Читать книгу Putco Mafani: The Price and Prize of Greatness - Putco Mafani - Страница 6

Dr Jongimpi Papu

President of the Cape Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Rather than being a map to greatness, this book is more of a microscope to assist one in discovering one’s own potential. Truth be told, we are not grasshoppers but indeed a species that carries inherently the seeds of greatness. The sprouting and the successful germination of the seed require certain basic elements. The absence of a beautiful plant does not mean the absence of the seed. It may mean, as it often does, the absence of a conducive environment.

We all have stories that we may take for granted and see as isolated and meaningless incidents. Putco’s story forces us to see in our stories a dynamic thread that runs seamlessly throughout our life’s episodes. What constitutes a tree and distinguishes it from a stone is not its height or its size but its nature. So it is with greatness. It is not the size or the popularity, but a life that has been lived and that, in the process, encouraged others to do the same.

Indeed, greatness can assume different definitions. What is the difference between the experiences of the author at Bethel as bell-ringer and as one of the organising members of the 2010 FIFA World Cup? Both represent different shapes of greatness – one in an obscure village at an unknown school and the other in a space that was open to the whole world. It is here that we see that greatness is an attitude and not just an achievement. It is being and doing your best every day and is characterised by deliberate excellence. It can be said that, for Putco, greatness manifested itself on different platforms: at Radio Ciskei, Umhlobo Wenene and Kaizer Chiefs, and on TV. However, those platforms do not create greatness but afford it an opportunity to blossom.

Looking at Putco’s journey, we learn to appreciate the value of those who are in many ways responsible for the seed of greatness pulsating in our lives. These are our family members, our parents, our relatives. What we see in them compels us to appreciate what is in us. We acknowledge that, for the better part, what is in us has nothing to do with us; it was planted and all it needs is nourishment. Our home influences have a lot to do with how effectively we navigate life.

Putco takes us on a journey away from home and we see him carving a home away from home in both good and trying circumstances. As we can see from Putco’s life, success, while a darling to many, can easily be a detestable foe. Many lives have been crucified on the pinnacle of success. But through the eyes of Putco, we see that such episodes of success can serve as passages to greater heights instead of being drawbacks.

We also observe that difficulties along the journey do not always mean you are on the wrong path. These are sometimes thrown in our way to prevent us from reaching the intended destination. But in them, again, we see the training ground and stepping-stones for further exploits and growth. Difficulties come in many shapes and sizes; some are thrown at us, but the worst are those we invite into our lives.

Now read this book and, if all goes well, you will realise your own greatness and may be inspired to write your own story. For, you see, true greatness is not achieved but realised – this is one of those books that will assist you in your own self-discovery.