We are often advised to try out new things and to just explore. Sometimes, we are caught in a web of routine that trying out new things seems uncomfortable. It is inconceivable, sometimes, to imagine a certain calibre of people trying out certain things. We put them in a box and expect them to stay within those bounds. Our portrait for today is a non-clerical minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He shares with us his experience as a fashion model just for a day.
Enock Kuudaar is a 33-year-old man who currently works as the Archivist for the National Catholic Secretariat. Away from office duties as an Archivist, much of his engagement is with church congregational engagements. His ministerial duties often take most of his free time.
There is no hope in your comfort zone, so move
He loves music, particularly spirit filled sounds. Enock enjoys writing and reading. He plays table tennis and soccer sometimes too. However, he spends most of his leisure time studying or thinking about new ideas, life and society. “Basically I am a deep thinker”.
Due to the nature of his engagements, he does not schedule time for fun or hobbies. Yet, he tries to rest and enjoy hobbies when the opportunity presents itself.
Last year, however, he was determined to try new things. He registered for and took foreign language classes in French. During his annual leave, he signed up as a volunteer for an African Artistic Fashion Drama Show dubbed “Piesie – the start of something new”.
Enock believes that the way for anyone to get better than their current self, in knowledge, skills, and in life experiences generally is to try something new. “I believe that we are able to discover more of our hidden skills, talents, abilities and interests by taking steps at something new. The way of discovery is always towards something new. I guess life’s progression greatly hangs on that”.
We are able to discover more of our hidden skills, talents, abilities and interests by taking steps at something new.
He is of the view that it is useful for self and society to step out of `the usual` and dare some fears.
“We get better psychologically when we relate with new things and people. It inspires a sense of confidence in one’s engagement with society and the bigger world. As a matter of fact any act of faith dares a person away from their comfort zone. It pushes you into what you cannot see or know naturally. The pursuit of life is by faith mostly”.
There are a few other new things he is working at which are literature and music inspired. In the near future, he hopes to compile his thoughts, ideas and inspirations into books. He also hopes to learn some musical instruments such as the violin or guitar.
To anyone scared of trying new experiences or stepping out of the ‘usual’, Enock has a piece of advice for you:
The pursuit of life is mostly by faith.
“It’s always a joy when you have succeeded in the discovery of something new. It is good for you and even for society. It is possible to step up from the usual to the not so usual. The act of faith gears towards discoveries into a world of all possibilities. Set yourself to try something new perhaps you would be the next person to make an impossible thing possible. It took a dare for the world to discover the light bulb, the aeroplanes, the telephone which would have been an impossibility a thousand years back. It took a move away from the comfort zone to have discovered continents in the world and existence in the space and planetary worlds. There is no hope in your comfort zone, so move”.
