HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's New Year's Eve and there are a lot of words of encouragement that I could give you but I one thing that I would like to do is to thank you for all your support and encouragement over the past few years. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday and that you will keep supporting me in 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Israel's deliverer

Who is this man?
Where does he come from?
That he dare challenge the one who sits on the throne
Who is this man?

Who is this man?
Who has caused the increase of our daily burdens
Our backs now throb from of our master's beatings
Who is this man?

Who is this man?
Who promised us redemption
But has only brought our disruption
Who is this man?

Who is this man?
Who cries for our release
But sees not our demise
Who is this man?

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Make the most of your opportunities this Christmas!

The next couple of weeks will be probably a restful period for many of us.  A lot us will be away from work and have the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, travel, catch up on life and simply rest!  All these activities are fine but we should bear in mind that the festive season offers us a far greater opportunity than just merriment – the opportunity to plan for the coming year!

I know I may sound a bit out of line but I seriously think that the coming festive season is the best time to start preparing for your success in 2010.

They say “Success happens when opportunity meets preparation.” Your success in 2010 depends on your preparation for the opportunities that you see yourself taking advantage of in 2010. What better time is there for you to start preparing for these opportunities than the Christmas break?

The Christmas break is a good time for you to sit back and reflect upon your achievements and failures this year.  From your achievements, see what you did right and pick up a few hints and tips on how you can increase your chances of success next year.  From your failures, see what you did not do right and pick a lesson or two on what you need to do to lessen your chances of failure next year.

The Christmas break is also a good time for you to set the goals of what you want to achieve in 2010.  Take time to articulate your dreams for 2010.  Do not just think about them: think about them, write them down and decide what you are going to do to turn your dreams into reality.  Above all, add a “to be done by” date on each one of them. Without a “to be done by” date you might as well not write down any of your goals as you most likely not create the time to pursue them.

It’s Christmas time. Take a break. Have fun. Relax. But also start preparing for your success in 2010.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveller, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference ...Robert Frost

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

A God-given is born, not borrowed

Last week we began to talk about the characteristics of a God-given dream. We said that a God-given dream has seven distinct characteristics.  The first of these being that a God-given dream will overwhelm you.
The second characteristics, which we are going to look at today, is that a God-given dream must be born, not borrowed.

A God-given dream is not a copied solution to problems or something that you conjured up in your mind.  It is something that comes from God. Joel writes in his book:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: [Joel 2:28]

A God-given dream is something that comes to you supernaturally – it is a divinely inspired solution to an existing or future problem.  You can ask God for it (the solution) or expected it from God but while you are still waiting for it you have no clue what it is until God shows it to you.

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

What on Earth does A God-given Dream look like?

I have a dream and I am not really sure whether it is from God.

Have you ever come across such a question before? I'm sure you have… or, perhaps, you have asked someone such a question before? Maybe not in these exact words, but some others that mean the very same thing?

Well, today I want to start a series on the characteristics of a God-given dream.  There are seven characteristics and we are going to describe these characteristics over the next couple of weeks.  

Today we will describe the first one, which is that A God-given dream will overwhelm you.

A God-given is not usually something small, normal or safe.  God will give you a dream that is big, weird and scary; a dream that will take your breath away. The only thing that is instantly clear about any God-given dream is the final picture – what God wants you to do or what God wants you to become.  This picture may look a bit hazy at first but this is always the bit of the puzzle that you'll find easiest to solve.

 After seeing the final picture you then begin to ask yourself questions like How am I going to get there? What resources do I need to do this?  How long is it going to take? If this describes your reaction to your dream, then maybe it is a God-given dream.

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Is what you have really a VISION?

Is there a clear image or idea in your mind of what you want to have achieved in the next 5 years? 10 years? 25 years? or anytime in the future?

Yes? No? Maybe?

Well, let's talk about it a bit.  

Vision is an image or an idea of the future. It is the expected reality at the end of a specific time period – 5 years; 10 years; 25 years; or any other timeframe one may chose.

Vision is often mistaken for one of her cousins – mission, values, philosophy, goal, strategy – and many people look to them as vision.  

Mission means purpose: your vision is not your purpose.

Values are internal motivators for one's purpose; your vision is not the internal motivator for your purpose.

Philosophies are strongly held beliefs; your vision is not your strongly held beliefs.

A goal is what needs to be achieved in order to get what is wanted; your vision is not what you need to achieve.

Strategy is the way of achieving goals that are congruent with one's values, mission and vision; your vision is not your way of achieving goals.


Your vision is your image or idea of the future.

