The Ripples in the Pond of Life

As kids, our playground extended to the places where our parents had their farms. They practised rotational farming. Our farmland extended tens of kilometres around my home. Every year, the extended family moved to a new site for agriculture; it took us many more years before we returned to the same site, at which time it had grown into a thicket. This farming method enabled the ground to regain its nutrients to support the crops. Okahia, Rugbueba, and other places were dry land, whereas Ohia Iru (Ohiru) and part of Emerica were marshy with streams during the rainy season.

The Streams had water all year round but sometime in the middle of the rainy season, the water from the stream would overrun the farms and that marked the end of that farming cycle. The special thing about farming in the streams was that it was done every year; after the waters receded, the ground would be fertile for farming and so my parents and others returned; giving us another great opportunity to play with water.

Our favourite spot in the farm area was a large pond where we swam. In the evenings or off-season, we would sneak there to play. I didn’t swim much and spent some time exploring and just watching. One of my favourite pastimes was creating ripples in the water in that large pond or in smaller ones around. I marvelled at how perfect circles were formed when stones and objects were thrown into the water and how these cycles were manipulated by throwing in other objects as they were rolling.

I saw the practical expression of action and reaction, cause and effect as well as the concept of what you sow, you reap. One very critical thing I also discovered was that bigger stones and objects created bigger ripples that obliterated the ripples caused by smaller objects.

Today, I contemplated the power that past actions have in our lives; and the effects that they have that sometimes lasted a lifetime. As I thought about how to counteract such negative effects, I remembered the ripples of the ponds in Ohiru. The only way to change the ripple in your life is to create a bigger ripple.

No matter what you have done up to this time, no matter how your life course is currently trending, you can change it by doing something greater and in opposition to what you are currently doing.

And no matter how much time you think you have already wasted, there is something you will do now that will be a greater achievement than everything you have ever done before. Imagine a struggling scientist or businessman who persists in his hustle, even if he has been poor for most part of his life, even in his 50s, 60s or 70s he makes a breakthrough, it can be huge for him to live out his life in complete bliss and satisfaction and joy despite the many years of penury.

What is the trend of your life currently? Are you satisfied & happy? If not, you know what to do – throw something into your life & create a greater ripple in the opposite or in a different direction and gradually, you will see a change in your life.

 No matter where you are, let me assure you that there is nothing, absolutely wrong with your life. Your circumstance may be sore and terrible. Begin to change your circumstances by changing the effects you create. It could be your attitude, actions, speech, beliefs about yourself, etc.

Group your life into categories like family, work, worship, recreation, business, academics, etc. Are you happy where you are in each category? Check the direction you are headed. If life is going as desired, & as it benefits humanity, throw in a bigger amount of the same things that generated such effect.

If your life is going upside down - zigi zaga, pause and think about what things you need to stop doing and stop now.

Remember that everything you have done so far has created the effects that you see currently. Review what you have thrown in so far. Perhaps you need to change the kind of ripples that you are making.