O L AY I N K A DA DA , M . D.
To my late mother, Chief Moyosore Aduke Dada. An industrious woman who demonstrated through her exemplary life that any height is attainable with passion, purpose, and persistence.
© 2014 Olayinka Dada, M.D. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Published by Dunamis Press P.O. Box 337, Chester, NY 10918-337 www.dunamispress.com Dunamis Press titles may be purchased in bulk for special events. For more information, please email BulkSales@DunamisPress.com. ISBN 978-0-9822855-8-9 Library of Congress Control Number: 2014907589 Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. Cover design: Tami Roos Interior layout: Ashton Designs Printed in the United States of America
Contents Foreword Hope Really Exists
iii 1
Chapter One A Very Small Beginning
8
Chapter Two You Can Even The Odds
28
Chapter Three A New Life Can Bring New Challenges
40
Chapter Four Challenges Are Common To All Men
48
Chapter Five Remove The Word: Impossible
55
Chapter Six Don’t Give Up
69
Chapter Seven A Mentor Can Save You Time
74
Chapter Eight Believe In Your Dreams
83
Chapter Nine Great Leaders With Challenges
88
Chapter Ten Help From Above
96
Chapter Eleven What Do You See?
109
Chapter Twelve The Four Women
117
Chapter Thirteen You Can Bounce Back From Adversity
126
Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes Other Books By Dr. Olayinka Dada
131 155 157 158
Foreword This erudite, eloquent, and immensely thought-provoking work gets to the heart of one of the most important and yet gravely misunderstood subjects in life – How to overcome man-made obstacles and use challenges as opportunities. This is indispensable reading for anyone who wants to understand and live life at the level God intended. This profound authoritative work by Dr. Dada spans the wisdom of the ages and yet breaks new ground in its approach to understanding the concept and meaning of Success and Progress against the odds and will possibly become a classic in this and the next generation. This exceptional work by Dr. Dada is one of the most profound, practical, principle-centered approaches to the subject on Overcoming Labels and obstacles I have read in a long time. The author’s approach to this timely and critical issue brings a fresh breath of air to a very mysterious subject and it captivates the heart,
The Label is Irrelevant
engages the mind and inspires the spirit of the reader. The author’s ability to leap over complicated theological and metaphysical jargon and reduce complex theories to simple practical spiritual biblically- based principles that the least among us can understand is amazing. This work will challenge the intellectual while embracing the laymen as it dismantles the mysteries of this little taught subject. This book delivers the profound in simplicity. Dada’s approach awakens in the reader the need to take an introspective journey to determine their state of spiritual maturity. The author’s antidotes empower us to rise above any self-defeating, self-limiting factors in our life and to pursue a life of spiritual exploits. The author also integrates into each chapter the time-tested precepts giving each principle a practical application to life making the entire process people-friendly. The Bible will come alive while reading this book and the Kingdom will become practical. Every sentence of this book is pregnant with wisdom and I enjoyed the mind-expanding experience of this exciting book. I admonish you to plunge into this ocean of knowledge and watch your life change for iv
the better as you uncover the principles and eternal laws based on sound spiritual truth and experience the highest level of Kingdom Living. Dr. Myles Munroe BFM International ITWLA Nassau Bahamas
Hope Really Exists
W
hile growing up in the south western part of Nigeria in West Africa, I used to think that life was fair, and the people of the world would treat you fairly and consistently. It wasn’t until I got to university that reality set in. At the University of Ife in the early ‘80s, I discovered classes of people. I realized that, although we were in the same courses, we were not of the same class. I started seeing segregated groups. Some were separated from others based on their financial status, others based on their exposure or things of interest, e.g. bikers had their status symbol on campus, so did the cult members, etc. A segregation that I found intriguing was that which was based on separation by the tribe people came from, despite the fact that the majority of
The Label is Irrelevant
the student population were from Nigeria. Some people were given names based on their accent. There is a tribe in the region that is often picked on because of their word pronunciation. They often use their mother tongue to pronounce the letter ‘a’ for example; that makes them distinct from other tribes. Their accent was always a thing to talk about by many students. I later realized after many years that this tribe is known for their quest for educational achievement. In fact, you would hardly find a family in the tribe without a professor or other professional. They occupy major corporate offices in Nigeria today. I started to wonder how they turned things around. Irrespective of their accent, they are doing extremely well, and occupying top positions in their fields of expertise; not just in Nigeria, but all over the world. If a statistic of Nigerian professionals in Diaspora is taken, the highest number of Nigerian professionals will be from this tribe. When I became a physician, I almost forgot about the segregation until I relocated to South Africa. In South Africa, I saw another form of segregation. This was the racial segregation that began in colonial times under the Dutch and British rule. The racial segregation was called 2
Hope Really Exists