Is what you have really a vision?

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Kid in Need

Tomorrow I am going to be performing at the Poetry Slam at the Book Café. Since there will be a mixed audience, I will be performing the poem "Kid in Need." It describes the plight of street children.

I have chosen the poem to be the heart of today's article. However, as you read the poem, I want to urge you not only to focus on the plight of the children but to begin to think about ways of addressing the situation. If you come up with any interesting ideas, please feel free to share them with us either by adding a comment on my blog or writing me directly and I can add it as an article on my blog.

Here's the poem:

The kid
In need
Knows neither ma
Nor pa
Has neither sister
Nor brother

He's only five
Having a hard life
All alone
On his own
Living hand to mouth
Wondering from north to south

Ever weeping
Never sleeping
Ever angry
Ever hungry

A stranger
Always in danger
All gain
Is pain
Not salvation
But endless tribulation

Ever weeping
Never sleeping
Ever angry
Ever hungry

He's the king
Of the bin
Feeding on dirt
His lot here on earth
The kid
In need

Be Inspired

Steve Jobs on Following Your Heart

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
—Steve Jobs

Be Inspired


NOW AVAILABLE AT SELECTED BOOKSTORES NATIONWIDE

The Song of My Heart

Keep Your Hope Alive during difficult times with The Song of My Heart. Written from the heart of Edmore Masendeke, a disabled young man who has overcome numerous challenges in his life, this book will give you a quick boost of motivation, help pick you up from a depression and cure procrastination.

Retail Price: $5

To order your copy email mrmasendeke@gmail.com

Postage charges are as follows:

Zimbabwe and Africa: $1.00
Europe: $2.00
Rest of the World: $2.50

Bulk purchase discounts also available.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

GUILTY

This is a poem from my first book, Poems for life.  In it I discourage people with disabilities from allowing the limitations of their disabilities to overshadow their abilities.  But again it is not only people with disabilities that have limitations in their lives, even people without disabilities do – and some of these limitations, if one are not cautious, may overshadow one's abilities.  Think deeply about this fact as you read this poem.

No disability
Leaves one no ability
No matter how little
It can be used
Doesn't have to be physical
Can be mental
Mine is to give you guilt
If you wilt!
Having all things done for you
That's wrong
No matter how little
The ability you have
It is there
Use it
Abuse it not!

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

Keeping Your Dream Alive in Difficult Times

I launched my book, The Song of My Heart, yesterday and the theme of the event was Keeping Your Dream Alive in Difficult Times. Though the keynote speaker could not make it to the event, I believe that the message was conveyed in unique ways about which I want to talk about in this post.

You keep your dream alive by not looking at what is in your pocket You may never see the money, skills and all the other resources that you need until you stop looking at what is in your pocket. Just go all out for your dream and be amazed as everything that you need comes to you as you pursue your dream.

You keep your dream alive by taking other people with you on your journey Share your dream to people who are ready to go along with you as you pursue your dream. These people will be your source of encouragement when you grow weary as are about to give up as they will constantly remind you of your dream.

You keep your dream alive by celebrating your successes When you celebrate your success - big or small - you renew yourself to the task ahead and create opportunity to go at it with renewed vigor.

You keep your dream alive by constantly asking yourself 'What is the next step' and looking forward to taking that next step That's just it. Ask yourself 'What is the next step' and look forward to taking it. It will keep you working on your dream.

Be Inspired

Keep Your Dream Alive.

All dreams come true... Part II

When I moved on to high school I met and befriended the daughter of one of the local poets.  The poet took a look at my work but was unable to link me to a publisher.  After corresponding with him for almost 2 years, I retrieved my work from him (with no hard feelings attached) and set out to find another avenue through which I would get my poetry published.

Things only began to fall into place when I was at university. I approached one of my pastors and told him of my long-standing dream.  He linked me to people who he thought could help me get my book published.

Following two years of work – cover designing, proof-reading, type-setting, proof-reading again, origination, and printing – my first volume of poetry, Poems for Life, was published in November 2005 and was launched in January 2006.

Publishing the book is but a small part of the work that needs to be done when you self-publish.

The book sold well when it was launched; however, sales began to slow down after a while. Therefore, I arranged to have a television interview in which I spoke about myself and my book.  The show must have inspired a lot of viewers as the producers of the show told me afterwards that their lines were busy following my appearance on the show.

Following the television interview, I managed to sell a couple more books through two local bookstores that agreed to sell my book as consignments.

This marked the beginning of my three year absence from the public scene. During this time, the only publication I made was a weekly inspirational newsletter that I circulated to subscribers via email. I was – and am still – working on a number of book projects.  

