MENDING THE LEAKING ROOF

A shelter under a roof or a tree? No difference at all. Call it any name you wish to- a false roof, a bush, an open field, or even a leaking roof. Call it any name deemed fit for a roof that has failed it's duty. A roof that leaks when it rains, or a roof that allows the scorching sun to burn your bald head if you are one. A leaking roof and rightly so...

OK! let's get started. Imagine it is one of those days when the Earth seems to be freezing to death. It's cold. So cold, that you are freezing to the bones. The rain catches you unaware on your way home, which is ten kilometers away. You start running home, cursing the mother nature for allowing it to rain. You are overwhelmed by the heavy downpour, but still you have no option but to rush home for shelter. Luckily, your short legs which knows no meaning of getting tired, reaches you home. You are really thrilled to reach home because in home, there your hope of getting shelter plus evading the dangers of rain lies.You enter the house but shockingly, it's more swamp than a house. Water is all over the floor. Confused, disappointed and gutted, you start panicking and wondering how this could be. Fortunately, you realize that it is your roof which is leaking. You start pondering about what to do. With a series of questions and ideas ringing into your mind, you wonder whether to mend the roof or run away from the house. With the rain showing no sign of slowing down, let a lone stopping, you decide to mend your leaking roof because it's the only option left. Worse still, you have no idea about how to go about it. The roof is leaking everywhere and you don't know where to start from.

If you are that person, stuck but is so desperate to mend the leaking roof, count yourself lucky because in this article, Mwalimu Peter Ochieng's life book is going to give you some insights on how to mend your leaking roof. But before that,,,mnmmm...wait a minute. Did I say I will give you some insights on how to mend your leaking roof? Sorry delete that statement for I am not an expert in that field and all I can do is to give you one solution: Study your roof keenly to identify each and every leaking spot. But what if you are this leaking spot? What will you do with your tools if you realize that you are this leaking roof that needs to be mended? If you are doubting how on earth you can be this leaking roof, here are the signs that you are the leaking roof that needs to be mended:

1. When you help people but your hidden intention is to gain something from them. Maybe it is fame, popularity, to gain power or even to trap people into your wicked plans or ways. You help the rich in one way or the other so as have a material gain. You help the weak so as to gain control over them. You help your friends so as to use them. If you are that person who doesn't know what helping someone with an honest heart but does so for some hidden motives, then you are this leaking roof that needs to be mended.

2. You are always determined to gain unnecessary advantage over other people. Maybe it is cheating in exams so as to gain advantage of others. Maybe it is by gaining something over a corrupt means or even lying, you are a leaking roof that needs to be mended.

3. A leaking roof will always speak kindly and urgently to outsiders but to those near and dear to him or her, including the family members, he/she is always rude, harsh and ever bossing. This also extends to when you are very obedient and helpful to the outsiders but to those closer to you(family or relatives), you are ever reluctant to help.

4. You are a leaking roof when you give honour and treat people well when in your presence but in their absence, you bad mouth them, gossip them and explore every flaw they are having.Remember perfectionism is impossible and as human beings, we have to embrace our weaknesses and work on them, but what do you gain by gossiping or talking ill about others when they are not in our presence and then we pretend when we are with them. For a chameleon to do such a thing, I wont be shocked but for humans? no really.

5. You are a leaking roof when you pretend to be prayerful. Too holy. To those who don't know you, you are sort of an Angel from

an alien nation. You woke up at night and early downs to pray. You pray in the morning, afternoon, and evening. At church you pretend to be so holy. But when it comes to organizing for strikes, you are always in the forefront. When it comes to fights, you are ever their challenging for war trophy. When it comes to lying, cheating, you are at another level. A true legend you are when it comes to plotting all sorts of evil. When it comes to doing dirty politics, you are number one. You are a leaking roof that needs to be mended.

6. You are a leaking roof when you preach water and take wine. You always advocate for all things considered right but your lifestyle is a perfect opposite to what you are talking about. Every word that comes out of your mouth is life, and a medicine to those around you, but your actions are an abomination. You advocate for all that the bible or quran advocates for but the tv programs you are watching, the books you read, the videos and films you watch, the people you up keep as your friends, all illustrate otherwise.

7. You only know that you are a leaking roof when you live in pride. Ever bragging about your self. Ever singing your achievements and belittling other people's. When you spend most of your time telling people about how great and mighty you are.Telling them why you are the one and only person on this planet. You treat people disrespectfully. You act stubbornly. You undermine everyone, thinking that you are the most beautiful or handsome, the most learned or even the most important creature on this planet.

8. You are a leaking roof when you are ever disorganized. When you live like an animal which has no plan at all. Your schedules are ever completely open allowing your friends to control it for you. To make it worse, you have no stance. Your decisions lies with those around you. Your peers or even friends like a remote controlling your life. Unless you get yourself organized and start living your life purposefully, you are a leaking roof that needs mending.

9. You are a leaking roof when you keep on postponing things. You have got great plans in life but you are lacking in energy, commitment and character needed to achieve your goals. No goal is ever beyond us. No plan is too demanding to be full filled within the time frame we have set. Remember that the second step of success after knowing yourself is setting your goals. After setting your goal, you are even closer to attain your success. But does it end there? Definitely no. You have to work harder within the time limits set to achieve them. You are only a leaking roof that needs mending when you keep on postponing things. Postponing things is not good anyway. It is a warning sign of failure.

10. Additionally, you are a leaking roof when you are ever pessimistic. You have got a deep sense of conviction that something wrong is going to happen such that you don't even try new things. You will forever be a successful failure because of your negative attitude towards people, life plus the events around you. You always live in the past which is not always a good place to stay. You always harbor regrets about what you could have done in the past. You are too bitter, depressed and ever stressed in life. You are a leaking roof that needs mending.

10. Finally, you are a leaking roof that needs mending when you don't have self confidence. You are too shy to talk or stand before people. You can't even maintain eye contact with people. I never thought I would say this but do you know the message you are communicating to people when you act fearful and shy? or even when you can't maintain eye contact in those simple conversations? In case you didn't know, the message you are trying to pass is that: You are useless, they don't deserve your attention, etc. Remember we are fearfully and wonderfully made and for that reason, we need to act confidently in everything we do. Trust in yourself, believe you can do it(please check my article: The power of believe).

I am sorry my reader for not exploring all the signs of a leaking roof, but still I am confident that that you are now in a better position to determine whether you are a leaking roof or not. A leaking roof has no value at all and should be mended sooner rather than later. There are over one thousand ways of mending the leaking roof that I would love to talk about but since I am also one, I am sorry I won't address since I also need to seek an expert in mending leaking roves, but until I bring this expert to mend the leaking roof, good bye and thank you for your time.