As human beings living in the age of the 21st Century where technology is peaking at a very fast rate, we have been accustomed to having most of our problems solved by technical knowledge. We have laid down the spirit of tenacity such that whenever we experience an obstacle or we have to wait longer for something we are used to getting rapidly we get irritated, annoyed and at times use vilifying language.

Persistence is a discipline and its fruits only manifest when we are dedicated, when we endure long-suffering without complaining, we are patient and when we lay down our reverie of skin-deep efforts. Yesterday evening as I was walking to take a bus home, I passed by Aga Khan Walk, a street I pass by almost every other day where this young man called Kevin Mwangi sings by the sidewalks while people pass by throwing suspicious glances at him, in fact I am sure I have ever done something similar. However, I found a comfortable place, sat down and paid attention to him and as I listened to him, I heard his words for the first time and the passion in his tone. I got so challenged by this young man who dedicates his Tuesday and Thursday evenings to sing to a crowd of people who gawk at him most oblivious to his message, but he persists to sing and praise God as he believes that is his purpose.

Why is it that we have become a generation where if we try something even thrice and it doesn’t seem to work we say “well that probably isn’t meant to work” I mean look at the great minds who have attained a global reach with their ideas, they persisted because they believed, because they were passionate and had zeal, because they felt a purpose within themselves that could not be contained.

You can only truly experience the joy of success if you have labored for it, if you have been rejected but still pressed on, if you have fallen but you still got back up, if you have tried all ways and it never worked but you never tired to try again. There are many things the lazy will never reap, they will always see others achieving and building on their ideas and keep wondering how come they never get fortunate. But hard work is not about fortune, it only becomes fortune when there has been toiling behind the scenes.

Nothing on this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent -Calvin Coolidge

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