At the beginning of May this year, however, I felt a strong urge to put a book together. The title of the book came to me as clear as day: The Song of My Heart.  

It did not take me long to put together – just four days!

Truly The Song of My Heart was written from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This followed a week of editing, cover designing and everything else.  Within two weeks of initiation, the book was at the printer's desk.

The cover design, type-setting and editing was done for free.  The need to pay started when it came to origination and printing. I managed to raise some of the money (A well-wisher gave me something; I took a loan from a friend and took something from my pockets) and arranged to pay the rest once the book was sold.

In 23 days the book was out!

To repeat myself: Publishing the book is but a small part of the work that needs to be done when you self-publish.

I can attest to this when I look at how much work is involved in promoting my book. This has included a book launch, a radio interview, a television interview, talking at schools and having a book review written on my book. I will also be exhibiting my book at The Catalyst this coming weekend and at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair at the end of this month.  Whilst I cannot predict success at any of these events, I can only choose to believe that 'All dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them.'

Over the past two weeks I have told you about my dream and my journey towards it.  What is your dream?  What will it take for you to realize it?  Are you ready to do whatever it will take for you to realize your dream?  If you are ready, what are you waiting for?

Pursue your dream!

Be Inspired.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

All dreams come true…

All dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them. - Walt Disney

Most dreams are bound to come true when one bravely commits him or herself to the process of bringing the dream to reality.

I launched my second volume of poetry, The Song of My Heart, last month but the road to that has not been always easy.

I began my career as a writer twelve years ago.  It was a 'humble beginning.' I entered my school's inaugural poetry competition and, to my surprise, I received third prize for one of my entries.

The school also ran a story writing competition during that same year.  I received the overall prize for my entry after my teacher had been questioned whether she had not written the short story for me.

The same thing happened for most of my entries to subsequent poetry and story writing competitions.  At the time of leaving the school I was awarded a prize for communications after having being the school newspaper's editor for two consecutive years and won first prizes at all poetry and story writing competitions three years in a row.  

During those years, I also took up creative writing as a hobby.  It was wonderful to see what I could do with words.  I enjoyed it so much that I made a resolve to write a book of poems and short story while I was still at school.  

In pursuit of my dream, I made an enquiry on publishing procedures at one of the local publishing houses – when I was in Form Three.  They told me that they were not interested in poetry. Nevertheless, I continued writing poetry, believing that one day I would get my poetry published.

When the school was compiling its anthology, I was offered to have all my "best" writings published in it. However, I declined the offer because I believed that I was good enough to have my poetry published alone.

My entries for all of the competitions I had entered and won were, however, published in the anthology.  I had the opportunity to attend the launch of the anthology and gave a short speech at the occasion.

When I moved on to high school I met and befriended the daughter of one of the local poets…

<<The second half of this article will be published in next week's issue of Inspiration Online>>

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

The Song of My Heart is coming …

I am just terrible at keeping a secret … especially when I am excited about something!

And right now, I am over the moon about my new book – The Song of My Heart. Putting the book together was rather exciting! I shuffled through every poem that I've written in the last three years and picked out those that speaks about God's love for mankind.  I spiced up the entire book by inserting a scriptural quotation before each poem.  Each scriptural quotation captures the essence of, and serves to introduce, the coming poem in such a way that the reader is drawn into a deeper relationship with the poem and with God, the center of each poem.

I did all this in just 4 days!

Can you imagine?

Now the book is at the printers and I will be receiving the first batch of copies sometime next week.  The book will be launched by my Senior Pastor during the Action Conference and I will do some book signing at the occasion.  

I am not quite sure right now how much the book will be going for but I can assure you that you will not be disappointed if you put aside your $10 (being the highest price you can expect to pay for a copy of the book).  

There will be a limited number of copies for sell and I am sure that if the book will sell out fast.  However, I do wish that you, as an Inspiration Online Subscriber, get your copy even if this becomes the case.

So, today I want to extend to you the opportunity to make an advance reservation for your copy. To do that all you need to do is to send me an email indicating the number of copies that you want me to reserve for you.  

Seriously, if you are interested in buying the book and you are afraid it will run out before you get a copy, just tell me. Drop me a line at emasendeke@rbz.co.zw and let me know how many copies you require.  Also, be sure to let me know the payment and collection/delivery options that are open to you.

I cannot wait to hear from you.  Do not hesitate to drop me a line even if you are not sure whether I can eventually get the book to you.  There are always means and ways and I am sure I can get the book to you regardless of where you are in the world.

