It was the day that was set aside to remember the fallen and those that gave their lives so that our liberties may be sustained. Many marched on Bay Street and down Parliament Street to gather at the Garden of Remembrance to pay tribute to the heroes that fought and those that paid the ultimate price on the battlefield. The mood was sombre and so were the attendees at this annual event.
As we transitioned from the commemoration of this event and the new week beckoned, The Bahamas was shaken in grief and sorrow by some shocking news. The news and social media were overwhelmed with discussions about a plane crash that had occurred in Grand Bahama. It was indeed an emotional roller-coaster for many Bahamians as we heard initial conflicting reports that one of our greatest and most illustrious sons had been killed in the fatal plane crash. We all hoped and prayed that this was a mere rumor but alas it was confirmed that Dr. Myles Munroe had been killed in the plane crash.
A leader of leaders
Born in Nassau, Bahamas in 1954, Myles Munroe was an internationally-renowned leader, a bestselling author, a respected lecturer and teacher, leadership mentor and life coach as well as an adviser to governments and corporations. It is not surprising that he died on his way to the Global Leadership Forum under the theme "Leading change in a globalized world through principled innovative leadership". A well lettered Bahamian with degrees in fine arts, education and theology, he held a master's degree in administration and received several honorary doctoral degrees. Munroe also authored or co-authored over 100 books with many bestsellers among his pieces.
The life of Munroe was dedicated to the empowerment of people and the grooming of leaders in all spheres of life, ranging from politics to religion and the corporate world. He led leaders and provided them with sound counsel to confront the challenges of leading in a changing world. The genius of his ministry was also shown in the diversity of his followers and this was displayed in the number of nationalities represented within his local congregation at the Diplomat Centre.
An ambassador for
The Bahamas
The extent to which Munroe impacted the lives of people around the world will never be fully comprehended. However, one thing is certain: he was a man who represented his country well around the world for several years. He did so with grace, intellect and pride while preaching about the Kingdom of God and teaching principles for living an effective life. He was a household name from North America to the Far East as he put The Bahamas on the map as he made his voyage through life.
It was not unusual to meet persons from different countries who knew him because of his teachings and books. His gift made room for him and brought him into the presence of kings and rulers across the globe. In recent times, Munroe's travels across the continent of Africa were chronicled and reported in the local media. Who would have known that this was his final tour of a continent that embraced him like its own? It was only fitting, therefore, that Munroe was awarded the Silver Jubilee Award for providing 25 years of outstanding service to The Bahamas in the category of Faith, honored with the Order of the British Empire and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his contribution to leadership development in Peru and other emerging Latin American nations.
Activism and advocacy
In the final months of his life, Munroe made the news for a number of his utterances on matters of national importance. While there were proponents and opponents of his views on matters such as gambling, the referendum on gender equality, immigration and crime, he remained resolute based on his convictions.
In hindsight, one can only wonder whether he had a premonition of his imminent death and wanted to leave his beloved country with some food for thought. Indeed his words will not be forgotten in a hurry, and it behooves leaders across the archipelago to consider the wisdom of the words he said. Munroe will be remembered regardless as a man who stood up for what he believed, even when it was unpopular and when he had to stand alone. Bahamian leaders will do well to emulate this trait and make decisions in the national interest of The Bahamas, especially decisions that will impact generations yet unborn.
A tragedy unfolds
The Department of Civil Aviation reported that a Learjet 36 left the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) for the Grand Bahama International Airport at 4:07 p.m. carrying nine passengers. It was further reported that the vessel crashed while making its landing approach with no survivors from the incident.
Myles Munroe exited this world with his soul mate and beloved wife by his side, symbolizing a bond that was so deep that even death could not separate them. In a twinkle of an eye, our celebrated son and his colleagues in ministry was no more; his candle was blown out long before his legend ever will.
The story will now be told by those of us who were privileged to experience the wisdom and teachings of one Myles Munroe. It will be said that death snatched him from our hands prematurely though we know that death is one certainty in life and our mortality makes this inevitable. The interpretation of this unfortunate event as a national tragedy by many is inconsistent with the ideology of the late leader. One of his famous quotes is that "The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose." Munroe lived a purpose-driven life and was sure of his assignment which he discharged to the best of his abilities to the end.
A fitting farewell
It is yet to be seen how a grateful nation will honor one of its sons and entrench his name in our nation's history books. Here was a man who was clear on his assignment and on his purpose in life which he exemplified daily. In an interview some time ago, Munroe stated: "I was born to transform followers into leaders and leaders into agents of change". There is no doubt that The Bahamas is in need of agents of change at this juncture in its history more than ever before. There is no bigger way to honor the legacy of this great son of The Bahamas than to commit ourselves to the service of our God, humanity and our country as true agents of change.
We bid farewell to a leader and teacher. We celebrate the life of a mentor and patriot and pay homage to an ambassador extraordinaire who firmly believed that The Bahamas was the best little country on this side of heaven. He often said that God lives in The Bahamas, and we pray that his soul rests in perfect peace in the bosom of his Lord. He will be greatly missed and we can only hope that those he has left behind will carry on from where he left off. Indeed in the words of 2 Timothy 4:7, Munroe has fought the good fight, he has finished the course and has kept the faith.
Adieu, Dr. Myles Munroe.
o Arinthia S. Komolafe is an attorney-at-law. Comments on this article can be directed to a.s.komolafe510@gmail.com.
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