CHAPLAINCY, A PANACEA
TO DEPRESSED ECONOMY
Chaplaincy all over
the world is known for its profitability in every sector of nation’s economy
and in every human endeavour. It is a profession that seeks for the development
and wellbeing of its users – human, organization, institution, government etc.
Chaplaincy in
developed nations of the world has helped to shape and transform people’s life
for better and advance organizations and institutions that make use of
chaplaincy and in a nation of ours Nigeria, chaplaincy is needed in order to
help curb the menace that is ripping us up known as “corruption.”
There are many lofty
ideas on paper from many people and organization on how to boost the economy of
this great nation, but why does it seem that the needed change is not forth
coming? This is because the skills and the technical knowhow of translating
these ideas into positive action in people’s life is not there.
Chaplaincy as a
profession is cut out to deal with human life and knows how to reach out to
everyone individually and corporately in bringing about the needed change in
them that will help translate this lofty ideas into an effective action.
This is why I call
chaplaincy the “bolts and nuts.” It knows how to get at the basics and builds
from the foundation for better future of any man, home, group, government and
nation at large.
Definition of Terms:
Chaplaincy:
Chaplaincy is known
to be a profession and vocation cut across all other professions to research
into problem facing mankind, organization, institutions, government and to
proffer the needed solutions to such problems.
Chaplaincy is a
ministry of presence whereby the Chaplain identifies with people and their
problems with the view of proffering the needed solution and to give a new
lease of life to those found life unpleasant.
Chaplaincy to say but
a few, is a humane and humanizing ministry were people’s life, concerns,
comfort and peace is of paramount important to the Chaplain in order for them
to enjoy their God-given lives despite their challenges and suffering.
Panacea:
Panacea is a solution,
remedy or cure for all difficulties, disease or ill, problems and evil.
Economic Depression:
In economics, a depression is a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is a more severe
downturn than an economic recession,
which is a slowdown in economic
activity over the course of a normal business cycle.
As I have said
earlier that chaplaincy is practiced in every sector and human endeavour, it
aids everyone in any organization or institution whether government, public or
private to seek for the promotion and development of the organization or
institution wherein they serve instead of seeking to pull it down by cheating,
stealing and looting of its treasury.
Chaplaincy, as a Panacea to Depressed Economy:
Chaplaincy as a
profession of presence where the professionals are to intervene in crisis
situation to bring about the needed change in people’s life. In our nation
today, the government and many organizations advocates for behavioural and
attitudinal change and even Mr. President’s
(Mohammed Buhari) slogan tagged, “Change begins with me.”
This should not be a
mere say but should be carried out to a logical conclusion to affect our
national life in every sphere of endeavour.
Our problem in
Nigeria is we keep changing system, institution, government and law but we
never think of changing the “man” that will fill in the vacuum or space of the
system we change. We always put the same corrupt people in a different new
position and system; how is that a positive change that will change the face
and economy of our great nation. It is like putting a new wine inside an old
wine skin and what do you think will be the resultant effect – a breakage and
wastage of course! That means an utter damage and ruin.
What we need are professionals
who are well trained to work on the mentality of our people to change the wrong
orientation of theirs in order to see the need that this country “Nigeria” is
our own and the need to work consciously and diligently to maintain a steady
and positive growth in every aspect – spiritually, physically, financially,
economically etc.
What we need are
professionals that are well trained, skillful and competent in bringing the
needed transformation in the people of our nation.
Chaplaincy is a
profession that seeks for the transformation and betterment of people. If
chaplaincy is practiced in the most appropriate professional way will help
greatly in the change (behavioural and attitude) our government is advocating
for.
When the negative and
destructive attitude and behavior in a person or group of persons is changed to
positive and beneficial one, the individual will live better, help others to
live better and become better employees/workers that seek for the promotion,
growth and betterment of the organization, institution and government, its
economy and resources.
This change will help
individuals understand that were they work whether government agencies or
private organizations are the sources of their livelihood and they will not
seek for their down fall or looting the treasury to enrich themselves at the
expense of the general public.
If people’s life,
attitude and behavior are transformed individually, starting from the family
level to religious organization and government, they will seek for each other’s
well-being as well as our national well-being. They will also come to the grip
of the saying that, “a tree cannot make a forest.”