Keep your spirit open, The Song of My Heart is coming…

Romans 1:16

Sorry for no post over the past few weeks.  I'll try my best to be keep up to date with my posts in the future.  Otherwise, today I have a poem for you. It is from my latest book which is going to be launched sometime soon.  I hope that you are inspired by it.

Be Inspired

        Romans 1:16
Some blame it on their children
Others on their wives
The lives they live
They play it so small, so simple, so safe
It makes no difference at all

Some blame it on their hubbies
Others on their folks
The lifestyles they live out
So quiet, so indifferent, so laidback
It touches nobody at all

You can call it being selfish
Or being proud
But I would rather step on someone's toes
Than to live the rest of my life in regret

I'll make my best shot at it
Maybe some day somebody will rise up and say:
He played it so big, so complex, so risky
But he made a difference in my life

I'll put it all on the line
Maybe some day somebody will rise up and say:
He was so loud, so decisive, so firm
But he touched my life all the same

You can call it being selfish
Or being proud
But I would rather step on someone's toes
Than to live the rest of my life in regret.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

I’m not the person for a job like that!

"When God called me I was blown away." This is one of the reoccurring statements you would hear in the testimonies of most of the mighty men and women we read about in the Bible if you were to ask them about the experience of their calls.

But why would they possibly say that? And most of them, too?

Well, I've spent some time studying their lives and came to realise that each of them was given a task they could neither dream of nor comprehend to accomplish in/with their own abilities.

For Abraham, it was to posses a foreign land and drive out its inhabitants, with the help of one relative, their families and slaves.

For Joseph, it was to administer Egypt's nation-wide farm programme in preparation for an impending seven year drought in the land.

For Moses, it was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land.

 For Esther, it was to go into the king's presence, without an invitation, believing that she would be given enough audience to allow her to make a request to the king.

For Gideon, it was to deliver the nation of Israel from under the yoke of the Midianites.

Today, God may have already spoken to you or in the future He will speak to you about a special assignment He has for you. You have or will look at your task and, like Moses, exclaim, "But I'm not the person for a job like that!"  [Ex. 3:11]

Guess what? You are not the first person who have or will fill inadequate for the task God has for you.  Nor are you the last one!  You are just one of them.  Moses did. Isaiah did.  Jeremiah did.  Esther did. The disciples did. And most probably, Paul did, too.

Most of the great men and woman of God we read about in the Bible said something that sounded something like that when God gave them their assignment - "But I'm not the person for a job like that!" – but still went ahead and did the assignment anyway.

Many of the mighty men and women God is raising up today are also sometimes found saying, "But I'm not the person for a job like that!" but still go ahead and do the assignment anyway.

What about you?

Be Inspired.

[Inspiration Online] Presentation

Last month when I went for my Master's classes I volunteered to take one of the morning devotion sessions. During the session I made a presentation on four principles that we can learn from the lifestyle of an athlete. Everybody enjoyed the presentation and must have learnt a lot from it [the whole class, including the course facilitator, downloaded a soft copy of it]. So, I thought of sharing the presentation with you.

Here's the presentation

Be Inspired.

Edmore

Doing Something Foolish?

Has anyone ever called you a fool?  If so, what had you done? And how did you feel about it?

"Foolish?"

Insulted?

Discouraged?  

Annoyed?

Whatever feelings you had they must have been somewhat bad.

When your actions attract negative feedback from those around you or watching you it is natural for you to feel bad about yourself, reconsider your decisions and change your course of action.  While this is probably the most logical response to give to any such negative feedback, unfortunately, it is not always necessarily the wisest one.  These negative feelings that you have about yourself and the reverse of your decisions and actions only serve your best interests if the actions that you took cropped up from a wrong decision.

Nevertheless, this is not always the case. At times the people around you or watching you call you a fool in error: they can call you a fool because they do not understand your decisions and actions, do not see where you are going nor do they perceive any reward from what you are doing.  But you will be doing the right thing in a way that seems foolish to those around you or watching you.

When you are doing the right thing in a way that seems foolish to those around you or watching simply pay no attention to those that call you foolish and continue with what you are doing.  Maintain your focus and do not allow those that call you foolish to derail you from what you are doing.  For I have heard of many people who created their pathway to success by doing things that seemed foolish to those around them or watching them.  

What can stop you from creating your own pathway to success by doing things that are or may seem foolish to those around you and those watching you?

Be inspired.

I gave them a piece of my mind

Sometimes the wrong thing to do is the right thing to do.

