WHILE driving from Harare to Mutare over the weekend, I had an encounter with a woman whose life story deeply moved me.
She spoke openly about the ups and downs she has faced, from career setbacks to personal losses, but what struck me most was her fearless approach to life.
She described her journey as “going against the tide,” choosing to act when others hesitated, to sow when others waited for fair weather.
Her story reminded me of the quiet wisdom found in Ecclesiastes 11:4:
“He who observes the wind will not sow and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”
This verse, simple as it may sound, carries a profound truth: those who spend too much time waiting for perfect conditions end up doing nothing.
We often convince ourselves that we need just a little more time, more money, more preparation, or more clarity. But if the farmer waits for the perfect weather, he will never sow his seed and he will surely never reap a harvest.
The lady I met challenged that mindset. She told me that she started businesses during Zimbabwe’s economic downturn in 2008, applied for jobs she felt under-qualified for and returned to school despite having multiple responsibilities.
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Her reasoning was simple: if she waited for everything to align perfectly, she would never move forward. She chose faith over fear, action over hesitation.
There is quiet wisdom in the habits of fishermen, too. When the sea is too rough for sailing, the wise do not sit idly. They repair their nets, sharpen their hooks, and prepare their boats. Because even in stillness, there is progress. Inaction is not the default of the wise — it is preparation that defines them.
We live in a world where over-caution has become the norm. Young people delay launching businesses or ideas because “the market is not ready.”
Graduates hesitate to apply for jobs because “they do not tick all the boxes.” Students delay their studies because “funding has not come through yet.” But the truth is this: the conditions will never be perfect. There will always be wind. There will always be clouds. But progress belongs to those who begin even in uncertainty.
In Zimbabwe and across the world, many find themselves in turbulent waters. The economy is unpredictable, opportunities are scarce, and the future feels foggy. But that is exactly why this message matters.
If we wait for things to stabilise before we act, we may wait forever. The call is not to ignore reality, but to act within it.
To sow even when the wind blows. To build what is next while the storm rages on.
This means using your downtime wisely. As a student, you may face postponed semester examinations or failed modules. But that should not stop your growth. This is the time to polish your interview skills, volunteer, read outside your course material or learn something entirely new. Whatever you do, keep sowing.
Ecclesiastes 11 is not just a caution against procrastination — it is a call to faith. Sowing when the wind is high takes courage and trust. You may not see the results immediately, but the work you do now, the skills you build and the mindset you cultivate will bear fruit in due time.
Real growth is often invisible at first. The world may not see the nights you spent studying, the failed attempts you learned from, or the quiet decisions you made to keep going. But when the season shifts and opportunity returns, all that preparation will finally make sense.
Importantly, this is not just about personal success. The nets you mend today may feed entire communities tomorrow. The skills you develop now may uplift your family, mentor others and spark change. Preparation is personal, but its impact is often collective.
So, to the student waiting for the “right time,” the young professional hesitating to take a risk, or the entrepreneur afraid to start — this is your reminder: the perfect moment may never come. Sow anyway. Build anyway. Prepare anyway. And grow.
Success does not always come from waiting for the storm to pass. Sometimes, it comes from repairing your nets during the storm and being ready to sail the moment it clears.
Build. Prepare. Sow anyway. Harvest belongs to the brave.
- Cliff Chiduku is the director of marketing, information and public relations at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences in Mutare. He writes here in his personal capacity. He can be contacted on cchiduku@gmail.com or call/app +263775716517.
