Why does success always attract enemies? This is a question that provokes deep thought. Many may not agree or may not have experienced it, but it happens in real life. I have experienced it firsthand, and I know many people have gone through similar situations.
How can we please the world? Is there anyone who has ever pleased everyone? In my opinion, the answer is no. If you are rich, people will talk. If you are poor, people will still find something to say about why poverty has affected you. When you become wealthy, they begin to ask where your riches came from.
The most amazing part is that some people may genuinely mean well for you at first, but later you realize they have changed their attitude when your success becomes too noticeable or when they begin to feel threatened by the success they once celebrated. Some people are wired to always see you behind them in every aspect of life. The moment they realize you are moving ahead or making progress, problems begin to arise. They may even call you arrogant or claim that you have “arrived.” That is human nature for you, and many of us are guilty of it. The human heart can be wicked, as the Bible says. If only we could see what the next person truly thinks about us, we might not even want to speak to them again.
Life is complex, and sometimes you see strange situations where people become problems for one another. Every race has its own challenges, and no one is perfect. However, some people can take things too far. Often, people from the same background cause pain for one another and even block others from enjoying the same privileges or opportunities they once had.
I watched a video online in which an African woman living abroad spoke about how those who had lived overseas for many years used to help newcomers settle in. She lamented that some of the people arriving now are causing problems for their fellow Africans by reporting them to the authorities or contributing to their deportation. They forget that life is unpredictable and that circumstances can change at any time.
If you betray your friends to gain favour with an enemy, that enemy may never trust you completely. That is one of life’s realities. If you sell out your fellow Black people just for temporary recognition, remember that such recognition may not last. You could eventually find yourself in the same position as those you betrayed.
This reflection is simply to prepare our minds for the disappointments we may encounter on our journey through life. Human beings will always be human, and that is just the way it is.