Every now and then you have to stand up for your rights: You have to say NO to discrimination.

Those times usually appear at your doorstep when you least expect them.  Like last Friday afternoon on my way home.  I happened to among a group of people who were looking for a ride home at the roadside when a van (the local form of public transport) swung in from the junction and pulled over to look for passengers.  One of the man in the van called out, "Mabvuku, Tafara," to invite us to it.  The place at which the van stopped was a few meters away from us so we walked to it.  When my turn came to get into the van a man in the front passenger seat said to me, "It's fifty cents. Do you have money?"

"Yes," I replied.  (Though being asked this question before being accepted into a ride offends me, I do not blame the transport operator entirely for wanting to know my financial position before I enter into their van.  I am aware that some of my disabled brothers and sisters give transport operators a challenge by refusing to pay their fares on the basis that they are disabled or because they have a letter that warrants them free rides when using public transport.  Since transport operators have the right to refuse anyone any such privileges, I find it only fair that they ask their potential clients whether they are in a position to pay or not.  However, they shouldn't push it too hard.)

I thought that this was going to end be the end of our conversation but obviously I was wrong.

"Where are you going," the man demanded of me.  I told him my destination but before I could finish what I was saying he snarled back at me, "We are not going your way."

"No, I will pay you your fares," I answered back.

"We are not going your way."

It became apparent that this man did not want me in the van for some unknown reason. But I was determined to go home – in this van.

"Do not let him in," the man said to his colleague who was standing at the van's door and directing passengers to free seats.  

But it was already too late.  I was already in.  And about to sit down.  The man at the door grabbed me but I grabbed on to the hand of the passenger who was already inside the van and sat down next to her.  I found a seat in the first row that is right behind the driver's seat.  That is also close to the door.

"Get him out of here," demanded the driver.

"You shouldn't have allowed him in," the first man said. "We are not going to Epworth."

Who wanted to go to Epworth?  This man was making up stories.  I was going to Hillside and would drop at a junction that is along the route to Mabvuku.

"Please, we are not going your way," the man at the door tried to plead with me to exit the vehicle as he slightly tagged me, trying to get me out of my seat.

"No, I will pay you your fares," I answered back.

"Get him out of here," demanded the driver again and again.

"I am going to drag you out of this vehicle," the man at the door said as he began to pull me.

"No, I am not leaving this vehicle," I retorted in direct defiance of the three men's commands.

"We do not want any trouble. We are not going to Epworth. Get him out of here," demanded the man in the front passenger seat.

"Get out of here. We do not want any trouble with you. We know you have the money to pay but we are not going your way," retorted the driver.

"No, I am disembarking from this vehicle," I responded to all their demands.  "I am going to Hillside.  This is discrimination!" Apparently, I was also working hard to resist the tug of the man that was at the door who wanted to drag me out of the vehicle.

As the commotion increased a crowd gathered at the door of the van to see what was taking place.  The man in the front passenger seat told the crowd that they wanted me to disembark from the vehicle because they were not going my way.  A man from the crowd came to talk to me. He said that he understood that I was going to pay my fares but the vehicle was not going where I was going.  I told him I wasn't going to Epworth either.  "Then, where are you going?"

"Hillside," I replied, "I drop along the way."

"I know him. He drops along the way," spoke up another passenger who had just entered the vehicle and was about to take up his seat.

However, all this seemed to fall on deaf ears. The three men kept on insisting that the vehicle was not headed towards my direction and that I should disembark from the vehicle.  

I refused.

The man who had come in to speak to me from the crowd withdrew and gave the man at the door the reassurance that I was in the right van and that I was going to pay my fares.  However, he took it with a pinch of salt.

All this while the driver was beaming, "Get him out of here. He will cause us trouble. We are not going to where he is going."

An older man entered the vehicle and when he saw me he said, "I know this guy.  He drops along the way."  

Now every seat in the vehicle was occupied.  They had to leave.  I was still inside but they wanted to leave me behind.

"You got your money," the driver asked as he turned to look at me.

"Yes!"

"Take it out," he said.  "Take this guy's fare," he instructed the man who had been standing at the door. The vehicle was now in motion and they wanted me to collect my fares before we went anywhere far or leave me behind in the event that I could not pay.

The last time I was insulted in this way I boldly told the man who was collecting the fares, "Because you insulted me and thought that I wasn't going to pay you, truly I am not going to pay you. I am doing this so that the next time you see me, you will remember this incident and not discriminate against me."  Indeed, I enjoyed a free ride home on that day.  Nevertheless, I saw that there was no room for such talk in my present situation so I dug into the pocket of my bag and drew out of it a coin which I pressed hard into the man's palm.  "There," I said, "I told you I would pay you."

