adminThe darkness, in which many found themselves; for some lingered on for far too long, and for others the burden now seems to be lifting, for others still, perhaps just starting.
The recent floods in the Philippines, earthquake in Turkey, eurozone debt crisis, and many recent catastrophes, almost eclipse our memories of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan at the beginning of the year, the quake in New Zealand, the famine in the Horn of Africa, notwithstanding the on-going sufferings of many, from sickness and disease.
The frequency and prevalence of these disasters make it all seem normal.
The news of the calamities overshadows positive world events, such as the wedding of Prince William, unlike the days when his parents wedded. Is the world being hardened?
The same has happened at personal levels. Some have recovered from cancer, others survived accidents, others started their first jobs, and so and so forth. Yet, the net global outcome is the feeling of struggle. So, even those that are not in as much struggle, feel the pain for others.
Corporations also had their fair share of tragedies, as well as breakthroughs. Such is life, good and the bad, always travelling together, like the two parallel lines of a rail track. If one focuses on the bad line, they risk losing sight of the whole pathway.
So, the notion of three weddings and a funeral is now a common occurrence.
Light shines in darkness, but the darkness does not understand, and so, darkness remains ignorant of the goodness of light. The essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote about this link and said that the sun shines, warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people.
It is important that as we work our way out of the challenges of life, which surround us, that we make it a priority to focus on light and to be the light.
No matter how small it is, light is good, it brings hope and a reason to carry on. Some have called it the first daughter of God. As the fastest on the universe, being light makes it easy for one to travel at their own pace, which is 186, 282 miles per second or 299, 800 kilometres per second.
The Special Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein, tells us that this speed of light is the fastest that any particle can ever have, effectively putting a speed limit for everything else in the entire universe, including darkness.
Physics goes on to teach us that this speed varies as light travels from one medium to another, and that it is at its maximum value when light passes through a vacuum. So it makes sense that if one is to overcome they have to be like light, to make sure that the obstacles and challenges are restricted to a speed limit.
Whatever form of light is good. We know that for instance, firelight will not let you read fine small print, but it is warm and obscures you from seeing the dust on the floor. So any form of light is desirable to start with.
All people have light in them, even right now. The solutions that each one carries within are for today. Environments have conditioned people to think of themselves inferior. Many people believe that they can only shine, upon fulfilling a certain condition. This deception, keeps all humanity waiting for a fantasy, that someone, somewhere will solve the effects of the climate change, for instance.
Some organisational cultures and norms have tainted people. Corruption and bribery, nepotism and favouritism, general lack of accountability, efficiency, integrity or respect of authority are some of these forms of darkness that we have become friendly to.
Being light in such environments may not make it possible for one to be at their maximum values, as when light travels through vacuum.
Indeed, understanding the environment in which one is always a significant first step, but it is also worth remembering that equally important is the knowledge of what the source of light is.
It is best to go directly to the source of light, not to any of the reflections when looking for light. That source is within us, now. Being the light is the realisation that nothing ever happened in the past; rather it happened in the now.
Nothing will ever happen in the future; but will happen in the now. Past and future are just names of time, action is in the present. Being the light now, is the sure way to create a sustainable future.
Thus as long as we watch, agonise and lament, how dark the world has become, without deliberately propagating that which we would like to see the future become, makes us accomplices of darkness. True change is therefore in being the light.
That good governance you would like to see can only come about when you, as an individual decide to be “the good governance”, which behaves with integrity, accountability, respect of law and authority etc.
Such is the power of light, for being the light, will naturally illuminate the path for others and creates even more light. I believe many people are where they are for the purposes of being light to darkness.
Without darkness the brightness or relevance of light, is not as shining. Good governance requires that leadership develop and realise the light in them and identify the lamppost on which light will shine the brightest, then deliberately allow others to walk in that light. While it could be easier for light to shine among other lights, it is the darkness that makes light stand out.
With all the calamities in the world today, I believe that light must be allowed to shine at this hour, standing out like the many Christmas lights in season. Darkness, which could be lack of knowledge, being late from work, making mistakes at workplaces, at church, at home etc, will have to bow and make way for light.
With the coming of the New Year, 2012 there will be new employees, new students, new neighbours, church members etc, all these people need to be shown the way. The Harvard Business Review says that flying off at the handle when someone makes a mistake is not practical, though it may be theatrical. It could make the manager or leader feel good to vent, but the effect on the new person or employee may be counter-productive. Instead, chose to be the light.
l The writer is a researcher and governance consultant.
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