As We Go Through Changes

By Augustine Daniel

This book is about life in general, my observation about the changes that we as people are going through. Changes that are happening on a continuous basic. Changes that many are not aware of and not conscious of, and many who are aware and conscious will simply ignore because we are too busy trying to catch up with some things that keep on moving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Feb 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514448151

Augustine Daniel

Augustine Daniel is a father of three children. He enjoys being with people and learning from one another, in this world there is so much we can see and so much we cannot see, and endless of things to learn. He takes a serious interest in the nature of mankind. The way it was, the way it is, the way it should be, and the way it will be. But never forget to smile and have a laugh in this interesting journey of life.

Book preview

1

Words

We all understand that everything changes and nothing stays the same. Why do things change? What does it mean? How long does things take to change? And how long did things used to take to change? Keep in mind there are some things that simply cannot change, but mostly, everything changes. When things change, some people see it as a progress, and those who do not understand it, or don’t like it, will think to themselves this is not good. There are times when things change for the worse and also for the best.

Watching television with my daughter and suddenly when she heard this song she said that is sick, and I asked her, ‘You hate it so much?’ She said, ‘No, it is really good that is why I said it is sick’. Immediately I realised that’s the new style. When they like something, they say it’s sick. I find that very strange, am not that old. I remember saying words like ‘wicked’, this is wicked. I also remember people using the word ‘bad’, yeah, this is bad, because we think it’s good, but sick. Boy, I feel really old, so I said to her, ‘Very soon when you kids like something you’re going to say that’s dead’.

Sometimes, I wonder who starts these ideas that makes no sense. Every word has its own meaning, but why do we use a word which has a complete different meaning from what we really mean. It’s as if some people are saying, I am tired of using the right words, let’s confuse things a little bit. That’s what it looks like to me.

‘In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.’ (John. 1.1.)

Words are powerful, Very powerful indeed. Every word that comes out of your mouth is an indication of the state of mind you are in at that moment and time.

A lot of people do not realise the power that is in the words that comes out of their mouth. If you don’t want something, don’t say it because there is an effect for everything that you say and do. This is something that a lot of us do not pay attention too. Sometimes you have to talk like a politician and pick and choose your words carefully because one wrong word can damage your career or get you into a lot of trouble and get someone else into a lot of danger or trouble. In the excitement of style and fashion and music, there is a lot of mixing of words, which is very hot for the moment and time, but it never lasts for long. It’s just a passing fancy because the speed of change is not slow, it is fast, creativity is in abundance, and in that case, the new things get old very fast.

It is a good thing, and it’s also a bad thing, it depends how you look at it. In itself, there is a warning. Things did not start that way; it has become that way. When you start driving a car, it starts from first gear and then to second gear to third gear to fourth gear to fifth gear, keep going faster and faster, and what do you think will happen next? Slowing down seems a good idea, but are we slowing down or are we going faster and faster? If the car keeps on going faster and faster, it will come to a sudden stop, and we are going faster and faster. Notice the signs and wonders that are all around us as you drive through, be humble and conscious and aware. Even if you think you know the answer already, there is no harm in listening to another side of the story, if you are alive, the learning process never stops, and that is compulsory whether you like it or not. It will not always be possible to choose the right words all the time, but you must always try to get it right most of the time. When you can see the effect of the things you say and do, you will put in the effort, but if you cannot see it, yet you will continue as usual, because that is the way we are and that’s the way we do it.

2

Security

This seems very natural, everywhere you go, there is a security guard. Super markets, office blocks, schools, and shops, in fact am trying to think of where can you go these days and not find security guards, especially in the city. There is a CCTV camera in every corner and just about everywhere you go. You are being watched whether you like it or not. Whether you know it or not, and most of the time we don’t know we are being watched. We have become used to it that’s just the way things are. Really, that is not just the way things are; it is the way things have become.

This way of living did not just arrive yesterday. No, it’s been creeping up on us gradually, and we are going to need more, and it’s going to get more and more intense. Now what is the reason for that? Am sure you will find many reasons. The first thing that comes to mind is crime, thieves, and terrorists, but if you just think about it only in this way, then you are missing the whole sequence. It is human behaviour that is changing so rapidly that is bringing the need for so much security. People don’t have patience and find it difficult to wait. People lose control because of the pressure they are under. People get upset for the simplest of things. The rules keep changing because some of us keep breaking it, and making it more difficult for the next one. People are not getting more stupid. No, people are getting cleverer, but we are not living in harmony with each other. People have become very sensitive for all kinds of reasons.

Security guards and CCTV cameras will not change the behaviour of people; they will do the job they are supposed to do to a certain limit but will not change human behaviour. People behaviour and crime will get worse for many reasons, which will bring about a different idea, because control has to be maintained. But that does not mean things will get better, but more intense. If this situation arrived on us suddenly, we will jump and shout and say hay what’s going on, but that is not the case, we are too busy and preoccupied with all kind of things to realise the subtle way the changes are creeping up on us.