apartheid, under a policy that was introduced in 1948. The people of South Africa were classified into four racial groups as Black, White, coloured or Asian. The order of preference from most to least was White, colored, Asian and Black. The Whites were ruling, and they introduced a language called Afrikaans. The apartheid government ended in 1994 when Nelson Mandela, of the African National Congress (ANC), rose to power. Even though apartheid ended on paper in 1994, it was still present when I relocated to Southern Africa in the same year. The Afrikaners were controlling the economics, policies, corporate organization and even hospitals, and this perpetuated racial segregation. I saw racism first hand. In the conservative hospital where I worked, I was not accepted because I happened to be one of first Black doctors to work there. There were only two of us employed at the hospital. Whenever I reached the waiting room of an outpatient department, patients would stand up and walk out with their files and would take them to the hospital pharmacist, who was Caucasian. Even without any prescription, they would dispense their medications to them. This went on for years. 3
The Label is Irrelevant
I remember vividly an elderly woman pleading with me not to inject her with HIV virus when I was about to give her a vitamin B12 injection. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was seen as a Black person’s disease back then. With time, I was able to gain the trust of many patients, but that was after years of enduring pains. I also remember my colleague in the hospital coming down, panting and angry, to the doctors’ room towards the end of our lunch break. When I asked him what the problem was, he told us a fearful story. Apparently he went to a nearby bank machine and a young Caucasian man was taking out a lot of cash or a check deposit at the automated teller machine, and there was a long line. The people on the line were grumbling and complaining bitterly about the young man’s unnecessary waste of time; they wondered why he did not go inside the bank to carry out his multiple deposits. The doctor alleged that two Caucasian women in front of him on the line had joined in with the complaints. However, when this young man finished his deposits, he spared the women in front of my colleague and came straight to him, swearing and berating him openly in a characteristic apartheid-entrenched way. 4
Hope Really Exists
The doctor said he ran to his car, pulled out his gun and placed it on this man’s head, threatening to shoot him dead. He reported that all the Blacks in the vicinity got wind of it and surrounded the two of them, applauding and hailing him to pull the trigger. By that time the other guy was sweating profusely, apologizing and pleading seriously to the doctor to spare his life. My colleague forgave him, and later let him go. My friend was so angry that he forgot his bank card at the scene and stormed back to the hospital. The reality is that we live in a society that places labels on you. Society looks for your negative point and capitalizes on it. In fact, they rub it in until you feel the pain. They may not remember, but you will remember your pain. I have also realised that everyone has the noticeable label you can be identified with by the inconsistent and unfair values in the societies we live in. For some, it could be their color or size, shape or physical deformity, or even a characteristic way of speaking or enunciating. Life’s experiences can either make one bitter, or better. Bitterness could ultimately lead to a negative outlook on life. I have, through my own experiences, chosen to become a better person. Through these challenging experiences, I realized 5
The Label is Irrelevant
that the life that God put in me is better, bigger, and brighter than the temporary setbacks I might be facing. I have learned to thank God in every situation. I could go on and on with a lot of my negative experiences, but these have toughened me and given me the advantage of withstanding any unpleasant situation. To prevent bitterness from my past, I have tried to live with an attitude of gratitude. Living this way is quite empowering, and has helped me greatly against negativity, depression, malice, and bitterness. There is a tendency for every human to face one storm or another. The pressures of life will not necessarily swallow you, but they form your character, and build your inner strength. I deliberately choose to prevent bitterness from my past. I must say, developing an attitude of gratitude is not that easy. It comes with practice. There are times when things might not be going as planned, or the struggles of life are bringing you down; but you need to train yourself to be grateful. My philosophy is to look for something to thank God for. I choose to give thanks in every situation. Still looking back, I’ve been able to concentrate more and focus more on the positive, rather than the negative. 6
Hope Really Exists
The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Give thanks knowing that whatever you’re going through, something good will come out of it. Start by giving thanks for the little things, and you’ll find that giving thanks for the bigger things in life becomes easier. I have written this book to help anyone that has lost hope as a result of difficulties or barriers, odds or dead ends that life is throwing at them. One of my mentors always says, “Never trust a man without a story.” What I have written in this book shows the story of my life as a leader. It will, I believe, encourage someone facing similar situations to hold on till the end. If you are alive, there is hope. If a tree is cut down, before you know it, a new tree will sprout again. If a mere tree without higher faculties has hope of a comeback, we humans should know there is hope of a brighter tomorrow. It is often said “When there is life, there is a hope.” No matter the odds in life, you can overcome them and make your way (reach) the top. As a matter of fact, you can turn your challenges into stepping stones or launching pads to climb to the top.
