I admire such people who do something wonderful with their hands, be it growing vegetables, making machines or constructing buildings. And I am working hard to join that echelon of people who produce quality works.
Actually, I have joined that echelon of people because I write original and truthful stories that inspire and entertain my blog visitors. I also produce songs that minister to people. That's something, isn't it?
But I have not always been this way. There were times I used to spend my days lying in bed, watching adult films on the internet or hanging out with feckless friends.
What's worse, I would plagiarize other people's writings and share them with my friends. If you didn't know, plagiarism is stealing. So I was a thief, and a clever one for that matter.
It has dawned on me that when I used to plagiarize the works of other writers, I hadn't gone through the experiences that made them pen the writings that inspired me. And my faking experiences I hadn't undergone made me a fool.
Take for instance the speech by United States Congressman Gerry Sikorski that I mentioned in a recent story on this blog. The speech, which was about how to succeed in life, really inspired me.
Now, when I went to Starehe Boys' Centre (my former high school) in January 2012 to present the speech, nobody in the school seemed to notice me. I just stood in the school's main office, staring at pictures of dignitaries who had visited the school in the past and received a very warm reception.
Had I been the author of that speech as I would have wanted the students to believe, I would have achieved some success that would have made the Starehe community hold me in high regard. I wouldn't have gone unnoticed in the school.
Later on when I saw the light that plagiarism is wrong, I ended up feeling guilty. And I feared that I may have lost the trust of people who were smart enough to discern that my writings weren't original.
Plagiarism is indeed wrong, any way you slice it. Penn State University put it aptly when it stated:
Plagiarism is wrong [because] you deprive another author due credit for his work [and] you invite future employers and faculty to question your integrity and performance in general.Gladly, I no longer feel guilty for sending my friends plagiarized writings. I have been experiencing the peace that comes with God's forgiveness.
Since I don't plagiarize other people's writings any more, I hope I have regained the trust of those friends who may have discerned that the writings I used to share before 2016 weren't genuine. (2016 was the year I began to be a true Christian, or, as a Jew would say, a godly man.)
One thing I have discovered about life is that if someone creates something wonderful, there are bound to be people of inferior ability who will be tempted to steal it. I personally would be happy to hear there are folks out there who plagiarize the stories I share on this blog as that would be an indication that I am doing pretty good work with my hands.
My beloved reader, I implore you to also join that echelon of people who produce quality works. Instead of stealing, why not learn to do something creative with your hands? It could be writing stories, making furniture, designing websites, planting vegetables, composing songs, drawing pictures, knitting sweaters or playing a musical instrument. There is joy in creating things!
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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed the above story on doing something with our hands, you might also enjoy another one on "The 8th Commandment" which I wrote a couple of years ago. Just click on that link in blue to dive straight into the story.
