influence is all one needs and it only happens when one has a solid stable human network with professionals from all walks of life.

But how can one open up to the other, share counsel with the other when there is no trust, when there is fear of betrayal or has been betrayed before?

It is an undeniable fact that, not everyone can be a friend. There are grades of friendship: those who are casual friends and those who are your closest friends and have become your confidant and family!

In as much as one shouldn’t be quick to break human relationships easily, one shouldn’t put all his/her trust in friends and overlook and neglect the biological family as couples is neither bought nor acquired but friends may part ways anytime anywhere anyhow but always do your possible best to save friendship, knowing very well that, there’s no perfect friendship on this planet earth.

Most often, friendship influences one so much and contributes to the growth and destruction of the human person for our thoughts, perspectives, mindsets, approaches and visions are formed by our friends, consciously or unconsciously.

That’s why a proverb says: “Show me your friend, and I will show you your character”.

I will say, show me your friend, and I would show you where you are going in life!.

Be sociable and friendly if one wants to be an achiever but be extremely wise, vigilant and moderate in your friendship for too much of everything is bad.

The Akans proverb: “Ɛnam ɔyonko dodo nti na kɔtɔ annya tire”(which literally means, the crab lost his head because of too much friendship.)

For me, “the head” is the vision or foresight. And if one loses his or her vision or foresight, why wouldn’t he or she stumble, slumber and end up in a ditch?!

No wonder, a lot of great and successful leaders have few and limited friends and do not bring near just anybody closer but keep some distance!.

TO BE CONTINUED

Rev. Fr Albert Kyei Danso

(Chaplain, Ghanaian Catholic Community Church, Italy)