The Paris attacks made many people face the facts: the double standard that apparently exists when expressing outrage in the wanton terrorist activities that have become common place around the globe. It seems that some lives are more important than others and now the rest of the world knows it.

As the end of the year approaches, there may be a number of things that we have prayed for but which we are yet to get answers to. Does it mean God has forgotten us?

The pro-Biafra protests are not abating; and, for the first time, reached Abuja last week when Kanu the Director of Radio Biafra, was brought before the magistrate’s court. The protests may be fuelled by yet to be identified financiers, but those fanning the embers of secession are youths who have abandoned their various vocations to participate in the protests. Some are doing so for genuine, if misguided reasons. Some, not so genuine. Some might not even be of Igbo origin. But all are unhappy and discontented with their lives and have inadvertently become willing pawns in a complex chess game.

We can now all admit that we are at war. The proclamation that slapped a state of emergency on three States—Yobe, Adamawa and Bornu—a while back would seem to suggest as much, especially from the launching of all-out hostilities in certain areas of that region. It did not appear that we were really sure of what was going on these past three to four years during which we had borne the scourge of the Boko Haram. Some of course called it “terrorism” which is, in fact, a measure of warfare.

Two weeks ago, we discussed purposeful living. Today, we shall look at traits of people whose lives are purpose-driven. They are people with vision on a mission. They never rest until they get to their destination. They work hard, physically and, especially, mentally. They work hard on the opportunities that are available to them as a result of their strength.