The Show Must Go On – Even Without You

While waiting in the conference room for a scheduled meeting with the MD, I overheard a small argument between Ayo and Ola.

Ayo was complaining about how Ola kept leaving most of the departmental work for him to handle.

He said he had reported the situation to HR in the past, and though things briefly improved, they soon relapsed.

But his greatest frustration was how other managers made him feel like a snitch, an unsupportive colleague trying to get Ola into trouble, even though the department was expected to deliver top-notch work within tight deadlines.

This time, Ayo had decided to take it up with the MD directly.

He couldn't take it anymore and was already job-hunting, hoping for a drastic change.

As I listened to the MD’s intervention and warning to Ola, I quietly wondered:

Why do some people feel comfortable not carrying out their responsibilities?

Their discussion reminded me of a talented pianist I met at a Catholic church in Port Harcourt.

Every time he played, the music during Mass was heavenly; I almost never wanted the singing to end.

But whenever he was upset with the church, he would miss Mass entirely.

He’d often say to me:

“The church doesn’t pay me anything, I’ll come whenever I like.”

I tried to make him see how much impact his presence had, how the liturgy and atmosphere changed because of his music. I reminded him that serving during Mass was not just about how he felt, but about being available for something greater than himself.

But you know how people can be when they’re determined to evade responsibility.

Eventually, I found an alternative pianist and started training him to become good enough for what was needed.

Some days when the first guy even showed up, we simply asked him to clap and dance with the congregation.

Shall I mention the father who stops providing for his children, no upkeep, no school fees, just because he is divorced?

He sees divorce as freedom from every responsibility he carried out while married.

I often say: 'One of the greatest mistakes we can make is to determine our performance based on how others behave'.

To keep me in check, my mother used to say:

“What God will do, He will do. If He comes to use you as a vessel and you refuse, He’ll move on to the next person. If every human refuses, He’ll make stones carry out those responsibilities in your place.”

And truly:

• Have you seen children still go to school, even when their parents refuse to train them?
• Have you ever heard that Holy Mass was cancelled because the choir didn’t show up?
• Will Ola say departmental reports were never ready just because Ayo stopped helping?

Dear reader, the show must go on.

And if you remove yourself from the stage, the only person who loses the recognition they could have received is you.

DON'T LET THE STONES TAKE YOUR PLACE.

Shalom.