Do not JUDGE!
One of the most important lessons of my life which I learnt from a mad man.
Yes, a mild, non-violent, lunatic, if there is anything like that.
Anybody familiar with Awolowo road via the main round about Ikeja Lagos State, around 1999, will know Mr Ade. Some people call him "Londoner". He was always going about the street, politely begging for five naira. “Brother, e joo, e fun mi ni 5 naira”, meaning, "Bros please give me 5 naira."
He was always well dressed, and polite; I bet you would be willing to give him. I had sometimes heard a rumour that he was formerly in the UK, and was "conjured" home by his family, magically.
This eventually had effect on his sanity. While I cannot authenticate the story, I can confidently say he was a very polite mad man.
On this fateful day, as I was standing in front of the gate of my Uncle’s house, Mr Ade passed by, soliloquising. He eventually turned to me, and begged for the usual five naira.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a five naira change with me, so I told him I had no money; at least, I used to give him, but the look on his face showed so much need, he must be really in need, I changed my mind, and called him back, and gave him twenty naira.
Twenty naira, at that time, would buy you a complete lunch, with a bottle of coke, in any Higher institution's cafeteria; hence, to both of us, it was a big sum of money.
He was happy and, with joy and trust, he moved close to me, and said, “can I ask you a very important question?” I nodded, in acceptance, and then he asked, “am I a mad man?”
The obvious answer, from a sane person, will be, "no", and that was what I said. “Thank you!”, he replied; then he said, “just because I don’t see things the way other people do, does that make me a mad man?” "No", I answered again.
He bent down, wrote “W”, and asked me what he wrote. At this point, I was already feeling ashamed, getting involved in a lengthy conversation with him. In a hurry to leave, I said “w”, but I was amazed when he replied to my answer, “You only see 'W', because of the angle at which you are looking at it. If you turn upside down, you'll see “M”; from the right side, it is “3”, and from the left side, it is “E”.
The fact that I don’t see things at the perspective that everyone is seeing it doesn’t make me a mad man, he said. Then he left.
I pondered for so long about this though; and more, its application to life. We act, and relate to people, based on the perspective at which we are looking at their situation. Have you taken your time to look at other possible perspectives, views and angles, maybe, a little from their own view before we judge them? I then decided that, before I get angry with, or act against, or judge, anyone that has done something unfavourable to me, I will view it in at least three possible perspectives, mine, theirs and others'.
So, before you judge people, before you rage your anger on them, take a little time to view their angle or perspective, and, if you still cannot see a reasonable reason, then you may act REASONABLY .
Credit: Whatsapp
Yes, a mild, non-violent, lunatic, if there is anything like that.
Anybody familiar with Awolowo road via the main round about Ikeja Lagos State, around 1999, will know Mr Ade. Some people call him "Londoner". He was always going about the street, politely begging for five naira. “Brother, e joo, e fun mi ni 5 naira”, meaning, "Bros please give me 5 naira."
He was always well dressed, and polite; I bet you would be willing to give him. I had sometimes heard a rumour that he was formerly in the UK, and was "conjured" home by his family, magically.
This eventually had effect on his sanity. While I cannot authenticate the story, I can confidently say he was a very polite mad man.
On this fateful day, as I was standing in front of the gate of my Uncle’s house, Mr Ade passed by, soliloquising. He eventually turned to me, and begged for the usual five naira.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a five naira change with me, so I told him I had no money; at least, I used to give him, but the look on his face showed so much need, he must be really in need, I changed my mind, and called him back, and gave him twenty naira.
Twenty naira, at that time, would buy you a complete lunch, with a bottle of coke, in any Higher institution's cafeteria; hence, to both of us, it was a big sum of money.
He was happy and, with joy and trust, he moved close to me, and said, “can I ask you a very important question?” I nodded, in acceptance, and then he asked, “am I a mad man?”
The obvious answer, from a sane person, will be, "no", and that was what I said. “Thank you!”, he replied; then he said, “just because I don’t see things the way other people do, does that make me a mad man?” "No", I answered again.
He bent down, wrote “W”, and asked me what he wrote. At this point, I was already feeling ashamed, getting involved in a lengthy conversation with him. In a hurry to leave, I said “w”, but I was amazed when he replied to my answer, “You only see 'W', because of the angle at which you are looking at it. If you turn upside down, you'll see “M”; from the right side, it is “3”, and from the left side, it is “E”.
The fact that I don’t see things at the perspective that everyone is seeing it doesn’t make me a mad man, he said. Then he left.
I pondered for so long about this though; and more, its application to life. We act, and relate to people, based on the perspective at which we are looking at their situation. Have you taken your time to look at other possible perspectives, views and angles, maybe, a little from their own view before we judge them? I then decided that, before I get angry with, or act against, or judge, anyone that has done something unfavourable to me, I will view it in at least three possible perspectives, mine, theirs and others'.
So, before you judge people, before you rage your anger on them, take a little time to view their angle or perspective, and, if you still cannot see a reasonable reason, then you may act REASONABLY .
Credit: Whatsapp
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