"You sure are trouble.  The next time we see you we won't give you a ride," threatened the man in the font passenger seat.  He went on to pass some derogatory statements that agitated me so I snarled back.  I told them that the three of them were stupid and that their discriminatory behaviour was unacceptable.  I told them that they should treat disabled as any other human being.  I was restrained by the older man who had vouched for me otherwise I was ready to pick on them until we got to my stop.

I do not usually handle such issues this way.  I usually address the matter at hand and quit, especially when it is a minor misunderstanding or misjudgment and the offender quickly acknowledges their offense.  But the way the current incident played out proved to be a case of outright discrimination and I think I did what I had to do: I gave them a piece of my mind.

I felt a little bad afterwards but I quickly got over it.  That was the best way to handle the issue at the time I believe.  Even though I wish that there was a better way.

Discrimination is a part of our everyday lives that we cannot ignore.  The reason that I relate this incident to you is not so that you may feel sorry for me but rather that I may find opportunity to ask you what are you doing about the discrimination that is part of your life – be it discrimination that is being perpetrated against you or the discriminatory behaviour that you are perpetrating against someone else.  

The basis upon which any person may be discriminated against are diverse – gender, race, colour, ethnic group, religion, education and so on – and the reparations are invariably negative – job loss, limited opportunity, physical and emotional hurts, among many more.

Even if there is no discrimination that is being perpetrated against you and you are not perpetrating any discriminatory against anyone, I am sure you know someone who is being discriminated against by someone else.  I am sure you are in a position to help them.

Let's do something about it.

Vroom! Vroom! Am I too daring for you? - Part II

Back home things did not immediately take off as planned. It was not until sometime in February 2007 that I was able to start my driving lessons. Before then I had only managed to take three or four lessons under the guidance of my cousin and an instructor from one of the local driving school. The major setback that I faced during this period was that of having limited access to fuel – through one of the organisations for disabled persons in our country I was able to access 50 liters of petrol per month at a subsidized price and this was only sufficient to take me to and fro work for close to three weeks. I was then required to buy whatever excess fuel I needed at market price, which was unsustainable due to rising inflation. (In addition to the fuel expenses, I had to also consider the costs of hiring a professional driving instructor who would teach me how to drive.)

Research on driving with cerebral palsy
Despite being unable to take driving lessons over the eight month period, I did not lose heart. Instead I conducted a mini-research on driving with cerebral palsy. I opened a couple of web pages and in the search engines typed the words ‘driving disability,’ ‘disabled driver,’ ‘driving cerebral palsy,’ ‘driving and cerebral palsy,’ ‘driving with cerebral palsy’ or ‘driving with cerebral palsy hints and tips.’ I came across a lot of information but not all of it was useful – I came across general health information about cerebral palsy as well as empirical research findings and discussion forums in which people with cerebral palsy shared their experiences of learning how to drive; the challenges they faced in learning how to drive and eventually getting licenses; the time and effort it took for them to learn how to drive; and the liberation that they feel from being able to drive.

Cerebral palsy? What the heck is cerebral palsy?
The term cerebral palsy has appeared in this article several times now, even so more often in the last paragraph. Because you are not very much aware of disability related issues, you may as well be asking yourself ‘Cerebral palsy? What the heck is cerebral palsy?’ each time you come across the term.

Well, I’m glad you asked. Because, right now, I am going to take the opportunity to explain to you what cerebral palsy is. After that I am going to share with you my findings about driving with cerebral palsy and the experiences of people with cerebral palsy that have learnt how to drive.

Cerebral palsy… it is a term used to describe a group of disorders affecting body movement and muscle co-ordination. The medical definition of cerebral palsy is a "non-progressive" but not unchanging disorder of movement and/or posture, due to an insult to or anomaly of the developing brain. Development of the brain starts in early pregnancy and continues until about age three. Damage to the brain during this time usually results in cerebral palsy.

This damage interferes with messages from the brain to the body, and from the body to the brain. The effects of cerebral palsy vary widely from individual to individual. In my case it has resulted in low muscle tone and poor coordination of movements. The type of cerebral palsy that I incurred makes me look very unsteady and shaky. It also affects my sense of balance. Hence, I have poor coordination and walk unsteadily with a wide based gait, placing my feet unusually far apart. I also sometimes shake a lot, like a tremor you might have seen in a very old person, especially when I am trying to handle or hold a small object such as a pen. Because of the shaky movements and problems coordinating my muscles, I often take longer than other people to complete certain tasks such as doing up my shirt buttons. Also due to my disability my speech is somewhat slurred.