For our nation and
every sector in it to thrive and have a better economy, everyone’s effort is
needed and will not be left in the hand of handful looters, dupers and robbers
of our national economy.
These looters alone
cannot champion the course of national economy to boom because they are so
selfish and self-centered and only give arms to people instead of giving
everyone a place at the table.
Chaplaincy as a
humane ministry seeks to offer the marginalized a place at the table. That
means it gives social justice which goes beyond charity that gives a crumbs
from the table. Chaplaincy will help to expose the rotten system roots and in
socio-economic and political structure that prevent people from having a place
at the table.
Chaplaincy will help
in reaching the people at the grassroot in bringing about the needed change in
them that will help change their attitude toward national development. It will
also give them assurance of having their rightful place in the scheme of
things, instead of just sympathizing with them by giving arms.
Chaplaincy is a
profession that seeks to advocate against irresponsive, irresponsible and biased
government that seeks only to improve and benefit a handful few at their circle
instead of giving consideration to all and sundries. With chaplaincy practice
among the people in government, will help in bringing the needed change that
will make them to respect every human being irrespective of their classes and
status, without using the masses as “bait.”
I want to say
categorically, that if chaplaincy is given its rightful position in the scheme
of things in this nation and is practiced in the most appropriate professional
way, will help in reducing people’s suffering. We all know that suffering and
pain is inevitable but the way one manages, endures, maneuvers and progress in the midst of crisis
and problem is a skill that chaplaincy is cut out to teach and help the end
users in order to survive without
causing harm to themselves or others or committing crimes that may lead to
incarceration.
When people’s
attitude and behavior is changed for better it will help to curb the
followings:-
i.
Cheating
of all sorts.
ii.
Lying.
iii.
Stealing
and looting of national treasury.
iv.
Bloodshed
of all sorts.
v.
Kidnapping.
vi.
Other
vices that makes life unpleasant and worthless.
Apart from
behavioural and attitudinal change of people of this nation that will help in
maintaining and managing our economy properly instead of looting and stealing
that bring us to depression and recession of our economy. There are other areas
that Chaplains can help the government in bringing solution to the depressed
economy we are witnessing.
- Giving a good and effective counseling to the
government and her agencies:
a.
By
diversification of our national economy i.e. looking inwardly for the
development of other natural endowment God has given us in this nation.
b.
Diverting
money to infrastructural development that will aid self-employed people in
their works or establishments to earn a living.
c.
For
the country to be more self-sufficient through their local production instead
of importation of foreign products.
- The government should look into the wages of some serving
officers because high wages causes inflation and increase cost of goods.
- There is need for improving innovation and
efficiency and should celebrate indolence, laziness and political jobbers
who have become a drain on our national economy.
- Government to support inventors with good
intentions.
- With good counseling and moral impartation. People
need to be educated to only spend their money wisely on goods and services
that are necessary, practical and morally good. Government, organizations,
institutions, families etc. should be encouraged to send anyone who they
consider to be reckless in spending money unnecessary for counseling and
psychotherapy as done in developed nations of the world.
- Encouraging people, even politicians on the need to
focus on sharing, serving the community and helping people instead of
desiring excess wealth at the expense of others.
Chaplaincy also will
help to refocus everyone’s mind, energy and idea towards one goal “a better
economy, a better nation, a better Nigeria, a better people”
Suffice me to say
this, professional colleagues, if our presence is felt in our nation and world
at large, through solidarity and accompaniment, it becomes a vehicle for
exposing human right violators, extra-judiciary killing, looters of our national
economy, and hoarders of Naira, Dollars and goods.
Chaplaincy can also
help to release political prisoners and save lives of those who have received
direct threats to their physical existence.
Beloved, if we do our
works as professionals in the life of people right from the family level and
religious organizations, they turn to the society and government a people of
regenerated mind and transformed behavior that will work for the betterment of
this nation and her economy against stealing and looting of her treasury or
destroying her properties and stop taking people as a bait.
This nation belong to
all of us, let us work together to build it to an enviable status where every
citizen will be proud to say “I am a Nigerian.”
Long live Chaplaincy, my chosen profession.
Long live my beloved nation Nigeria.
Chaplain Dr. Uche Joy David
Senior Consultant Chaplain.
