A quite popular prayer in
Christendom is one which says, “Oh God, enlarge my coast”. The phrase is derived
from the heartfelt plea of a man in the Bible, called Jabez. His birth had come
with great pain for his mother and from the anguish of her soul she cursed her baby
with sorrow all the days of his life. And indeed, sorrow stuck to him like feathers
to the bird until the day he looked to heaven and cried, “Oh that thou wouldest
bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast….” Ever since, heaven has been besieged with
the same request by people who believe their situation parallels that of Jabez.
Whilst saying this prayer, the
word ‘coast’ connotes different things to different people. For some it means a
spouse and for others it means children; for some it refers to a promotion and
for others it’s a bigger house. But the connotation I find most interesting is
the one given to it by a priest. He claimed that Jabez was praying for a
greater sphere of influence and a higher position of authority in his community.
Then he directed his listeners to request for the same. But as the congregation
lifted its voice in prayers I could only pray that God would kindly delay fulfilling
their request.
It’s not that I don’t want the
congregants to get wider influence by becoming permanent secretaries, council
chairmen, commissioners, minsters, governors or even the president. But, I
believe that our world is in the big mess it is because people’s coasts got
enlarged without their hearts getting enlarged. With a wider sphere comes
greater influence over the lives of other people and it should be given only to
those who are sympathetic, responsible and have a generous disposition. Anytime
an enlarged coast was given to one who is narrow-hearted the result has always been
catastrophic; it is like giving the keys of a bull dozer to a three year old. History
is littered with Abachas, Hitlers, Stalins and Idi-Amins whose deeds could have
been less shocking were they confined to an obscure existence.
My country, Nigeria, has been particularly
plagued with narrow-hearted men whose coasts became enlarged. Many, if not all
of these leaders, are men of faith and must have said Jabez’s prayer or a
similar one at one time or the other. That their wishes were granted is the
reason my countrymen are suffering today. The moment they attained rulership
all their puny minds could see were the perks of office and the proverbial national
cake. Their ilk favours title deeds in the Hamptons over the timeless smiles
they could paint on the face of the downtrodden. Their hands would rather grab the
little from the poor than lift their heavy burdens and their severely limited
minds are unable to conceive the common good that needs to be achieved. What they
should have asked for was to be made large-hearted men and women so that when
their coasts got enlarged they would diligently seek the welfare of their
neighbour.
So that we don’t point the finger
at leaders alone, we must talk about followers too. Just as today is simply
yesterday’s choices coming home to roost, every leader today was once a
follower. We love to blame our leaders for everything but can we vouch that we
would be different if we became leaders tomorrow? Are we large-hearted enough
to forsake our personal or pecuniary or ethnic or religious interests for the
common good? I am not waiting for your answer. Instead, next Sunday, I am rushing
to church to beg God not to enlarge your coast and mine. I will even ask him to
shrink it if he has ever enlarged them. I will beg him to rather mercifully
enlarge your heart and mine for only then will we be ready to manage an
enlarged coast.
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