At first, a look at the title above is very tempting (and, perhaps, misleading). Except for the ellipsis, it would have read: DO GOOD DO BAD. In that case, it becomes a mixture of thoughts: one is being encouraged to do good and do bad at the same time. But that is not the case by the way.
I recall, with most nostalgic feelings, one of those forms of play children engaged in back in the days, when we were much younger. The play involved the song:
Do good
Do yourself
Do bad
Do yourself
Continue.
It sounded much childish and playful as one was growing up. But it usually heralded very serious fun times as children would play with a sense of seriousness mixed with a robust sense of excitement. But was it all just a childish play song? As an adult (now), standing on my philosophical podium and taking a very panoramic view of life and living, I see it as something much more than a childish play song or something to be given a cursory look. At a glance, it is nothing more than a play song, but on a closer and philosophical examination, I see something very instructive and philosophical about it. And beyond that, or in addition to it, it is a principle or law of life and living. It has a realistic and religious underpinning and flavour.
You might have come across these expressions from Christian perspective: (1) Seed time and harvest; Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.” (Amplified Bible – AMP)
(2) Whatsoever a man sows; Galatians 6:7; “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” and
(3) He that is pure…; Revelation 22:11 “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still“(King James Version).
The first two are apt in terms of the way they render the idea in relation to our current conversation. They are all depicting the fact that whatever we do has consequences. Or, in a more contemporary point of view, one reaps whatever one sows (you reap what you sow).
On the contrary, the third Bible passage cited does what seems to be much more in line with the title of today’s piece. It is as though it is saying: do good…do bad…. But for me, what is inherent in all of them is the fact that we should expect to get the result of whatever action(s) we take or do not take. Our actions, reactions and inactions do have consequences. Since this is the case, we have to be very careful about what we do or do not do. We have to be careful about our reactions as well.
You might wonder what got us into the present conversation following the last two or three editions. Perhaps, it was supposed to be a continuation of the previous series that was interjected by the out-of-the-normal presentation made earlier in the month as a result of the peculiar attention given to the month of August.
Something happened yesterday that got me thinking about how people lived and live their lives. While I was onboard a bus to one of our city centres, I did not think that there were intentions by someone to carry out a mischievous act. But, incidentally, it was after I had alighted from the bus and gotten to my destination that I realised that they had made away with valuable items. Efforts were made to understand what happened and see if something could be recovered in the process, but it was to no avail. I could not believe how it all happened in just a jiffy.
It was then I started reflecting on how some people could just leave their houses, gorgeously dressed outside and yet with hearts that are very much deceived, decorated with and bedeviled by satanic thoughts. And, yet, they never consider the consequences of their thoughts and actions. When, at last, life decides to pay them back in their own coins, they begin to lament, curse the devil and their household enemies. It is all tantamount to self-deception, self-devaluation and self-destruction.
This is not a fruitless lamentation. It is as well not an opportunity to whip up sentiments and attract public attention. I am just trying to tell myself and others that we have to be very careful how we live, what we do to others, whether they are far or near. Because, at last, there is a harvest time after the deed is done. How else should one end this edition if not a rendition of the (musical and playful) lines earlier on presented?
Do good
Do yourself
Do bad
Do yourself
Continue.
Until we meet again, I remain your friend, always bringing you to the podium where we ponder anew about life and living and much more. Thank you for your time.
Eze Echie, a Scholar, Prolific Author, Poet, Editor, Music Minister, Critic & Columnist, writes in from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He can be reached via this email address: ezeponders@gmail.com
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