7
One
A Very Small Beginning
M
y beginning was small. The journey of a thousand miles will still have to start with one step. Starting small is not a problem, but what you do with your life is what matters. Where you start from should not disturb or disrupt where you are going. You can turn your small beginning into a great ending. I was born and raised in one of the former British colonies in West Africa, named Nigeria, in the twentieth century. Life was very simple growing up as a young man in the town of Iwo, in western Nigeria. I was the fifth of eight children. Ours is a closeknit family. Our father was a teacher, and our mother was into business. At the tender age of eight, I moved to Ijebu Ode to stay with my elder
A Very Small Beginning
brother. It was a challenging time to be away from my both parents and live with my unmarried brother, who was also trying to find his footing in the teaching field. I was exposed to all kind of things, both positive and negative. We had a lot of financial struggles; I would walk to my primary school some miles away, and walk back home. We survived it together, and later moved back to Iwo after about a year. Even though my parents lived in Iwo, I was still told to stay with my brother in his rented apartment. This went on for about two years until I moved back to our parents’ house to complete my grade six school. I used to say, I went to five different schools at different communities in six years of my primary school. These were experiences that give me the ability to adjust to any condition I might find myself in today. My family members are heart-warming and friendly. We lived in our father’s house on Hospital Road in Prince Heaven, in a big complex with several rented apartments on the property. We lived in the duplex. Each evening before supper, all the siblings would play a game of football beside our compound with some of the children from the neighbourhood. There were 9
The Label is Irrelevant
times we played lawn tennis behind our house. A lawn tennis coach at regional level was one of our tenants, and devoted his spare time to coaching us. I lived a sheltered life until the age of seventeen, when I was admitted into the University of Ife. I attended the high school where my father worked as a teacher, so every morning he would drive me to school and bring me back home after school hours. My father was a disciplinarian, and a highly organised man. He made sure we had a timetable for everything. We had a reading time and playing hours every day. We dared not be found outside the house when we should have been at home reading. Parental Influence Pays My parents taught us many things, and I have been greatly influenced through their examples. They were able to weather many storms, and invested their lives in their children. They sacrificed greatly to ensure that we all received a sound education. I learnt the following things from my parents that are still resonating in me on a daily basis: Value unity. My mother would bring out a broom and try to break it, but it would not break. 10
A Very Small Beginning
Then she would remove a strand of the broom, which would break easily. She would always say divided we fall, but united we stand. 1.
Respect authority.
2. Be disciplined. 3. Believe you are alive for a purpose. 4. Be transparent and truthful. 5. Do your job well. 6. Don’t allow the philosophy and mentality of the people you work with to influence you. 7.
Do not let your environment victimize or influence you.
8. Do not let people compartmentalize you. 9. Do not rest on your past accomplishments. My Supernatural Encounter I had an encounter where I devoted my life completely to God. It was an amazing, miraculous and supernatural event at the age of ten years. It was in my fifth grade. I started trusting God, and put myself in His hands. We cannot demonstrate faith in God without surrendering all to Him.
11
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
I
want to thank God Almighty for the successful completion of this book. I give all the glory to God. I appreciate Daddy and Mommy Adeboye for their prayers, impartation, love, counsel and influence on me. Daddy and Mommy, thank you. I am indebted to the counsel, wisdom and mentoring of Rev. George Adegboye, Dr. Myles Munroe, Dr. James Fadele and Pastor Tosin Macauley. I appreciate you all greatly. I also want to acknowledge some unique people God has brought into my path of destiny, who have been there for me in different seasons of my life: Pastors Tayo and Bunmi Ojajuni, Rev. Bode and Dr. Kemi Akindele, Pastors Ben and Belinda Enoma, Dr. Foluso and Mrs. Biodun Ola, Pastor and Mrs. Dayo Adeyemo, Dr. Isaac and Mrs. Felicia Amusan, Pastors. Martin and Lynell Williams, Pastor Adeniji, and Pastor Leke Sanusi. Thank you all for sowing seeds that are benefitting my life and ministry.
155
The Label is Irrelevant
All my siblings have shown me tremendous love and are always there for me. I appreciate their support, help and encouragement. I also say thank you to my editor for her keen eyesight and patience in having this book published. I acknowledge every member of Restoration House, Hamilton, for our time and growth together. I also want to thank my loving wife, Oluwatoyin, and our four children: Timothy, Esther, Mary-Favour and Deborah-Peace, for all your love and support in this journey. I appreciate you all dearly.
156
Notes
Notes
Chapter 9 Abraham Lincoln. (1855). “Letter to Isham Reavis on November 5, 1855” Retrieved from http://www. abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/law. htm. Benge, J., & Benge, G. (2000). Helen Keller: Facing her challenges, challenging the world. Advance Publishing. Retrieved from http://www. nbp.org/nbp/oldsite/hk.html Keller, H. (1905). The story of my life. parts i & ii . New York: Doubleday, Page & Company. Retrieved from http://digital.library.upenn.edu/ women/keller/life/life.html
157
The Label is Irrelevant
Other Books By Dr. Olayinka Dada UNLOCKING DIVINE DOORS
158
Other Books By Dr. Olayinka Dada
THE HIGHEST COMMON FACTOR
159
The Label is Irrelevant
BLOSSOM
All books published by Dunamis Press are available for purchase at Amazon.com and everywhere books are sold. For more information or bulk orders, visit www.dunamispress.com 160
Other Books By Dr. Olayinka Dada
For more information about Dr. Olayinka Dada, products, services and speaking schedule, visit
www.yinkadada.com
161