Thanks to Robert Kelly people everywhere now believe they can fly if they can just see it, and spread their wings and fly away... My concern is that so many people are singing these words, and it means nothing. I am looking particularly at reasons why many people still can commit suicide. I told myself there is absolutely no reason for me to kill myself for any reason or for anybody. No way!!! Even the birds that have actual wings, falter at first take off. I see me running through that open door. I believe I can fly...

When Robert Kelly wrote the song "I believe I can fly", it immediately hit No.1 in the charts.

It was not uncommon to hear people singing in their bathrooms, while dressing up, walking, on the bus, in trams, trains, automobiles, even while on dates... This was the ultimate motivational R&B, Hip-hop of the year 1998.  It was, perhaps, the singular combination of lyrics that created a mass acceptance of Rythm & Blues and Hip-hop within Christian cycles. R&B had now found it's place, feet permanently on the ground, in churches.

Thanks to Robert Kelly people everywhere now believe they "can fly" if they can just "see it", and "spread their wings and fly away".  I am one person who strongly relates with those lyrics, having been on the receiving end of so much nastiness and insensitivities. Like Robert, " I used to think that I could not go on, And life was nothing but an awful song"... But "there are miracles in life I must achieve", so I kept believing I "can fly".

My concern is that so many people are singing these "words", and it means nothing "really" to them. They are not letting it really sink in. I am looking particularly at reasons why many people still can commit suicide. Many are on the very edge of "breaking down".  Even within churches, in large crowds and congregations, many are very alone. "Silence can be so loud" when one finds himself (herself) alone. It has been proved that many people use marriage as a safe haven, but one can be lonely even in a marriage.

Life will hand out its bitter lemons, but if you can endure those bitter pills, you will find that they can actually be good for the body. In fact, they make the body lighter and fitter, and more ready for flight...

On a more serious note, years ago, I told myself there is absolutely no reason for me to kill myself for any reason or for anybody. No way!!!  I have discovered that I am the only one that truly loves myself the way that I deserve to be loved, apart from the one on whose everlasting arms I lean. This is why I actually believe I can fly... Nobody owes me anything, as I have concluded I don't owe anyone any explanations regarding how I choose to fly.

Robert talks of knowing "the meaning of true love, leaning on the everlasting arms". The most secure everlasting arms that I have come to know, are those of our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. These are always extended and unfailing. People around you may profess their love and support, but He is the one you can always depend on. He is the only true reason to "spread your wings and fly away", because he is the one with all ability to make all things beautiful in His time. Even the birds that have actual wings, falter at first take off. For even them, it takes a few unsteady attempts before they perfect the act.

" I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky, I think about it every night and day: Spread my wings and fly away. I believe I can soar. I see me running through that open door. I believe I can fly".

In my opinion, "Flying" is very symbolic. Not that you "spread your wings" and become a bird, and "fly away", but that you give yourself permission to "become"! The permission to "BE" the success you have always dreamt of, or seen, only in other people.

I am not implying that "becoming" who you are meant to be is easy. No, not by a long shot. What with all the bitter lemons that life and it's folks have gathered to offer you, and perhaps, force down your throat. I have learnt that bitter lemons are not the only bitter things in life. Having unsolicited and uncomplementary friendships can be quite bitter as well. But if indeed, you can just even "believe" you can fly, dream about it so often, nothing else matters, you will actually begin to see that it is "do-able".

You must first believe in yourself. Then you must tell yourself you are an achiever. Change your perceptions about yourself.  The Yoruba people of West Africa have a proverb that says "what you call your dog is what people will call it as well". If you dont believe in yourself, noone will believe in you. There are people who want to call you what you are not, and those who refuse to call you what you are, but only see the "under-achiever" and choose to believe every negative about you. Believe me, they do not matter, because regardless of what you may think, they are always in the minority. If you look wider, (as the sky is so wide, you will see many more people waiting just to applaud your flight towards your dream and success. 

But first, you must give yourself that chance. Permit yourself to dream. Allow yourself to see it, believe it, and to attempt it.  Honestly, "there's nothign to it". Hey, if I just spread my wings, I will fly away. I believe I can fly.