The Owerri Philharmonic Ensemble: LIFE AS ‘A JOURNEY’

Introduction:

Every journey begins from a certain stage with an intention and destination. In each step made, target is measured with achievement based on the set goals. Considering life as a journey depends on the goals one sets. Some individuals prefer to outline resolutions (set goals) on the first day of every year on what to achieve for the year, while some others do not. The former set targets and plan on how to realize those outlined goals. As each plan is executed, an assessment is made to measure result by target. Therefore, the result of every step made, determines the realization of the general set goals. As these steps are taken and activities go on; time also ticks.

Key words: Life, journey, goals, achievements, targets, courage

Life has variant meanings depending on the context and situation to which it is applied.

In this context, it is perceived from the angle of being a state that follows birth (beginning of an existence) and precedes death (end of an existence). According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, it is “the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual.”

It is a period of time during which an object is considered recognizable or to be in operation. That is to say that, the ability to grow and change is called life.

Life on its own is considered meaningful to some people and meaningless to some others. But in whichever way it may be seen, Joseph Campbell says “the meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning”.

On the other hand, a journey is a set amount of travelling, seen as a single unit. Thus, the period of time during which one lives till the time of death could be referred to as a life’s journey. It involves a daily movement which revolves around experiences, knowledge, inspirations and motivational forces.

When one embarks on a journey, a lot of things are experienced on the way. For example, when people embark on an expedition, they are faced with so many tasks and challenges which either pose as threats or motivational forces to them. But in whichever way it appears, the end product is perhaps useful in the exploration process.

The occurrences a child witnesses as he or she grows, be it positive or negative, can be said to act as catalysts that teach, warrant, motivate and uplift such individual. But this can only be fruitful if the individual in question will take up the responsibilities attached to life. That is to say, that the journey of life requires ‘tasks and challenges’ no matter the form or shape it takes.

The understanding of life may be perceived as a journey to the grave in most cases because, as the night gives birth to a new day, so also does a living soul match forth to its grave.

One thing very paramount in life is courage because it enhances life’s journey. It is only with courage that goals are achieved. It does not work alone but works with faith, hope, boldness, etc., and all these attributes give it the needed support.

With these aforementioned attributes, courage can move mountains and break any yoke considered unbreakable.

Courage, Faith and Work as vital tools in Life’s Journey

A young boy once asked himself two relevant questions;

What is my ambition in life and what shall be my motto? And he finally decided to make use of ‘study with courage’ as his motto. This motto guided him and with it he made sure he studied copiously to achieve his life’s ambition. He never allowed life’s worries and trials to shatter his dreams and motives despite the fact that they tried pulling him down, but he pulled through still.

This is an example of what courage does in the journey of life. Remember that we learn as we grow.

As we pass through some hard times, sufferings or challenges just to get one thing or the other; let us not forget to make courage our watchword so that it strengthens us as we make steps in life. This struggle demands that one keeps moving andtrying hard as to arrive at a destination, because a journey without a destination is like a person living on earth without discovering his or her own destiny.

Talking about faith and work (as supporters of courage), a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. JohnSmart Ezenwankwor in one of his homilies said “in life, one should have faith in whatever he or she wants to do; have a reasonable % of affirmation for that which he or she wishes to do; one shouldn’t listen to those who come for discouragement; you should seek advice and prayers from people; then, work hard to achieve your task.”

Drawing from the above assertion, it is pertinent to note that it is not good enough to have faith alone but to put it into action and ensure that it works.

There is need to discover those things that deprive people from meeting required targets, and also find out possible means to tackle them so as to move on. From the day one is born till the day one dies, he or she must face difficulties, if not to be happy, it will be to be satisfied. Sometimes, we might need an approval of our parents or guardians to achieve something, but they turn down our requests. It could also be to get a good job or a soul mate. In most cases, it is being financially buoyant. In all these we seek, we do them just to get two primary experiences which are; happiness and satisfaction.

The threat of sin can as well serve as an obstacle to achieving life’s demands, but it only takes the grace of God for such threat to be surmounted.

An individual can be successful in one aspect of life and fail woefully in another aspect. This is to say that different successes and failures arise based on the nature of events.

Based on the above, we may require the help of other people to succeed whether a physical, moral or spiritual help, all are of great importance. But when you decide to go about it alone, you may not get it all right as expected. If you think you can do it alone without other people’s aid, then you may sink into quick sand (a situation that is very dangerous and difficult to escape from). For instance, some people have decided not to go to church or to their various places of worship as the case may be all because they have concluded in their hearts that they are holier than those who go to church every day. They feel also they are fulfilled in their hearts with things concerning God’s commandments, therefore no need for church-going. Yes, they might be right. But then, no one knows it all. We only try to see how we can help ourselves to live good lives. The church or any religious place of worship is an agent to help strengthen and teach us all that we need to know and how to avoid mistakes.

Conclusively, life’s journey requires that we should occasionally be ready to learn from other people on how to be successful in life knowing that success is a vague term and has no one formula.

Therefore, when you apply one formula and it fails you; then, attempt the others.