(… cont’d from last Monday)
The preceding quartet of posers touch the very heart of the matter of service. Both the person serving and the one being served complete with their attitudes per time either harm or accentuate love (and humility and patience). Service is the love envelope containing humility and patience. In the wee days of January 2004, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah, as he then was, told me something profound during a live television interview; something I can only paraphrase here.
“Even if it is your slave that’s involved, anytime you need something, say please. Anytime you receive service, say thank you. Anytime you offend or are wrong, say sorry. That’s one of the lessons my father taught us -his children- that I can never forget.”
And, the iconic architect handed that down to me; to you. While those called and chosen to serve must never forget to do so every time with love that shows up humble and patient, those privileged to enjoy service must remember always to exhibit humanity that evinces gratitude and respect. Many enjoyers of service are too arrogant to be served. Very few servers the world over can stomach the inhuman disrespect and allied hubristic mannerisms of some service recipients.
Sssh, no one ceases to be a human being just because such a one is a servant or server. While they must wear a smile and serve with love and patience and in humility, big boys and big girls (that is, those favoured by nature to be served) should necessarily restrain from rubbing it in. Because servers are not small people nor is service a small job, beneficiaries should refrain from belittling or pooh-poohing them. Servers, servants and service are fundamental and indispensable and should always be seen and treated as such.
Loyalty is an important ingredient across the service divide. Like its cousin -respect- loyalty is reciprocal. Both the server and the servee or the servant and the master must show respect and loyalty to service. There’s nothing as powerful and as healthy and as talismanic as being treated like a king or queen.
Tips are great and in order: those served should inculcate the habit of giving them and generously too. However: what’s expected of one that has been wonderfully served far transcends a tip or two. Beyond or along with the money you offer to express appreciation, please wear the attitude that shows you are also a human being: not some small gee playing God all over the place. Always be empathetic: always put yourself in the place of servers and servants and obey the golden rule.
In a class-conscious and power-crazy society such as we find ourselves in, service is a very unenviable job -even for those who do it for a living. Those served must determine to never make it more unenviable. They should deliberately go out of their way per time to make their waiters and waitresses and servants feel good about themselves and the huge value they add. Dispensers of service must themselves give their all -all the time – with a smile; as if their very life depends on making others happy.
As we round off, servers and servants should learn to talk less and to avoid attitudinal body languages. They must eschew gossipping and sundry idle talks. Their job description does not include judging, reporting, maligning, picking on or comparing and contrasting those they serve. Service is a job, a calling: you either do it diligently or quit to allow the thousand and one others who are more qualified, waiting and ready to come in and hit the sky flying.
On their part, employers of servers and servants must enshrine a reward system that works. These value-adders must never be made to serve in perpetuity and even if, not at the same level. Granting them biennial or regular promotion plus enhanced emoluments and such other rewards will not only fire up these agents of service concerned but also those watching. Service should never go unrewarded nor should that reward either be too little or take too long.
Lastly, 2023 is another golden opportunity for Nigerians to choose from among those called by political parties. The number one criterion should be service coupled with verifiable, tangible proofs of ability and capacity and records. The standard-bearer who promises service leadership and shows clearly that it can be provided should get unanimous votes no matter the platform. The servant-leader is the final answer, except we want to postpone the evil day to 2027.
God bless Nigeria!
(… concluded)
I am: The cure for inferiority complex
(… cont’d from last Monday)
I am unbreakable, I am undefeatable. I am unique, I am unresistable. I am unstoppable, I am untouchable.
I am value, I am valued. I am victorious, I am virtuous. I am vivacious, I am VVVIP.
I am wealth, I am a winner. I am wise, I am a wonder. I am world-class, I am a worthy whizz kid.
I am x-factor personified. I am youthful. I am zestful!
(… concluded)
Good or bad: An easy choice?
Not that easy, really. Remember what I told you: never forget to contextualise a question before fielding it.
Good is not always better than or preferred to bad. I love good, but I won’t go for good over bad every time.
For instance, does the priest who hides under that disguise to commit all sorts of atrocities and abomination against God and humanity remain good and preferred by you to the herbalist who fears God and loves man? Me, I don’t want everyone in my lineage to be good and godly.
Let there be at least one notorious guy that my family can be feared (even dreaded) for. Give me 99% and 1% bad: it is the wisdom I need to survive in this good-hating and bad-loving world!