Day 5 - Nia - PURPOSE

On this the fifth day of Kwanzaa, we are asked to ponder NIA, that is, Purpose. Think what it is you were put here for? For surely you were not made for naught. How shall you make your mark? What is it that you, uniquely, have to offer in return for the gift of life bequeathed to you by God and the ancestors? What is it that you can strive for, that will help, not only you, but your family, and above all your community? And is that not the basic "purpose" of the entire week of Kwanzaa? To give us time to think, yes think, about where we are, and where we are headed, and how we can work together to get there as one. NIA means purpose! What is it that you propose to do with this precious life that has been given to you


"The sun has a purpose. The moon has a purpose. The snow has a purpose. Cows have a purpose. You were born for a purpose. You have to find your purpose. Go to school. Learn to read and write.... What is your purpose, your occupation? Find your purpose.... " This was said by a great man who knew his purpose named Muhammad Ali


Born Cassius Marcellus Clay on January 17, 1942, at Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali began boxing at the age of 12. A white policeman named Joe Martin featured Ali on his early television show, "Tomorrow's Champions," and started him working out at Louisville's Columbia Gym. An African American trainer named Fred Stoner taught Ali the science of boxing, instructing him to move with the grace and subtlety of a dancer.

Ali built an impressive amateur record which led him to both the national Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and Golden Gloves championships. At the age of 18 he competed in the 1960 Olympic games held at Rome, Italy, and won the gold medal in the light-heavyweight division. This led to a contract with a twelve member group of millionaires called the Louisville Sponsors Group, the most lucrative contract negotiated by a professional in the history of boxing. He worked his way through a string of professional victories, employing a style that combined speed with devastating punching power, described by one of his handlers as the ability to "float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee."

Ali's flashy style of boasting and rhyming and out-spoken self-promotion got considerable media attention as he moved toward a chance to contend for the world heavyweight boxing championship. When he began to write poems predicting the outcome of his many bouts he became known by the another name: "The Louisville Lip."

This is the legend of Cassius Clay,
The most beautiful fighter in the world today.
He talks a great deal, and brags indeed-y,
Of a muscular punch that's incredibly speed-y.

Clay swings with his left, Clay swings with his right,
Look at young Cassius carry the fight
Liston keeps backing, but there's not enough room,
It's a matter of time till Clay lowers the boom

Both the attention and his skill as a fighter paid off, and on February 15, 1964, at Miami, Florida, when he was only 22 years old, he fought and defeated Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship of the world.
On April 28, 1967, Ali was drafted into military service during the Vietnam War. As a Muslim and a conscientious objector he refused to serve, claiming an exemption as a minister of the Black Muslim religion. The press turned against him, calling him "unpatriotic, loudmouthed, and arrogant." Although he had not been charged or convicted for violating the Selective Service Act, the New York State Athletic Commission and World Boxing Association suspended his boxing license and stripped him of his heavyweight title in May of 1967. Ali's comment to Sports Illustrated at the time was, "I'm giving up my title, my wealth, may be my future. Many great men have been tested for their religious beliefs. If I pass this test, I'll come out stronger than ever." Eventually Ali was sentenced to five years in prison, released on appeal, and his conviction overturned three years later by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Muhammad Ali is a good example of someone who found their purpose early and stuck with it and touched lives of many others because he stayed true to his purpose.

What we did...
We talked about what purpose meant and how a boy like Cassius Clay could turn into the great Muhammad Ali simply by knowing his purpose and sticking to it. Rion feels he knows what his purpose is and we talked ablout it being ok not to know yet or to even get older and change our purpose but to just make sure we know use the gifts God gave us and when it feels right then we know we are fulfilling a purpose.

We watched a show together I downloaded on the ipod, "The Proud Family - 7 days of Kwanzaa" and Rion and Mani both were happy to see they knew some of the things the Proud family was learning - Mani loved hearing them say Imani (faith).

I gave Rion a Sims game for his psp so he could see how each Sim had a purpose and how to help his Sim acheive his goals etc. (ok I'm a little more addicted to the game than Rion but hey).

Think about how much better and more meaningful your life will be when you are doing exactly what you were made and meant to do. As I understand more about my purpose and how to live it, I have become a happier, healthier person. It's a blessing I wish for all of us. I can't wait to see the kids discover their purpose in life.