You Can't Be Stopped (3)

I learnt this powerful lesson in 1991, when I was seeing Archbishop Benson Idahosa off at the International Airport. He was leaving for the United States. As we were walking across the airport hall, he sighted a pastor we both know, who had been a virulent critic of the Archbishop. This man had even gone on television to cast aspersions on the Archbishop and a few other leaders he did not agree with. The Archbishop shouted his name and greeted him warmly. The man had a friend who wanted to travel but could not get a confirmed seat on the plane. I was surprised when the Archbishop followed him to the office of the airport manager to plead for his guest. That is a matured way of treating your adversaries. Invest them with dignity, even though they do not deserve it. Treat them warmly. But go on with your vision.

Pay the price for your vision and that includes criticism, opposition, mockery and backbiting. If you cannot cope with that, then you cannot cope with success. I believe that it is only a small price to pay for making your vision a blessing to the world.

Would you rather that you are a nobody, affected nobody, inspired nobody and have the privilege of no opposition? I prefer to affect nations, inspire my generation and reach millions with the word of life and I will not complain about all the opposition and adversaries that will follow.

If you refuse to allow your adversaries to get you to stop your vision, your vision will soon be conquering territories and generations long after both you and your adversaries are dead.