It is possible to drive
Obviously after you read the description that I just gave about my disability you must be asking yourself How on earth can this man ever think that one day he will be able to drive?

Well, one of the most important lessons that I learnt from the research that I conducted, I believe, was that it was possible for a person with cerebral palsy to drive – even though it may not be the easiest thing on earth to do.

In a study that was conducted by the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, VTI, 17 out of the 24 young people with cerebral palsy who were undergoing training for a driving license and were part of the study had already got their driving licenses at the time the researchers compiled the report that they posted on the internet.

Simply put, the researchers observed a success rate of 70.8% among young people with cerebral palsy. This rate was fair enough for me to believe that the possibility of me being successful at my endevours were high. What more with the testimonies of many individuals with cerebral palsy that had taken the initiative to learn how to drive and had been successful at it.

‘10 years ago I finally accomplished driving a car,’ wrote one 37 year old lady.

‘I got my driver’s license in 1969,’ wrote another person.

Statements like these really raised my hopes but there was obviously more to their stories than the simple fact that these drivers had accomplished driving despite their disability.

To know what else was captured in these individuals’ stories keep your eyes open for when I send you the link to my next blog entry.

Vroom! Vroom! Am I too daring for you.

Free mobility is something that many people take for granted. At any time they can stand up and walk to any room of the house, they can decide to take a stroll around the neighbourhood or take a ride to the grocery store. What more with the widespread increase in the use of personal vehicles, they can at any time drive to the nearest shopping mall and pick up a thing or two. It never crosses their minds that there is someone out there that does not have such free mobility.

Born with cerebral palsy, I legged behind other children my age when it came to gaining the ability to do things on my own – even today there are things that I am not perfect at or that I cannot do on my own at all.

One of the things that took me some time to master was the ability to walk on my own. I finally gained my full ability to walk on my own at the age of twelve. Before then I got around using a number of devices: first, it was a wheelchair; I then moved on to a tricycle; then a bicycle with side wheels; and, finally, a walking frame. From using a walking frame, I started to walk on my own. However, this was just the beginning step in my journey towards the enjoyment of free mobility.

When I started work in 2006 I used to commute to work everyday. I would also walk from the bus station to workplace, which are at opposite sides of town. After a while, I approached my bosses and requested for their assistance in acquiring a car. “I want to buy a car,” I said. “I also want it modified so that I can be able to drive it,” I explained.

The company’s assistance to my cause was far much more than I expected. It offered to help me acquire the car and have it modified. Above all, it also took up the bill. So, in May last year, I bought my car and had it shipped into the country. However, I had to travel all the way to South Africa in order to have it modified to my needs.

The modifications on my car
To say that my car had modifications done on it to suit my needs is somewhat not true in the strictest sense of the meaning of the word. The truth is that I had some assistive devices added to my car. The assistive devices that were added to my car were a pair of hand controls and a spinner knob. Hand controls enable me to accelerate or brake using a hand-controlled lever (to accelerate I push the lever downwards and to brake I push the lever forward). The spinner knob enables me to turn the steering wheel with a full turning radius using only one hand.

A big question mark
Before adding the hand controls and spinner knob to my car, one of the specialists at the company that was going to work at fitting these devices to my car asked me this question: Are you sure that you will be able to drive?

Reality hit me right there. In fact, I nearly lost my confidence at what I was trying to accomplish and was about to call it quits. I mean this question came from the person I least expected to ask me such a question and at a time I least expected it. We had been communicating about having these devices added to my car so that I would be able to drive for over two months; made payment for it; traveled for more than 1700 miles; and was about to have it done when the question came: Are you sure that you will be able to drive?

I looked at him and gave him my most honest response. “I don’t know,” I said. “But I am ready to give it my best shot.”

He explained to me that ‘trying’ was not going to be good enough. I would have to learn to drive the car and be able to share the road with other road users. I would have to practice so much that my presence on the road would not endanger my life as well as that of other road users. As a bonus, he gave me no reassurance whatsoever that at the end of the day I would be able to drive on my own, but he said, “You must understand that we do not know if you will be able to drive but since you’ve already paid for everything we’ll do the job.” So they did and we did another 1700 miles back home.

Eight months passed
Back home things did not take off as planned.