Yes, you may say this is the times we live in and you’ll be right, but ask yourself what kind of times are we living in, and what does it mean? If it’s like that now, what will it be like in the next five or ten years? There is a reason for these changes, and it’s not a secret. It’s only that a lot of us are too preoccupied with the things that are blinding us from seeing and knowing about the changes in our world. Pay attention, for it is written. We see lots of changes, but we take it for granted, yeah, that’s the way it is now. The more technology we have the smaller the world become, the faster things can happen, and the more insecure we become. There is a reason for every change, and the effect of the change is what most people will see but not all understand.

Security is big business, breaking the rules is big business. It’s man that makes the rules; it’s man that will break the rules. Security is necessary, indeed, but keep in mind the reason why we need it, and why it has become more and more necessary. We are going forward fast without slowing down, and we cannot slow down even if we wanted to. The race has become our way of thinking, our mentality, and our attitude in everything we want and in everything we do. Don’t expect anything to slow down, but expect the word of God must come to pass.

3

Relationship

A relationship with the Almighty God is the best thing you can ever have. It’s the only thing that is worth everything – guarantee. A relationship with the father God is personal, strictly between you and him. When you have that connection with him, you know you are totally and always provided for.

In this journey of life, you will find yourself in many different types of relationship. Amazingly, each one of them will be different. A lot of them will be touch and go, some of them will be pay as you go, and some you will cherish for life.

It is good to make friends, and it is good to have friends. Having a relationship with any one whether it is a loving relationship, business, or friends or associates, it has to be handled with care. Why because as people, we are able to change so quickly, we have to become so sensitive to each other’s attitudes and character. We are very quick to judge and criticise. Don’t misunderstand me, am not saying that every one of us is living in disharmony, but a lot of us are living that way. One of the main reasons is the mentality that I am looking after number one, today you like me, tomorrow you don’t. Today you’re in love, tomorrow you’re out of love. The ability to care for long is diminishing very fast. But we keep forgetting that for number one to work you need number two and three and four because we rely on each other in all kinds of ways. One of the main parts of this journey of life is that we will have relationship with other people, but the main part is to have a relationship with the Almighty God.

Relationship between us human beings can be very fragile sometimes; people remember you well when you are there for them, when they can use you, when you can give them something you are a wonderful person, until one mistake, one misunderstanding. The one time you were not there for them, and they forget all the good that you have done previously for them. Now you are remembered not for all the good that you done for them before but for the last thing that happened. The way we think of each other is internal and personal. The way we treat each other has an effect on each other and those that are connected with us. It’s been said that attitude is everything; yes, it is very important, but we need to understand that we have to give and take a little more, so we don’t misunderstood each other so easily.

No human being is blessed with all the good qualities or all the bad qualities. We are all blessed with a portion of different qualities. Some of us have more good qualities than others. As important as yours may be, you need a little bit of mine to make yours work. We should not be so quick to judge one another, but we do it anyway; we should always take a little time to think why certain things happened the way it did because there is always a reason for it. Whether it’s a good one or a bad one. Don’t forget none of us is perfect; sooner or later, it will be your turn, because what you do does come back to you. So we must keep that in mind. We are one; there are many reasons why we are one. We come from the one and only the Almighty God. There are plenty of visible reasons and plenty of invisible reasons as to why we are one. In this world, it is people that will destroy things, and it is people that will try to fix things that only God can fix. It is people that will hate, and it is people that will love. Regardless of what we do say or think, we are one.

4

Hypocrisy

The level of hypocrisy has gone up to a new height. It has become part of the survival kit. For people who work in media and music, fashion schools, and many other places with good jobs. They will tolerate and agree with things that in reality, they don’t agree with at all. They will go out of their way to let others see that they are OK with what’s going on. Yes, we live in a democratic western world. But look closely, there are some opinions you have to keep to yourself, or you will find yourself in trouble for it. It’s about being seen saying what they want you to say. You don’t have to mean it or understand it. If you say what you think is right the effect is clear and very unfair. I saw an advertisement on a bus that says some people are gay get over it. I thought this is not going to help anyone. This message comes across very arrogant. We should be encouraging people to understand and accept people for who they are, despite what your belief may be, and to be fair to each other and show compassion. A message of understanding will bring a better understanding. We should be trying to make each other understand the differences, and why it is so, people need to be educated away from ignorance and not bullied into something they don’t understand and disagree with. You can say things that are rude about your government or president or prime minister, the king, or the queen or whoever it may be, and it will come to pass very quickly with a little noise. But if you say I don’t think that it is right that two men or two women should get married, now you are the worse criminal in the world for having such an opinion like that. You are a bad person, a criminal. You must not have an opinion like that. Anything you want but not that. It is wrong to do or say anything bad to any one regardless of their sexuality. But it is also very wrong to make other