To pass out as a monk in the Mount Serat monastery in Spain requires great discipline. One of the fundamental requirements of this religious order is that the young men must maintain absolute silence for two years at a time. After the two-year period, they have one opportunity to say two words. 

One young initiate in the monastery after two years was invited to make his two-word presentation. “Food terrible,” he said.

Another two years passed and he was invited again, this time, he said “Bed lumpy”. At other he proclaimed “I quit”.

The senior monk looks at the young and said “It doesn’t surprise me at all. All you’ve done since arriving here is complain, complain, and complain.”

What if you were asked to share two words that describe your life over the last two years? Would your focus be on the challenges, bumps, and lumps and generally unfairness you’ve observed? Or will you focus on the good, the right and the beautiful?

Mine will always be - Go Forward. Why? You may ask, and my response is simple. Life goes forward and so do I. The challenges will come but without adversity, greatness and gratitude are delayed. Every new day comes with it new grace to face the day’s hurdles. When our focus is on the ills and not the opportunities and victories we lose the much-needed energy to go forward with life.

When the scripture says “Thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies....” we tend to forget that the food will be left uneaten if our focus is on the enemies around us. When our focus is on the ills around us, our ability to see the light of positive action and the grace that abounds to us is greatly diminished. 

What if our young monk had said “Soul Strong” or “Enjoying Peace”, all of which are possible within a monastery? You see my dear brothers and sisters, young or old, life gives us things we can find nice and some not so nice but our own progress is hinged on which we choose to focus on.

What two words will you use to describe the day you want? What two words would you use to describe yesterday? 

Speak your destiny. Your words will shape your mindset and ultimately your actions and outcomes. 

Go Forward. Make Rain

I am Nhyira Addo- The Rainmaker