[To be continued]

Song of Pain

In the midst of one crowded city
A grungy woman comforted herself
near a shop's entrance
She was not shy
Neither of her rags
Nor of her duty -
Her song she sang
She sang from dawn to dusk
SONG OF PAIN!!
The rattling of the few nickels in her
plate was her beat
The crying of the infant strapped on
her back was her back up vocals
"Ndibatsireiwo vanhu vamwari" was her chorus
She composed it for us
Her song of pain.

A few more nickels in her plate
Her benefits (for the day) not even a meal!
Her gain from the day's work

In her rags of poverty
Not stupidity
Her song of pain she sang
Her song of pain she sings
Her son of pain she can forever sing
Her song of pain.

Heart-warming Poetry

These are just a few verses from my recent work that I thought might inspire you in this season.  None of these verses have been published and I trust that they will be published among my new work. Be Inspired.

It is the Lord who has made me strong
He has raised me up to my feet
I will sing to Him my praises

- º - º - º - º - º - º -

Even as we pray
May we in your awesome presence stay

- º - º - º - º - º - º -

If I am still to be found alive
All the more have I reason to praise thee
For Thy presence is still with me
And thy promises shine on the morrow

- º - º - º - º - º - º -

The Lord is not mute
How can he who created the mouth not speak?
He will no longer remain silent
The time has now come for Him to break the silence
And everything else silence
They will remain silent
The execution of His word is swift
The Lord is not mute

How to Fully Utilize the Power of Goal Setting

What connection is there between your mission and the goals that you are pursuing today?  If there is none, you are probably under utilizing the power of goal setting.  Goal setting is a tool that is designed not just to get you whatever you want in life but, rather, to get you what you need to achieve your mission.

1.        Tie your goals to your mission
Your mission represents what you want to achieve in your lifetime.  Whatever goal you set in life should be in line with your mission.  Unless you do this, you may spend a lifetime chasing after goals that take you nowhere, although they might be exciting.

2.        Set goals that are progressive
Your goals should successively contribute to the attainment of your ultimate goal.  The journey towards your ultimate goal should be like an ascend up a staircase. Just as each step should be joined to the one before it and the one after it, your goals for this year should be joined to last year's goals and next year's goals.  That way you are assured of going somewhere with your life.

3.        Move from setting goals to setting strategic objectives
Goals keep your focus on what you want to do within a given timeframe.  Strategic objectives, however, shift your focus to the end to what you intend to achieve through your goal.  Focusing on the end is more energizing than focusing on the means.

Goal setting is a wonderful exercise. No doubt, every person who sets concrete goals and commits themselves to taking decisive action towards the attainment of these goals has a greater chance of realizing their dreams than the one who blurs out 'resolutions' under the ecstasy of the moment and does nothing to make them happen.   However, the greatest results do not come from the exercise of goal setting. It comes from aligning them to your mission, having them progressively lead them towards your mission and shifting your focus from what you have to do to the end in mind.

Be inspired.

The Exciting Year Ahead

In today's issue of Inspiration Online I want to give
you an update of the work that I have been doing behind
the scene and also give you some things to look
forward to as we begin the new year.


For some time now I have been working on my website,
Like Ed: You Can Do It, and have set aside this
coming weekend as the time to polish up whatever work
is still outstanding.  I look forward to have it up and
running sometime next week so look forward to a like
ed launch notification email anytime starting on
Monday.


Also, I have been living my dreams that concern other
areas of my life.  This has made me only too eager to
share with you what it is like to pursue such a lifestyle
and have decided to share my experiences through our
regular weekly newsletter, Inspiration Online. I will
still be giving you the principles on how to succeed in
life, but above it I am going to show you how I have
taken these principles and applied them to produce the
results that I have. Isn't that exciting?


The last thing that you might want to know is that I have
set aside the coming two months as the time that I
write two of the books that I have been wanting to write
for some time now.  The first one is going to be a
motivational self-help book that I have written tracing the
timeline of Joseph.  The essence of the book will be to
reassure the reader that their dreams can survive
despite the emergence of obstacles along the journey.


The second one will be a little more serious.  It is going
to be tackling the urgent issue of social transformation
– how badly it is needed and how we as individuals can
spearhead its initiation.  The reader will have an
opportunity to meet some of the champions of social
transformation, whose efforts were recorded in the
Bible, and

If you continue being extremely nice to me I am going
to possibly return the favour in one of two ways: I might
ask you to proof-read my manuscript or I might give you
free exerts of the first few chapters from the books. Just
keep your fingers crossed.


The publication of these books will add two more titles
in my name and hopefully spur my writing career.

The year ahead promises to be an exciting year and I
am glad to be able to share it with you.  I also hope that
you will share the news with all your relatives and
friends.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!