Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:58:37 -0800 (PST)


Those of you who are parents, teachers, pastors, leaders, and CEO of some organizations/companies, have at one time or the other been called upon to settle some kind of disputes involving those under your care/guardianship.

In an attempt to solve the problem and bring peace, there are certain things that you must do and others that you must not do. Allow me to point a few that you must not do by using some examples:

1. If a church has a number of problems such as being late to church, not returning their tithe or are engaged in destroying one another by way of gossip, the solution may not lie in preaching about the perceived misunderstanding from the pulpit.
2. If many employees are leaving a company en mass, the solution may not lie in hiring more employees as they too will most definitely quit.
3. If many tenants are leaving a given building complex,the solution might not lie in increasing/reducing rent.

So what will be the solution in all the above?

1. The solution will lie in talking to the concerned people so as to learn of their grievances.
2. Once you have known their grievances,then as a leader it becomes your responsibility to come up with the best and lasting solution.
3. If you happen to be the problem as a parent/leader, then you will have but two options: Either make good of the situation or allow someone else to help you.

How does this apply in the mother land situation?

Indeed, we have been saddened with the killing of innocent people,destruction of property and displacement of many innocent lives. All are on record to have called for the stop of such, and immediately. I don't think that any one is in disagreement with the call for peace.

What I find disturbing and in my opinion a waste of time is the following:

1. A failure to address the real issue.
2. It seems to me that the majority are upset with the outcome and not with what led to all this mess.

Does any one then know what brought all this?

This is where we need to talk to those affected to know what the issues are. Once we know what the issues are, then we must move forward and collect those mistakes immediately. In this way, we will bring reconciliation, peace, and harmony.

From what I have read and know, that will be the best way. Anything less than that will be a waste of time.

As a matter of fact even our prayers will go no where as long as we know the right thing to do and yet ignore it. Listen to what James says:

James 4:17 Anyone, then,who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Let us set politics aside and do the right thing in helping solve the issues that have caused all this damage.

Blessings to each one of you.

        - Pr Birai