• By Kaka Lucas, 16th August 2022

Saying no is becoming hard for our generation. We want everything and we want to miss nothing. We forget that saying ‘Yes’ to everything is a choice that automatically opposes your other option. Saying ‘YES’ to one thing is saying ‘NO’ to the other.

In life, we have options to choose from and, whatever side we take, it should be the side that is in alignment with what we deeply desire and what our purpose and values are. This leads our ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ to be clear.

Mathew Kelly, in his book, where this reflection draws most of its nectar from, states that, “… options often cloud things. Options often complicate things. We complicate our lives because we are scared of missing out on something.”

Last weekend was one of the many busy weekends I have experienced in my four months in the office. I had two big funerals that I attended and participated in. Coming back home late in the evening, I was exhausted and my intestines, large and small, were already demonstrating after I wasn’t kind to them. After coming in and doing my evening rituals, I had to sit down and reflect and write what I was going to deliver to the people of God on Sunday. This specific Sunday, the readings were on one of those mysterious Feasts so, I had to choose my words properly so that I would be understood. In addition, I had to deliver the message clearly in order to help the people understand the importance of this feast. The Holy Ghost did as He does and all was finished by 11 pm. This was way past my bedtime. Sunday was busy as always, but, the people always give back the energy. In the evening, I had to present a talk to a group online, and, to prepare for it, I denied my body of its usual afternoon nap and proper late Sunday lunch.

Sharing my Sunday activity with a friend, he said to me “my brother, don’t be everything for everyone. Stop spreading yourself to everyone and everything.”

This was the turning point for my head which was running in a straight line. It’s time to be clear about who I am and who I am not. It’s time to have a clear strategic anchor for my life, what I want to do and, what I don’t want to do. I cannot be a cup of tea for everybody and everything. I do not need to be in every activity that is taking place around me.

Even Jesus knew what he was about and, after healing in the village, Jesus woke up early to go and pray. Peter came looking for him and said, “Everyone in the village is looking for you.” He asked the disciples to walk away with Him because even the other town needed Him.

If it were us, we would have gone running back to take selfies just for the fun, or sign biographies to maybe get an honor. So today, let’s learn to say NO. Learn to have a clear sense of who we are and the mission before us.

“Knowing who you are and what you do helps bring clarity to your decision making, especially when you are faced with new opportunities.” – Matthew Kelly’s book “Perfectly myself”.