Thursday 15 December 2016
LIVE FULL AND DIE EMPTY
At two instances in my life I had two opposing views and impression about the most scary concept called death! . One in my pre-school years and the other when I was past high School. Comparing both views reveals a paradigm shift in my perception of the journey into the world of the unknown.
In my pre-school days, I once had an horrifying experience at the funeral of my Proprietress' mother. She slotted her pupils with a role into her mothers befitting burial plan. But all of that didn't go down well with me. I dreadfully hated the sound of the siren. The terrifying grip of fear overwhelmed me at the sight of the casket. Weird thoughts and horror-filled imaginations lingered in my mind. My first impression was purely natural of fear and horror.
Fast forward into life after High school. This time I had grown significantly. But maturity in itself doesn't take away the fear of death. The sense of purpose and accomplishment does. The occasion was that of my Aunt's funeral this time around. Rather than feeling horrified, I was able for the first time to picture myself dying as a fulfilled man in a ripe old age. Notice I said in a ripe old age. I imagined the peace that would encompass me round-about. The number of lives I would have touched positively and significantly who would be present to bid me good night . The resounding legacy that I would have left behind through an exemplary lifestyle. I thought about living full and dying empty. For once death lost its grip of fear on me and gave me a cause to diligently pursue my goals and impact lives. Jesus left the most impact on earth so I choose to emulate his lifestyle. There is such a thing as the brevity of life. It should propel us to make the most out of this life and dream to die fulfilled.
Thursday 13 October 2016
LET'S MEND BROKEN TIES
I want to start by making an appeal to you. Please join me in reasoning out my self manufactured human relations crisis resolution thought.
Have you ever thought of relating with yourself assuming God makes exact copies of you in five human bodies? The same biological,emotional and intellectual make-up. Not even with the slightest variation. Do you think you would gel (get along) well without taking any offence at some point on yourselves . Let me reiterate by asking if some of your own flaws would get you really pissed at yourself?.Will you most likely pick quarrels at yourself when outwardly positioned in different moods simultaneously. Roll over the question in your heart and give an honest answer. I'm afraid, for me the answer would be Yes. Well justified by those moments we goof and say things like, 'my bad' or 'stupid me'. If we could objectively judge our personal actions as foolish, thereby taking offence at it. How much more a completely distinct individual, with different backgrounds, reasoning, character and emotional composition. Let's take the immediate family as an example of a place where characters are duplicated. A carbon copy of a father is created in the son and that of a mother in the daughter or even vice versa, yet that does not leave the nuclear family a free Zone of offences and misunderstanding. This candid discovery should arm us with a soft heart in promptly resolving any broken ties in our lives. Every Man is fallible. Like the saying goes, to err is human and to forgive is Divine. There are many tools in resolving crisis but we cannot rule out the instrumentality of the right usage of words in maintaining peaceful Co-existence. I have a burden in my heart. It's a wish. That all men becomes skillful in the gracious use of Words. I wish we know that there is a way to saying things (even if it's the truth ) without stirring unnecessary grudge. I agree though that somethings need to be said as they are, but not without the unspoken inaudible voice of Love. There is one that speaks as a piercing of the sword and another as a medicine to the heart. It saddens my heart to see relationships fall out, much why I pray to be a gift in reconciling broken ties, an ambassador of peace. Jesus epitomises peace and forgiveness when He said of those that crucified him, Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Unforgiveness they say is like drinking poison and expecting the next person to die. Don't disregard my initial appeal, think on these things and act as appropriate.
Have you ever thought of relating with yourself assuming God makes exact copies of you in five human bodies? The same biological,emotional and intellectual make-up. Not even with the slightest variation. Do you think you would gel (get along) well without taking any offence at some point on yourselves . Let me reiterate by asking if some of your own flaws would get you really pissed at yourself?.Will you most likely pick quarrels at yourself when outwardly positioned in different moods simultaneously. Roll over the question in your heart and give an honest answer. I'm afraid, for me the answer would be Yes. Well justified by those moments we goof and say things like, 'my bad' or 'stupid me'. If we could objectively judge our personal actions as foolish, thereby taking offence at it. How much more a completely distinct individual, with different backgrounds, reasoning, character and emotional composition. Let's take the immediate family as an example of a place where characters are duplicated. A carbon copy of a father is created in the son and that of a mother in the daughter or even vice versa, yet that does not leave the nuclear family a free Zone of offences and misunderstanding. This candid discovery should arm us with a soft heart in promptly resolving any broken ties in our lives. Every Man is fallible. Like the saying goes, to err is human and to forgive is Divine. There are many tools in resolving crisis but we cannot rule out the instrumentality of the right usage of words in maintaining peaceful Co-existence. I have a burden in my heart. It's a wish. That all men becomes skillful in the gracious use of Words. I wish we know that there is a way to saying things (even if it's the truth ) without stirring unnecessary grudge. I agree though that somethings need to be said as they are, but not without the unspoken inaudible voice of Love. There is one that speaks as a piercing of the sword and another as a medicine to the heart. It saddens my heart to see relationships fall out, much why I pray to be a gift in reconciling broken ties, an ambassador of peace. Jesus epitomises peace and forgiveness when He said of those that crucified him, Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Unforgiveness they say is like drinking poison and expecting the next person to die. Don't disregard my initial appeal, think on these things and act as appropriate.
Wednesday 7 September 2016
SKETCH ON INFLUENCE
As I searched into the archive of my childhood. I found a memory that encapsulates the power of influence. One that I keep recounting from time to time as it helps to substantiate the need to exercise caution in the duplicate pattern we create with the template of our conducts unknowingly. It could be made manifest in two opposite forms, either in the negative or positive. When negative, the vice could linger despite stiff human struggles to curb it and of course it brings great gain when positive. The former can be likened to a baton handed over from the past into the present and if nothing is significantly done to break the vicious cycle it could in a great way shapen the future into its mould. Now enough of the analysis , let's get into the narrative.
I was an innocent and plain minded little boy of about five years old waiting for life to impress my societal norms on me. Owing to the fact that I had a good Christian family background the expectations have it that the indelible imprints on the pages of my heart would be morally sound. But not all my exposures could be monitored and duly censored. The more reason why parents resolved that having done their best in training their wards it takes God to instill his fears and discipline into a child's heart till adulthood. Since it is pretty hard to cage the quest in kids to mingle with their peers, my parent’s out of their liberality allowed me to occasionally visit and play with my friends next door . On one of such visit I was exposed to an act that would have made me pick up an addiction capable of sending me to an early grave. On that fateful day,while playing with my friends, I stumbled on their Dad sitting right in his living room with a piece of paper and some dry leaf-like particles that I couldn't tell what exactly it was then. My intelligent brain made a match with what I saw and what used to be concealed in the lipton tea bag. I saw him carefully placing the substance into the piece of paper, wrapping it up and with a box of matches he lighted it, the end result was thick rich smoke oozing out of both his mouth and his nose. My curiosity was aroused with the smoke as my main attraction point. This must be the next experiment to carry out, I thought to myself. The old man never knew that he had created a replica in my heart and of course immediately I got back home I acted out the script he showed me in oblivion by smoking the content of a lipton tea bag in an hidden corner of my house. It remains a miracle how the act never grew into an habitual lifestyle. It was much later that I discovered that what I actually saw earlier was Indian hemp. Kids need not be told to do what adults do, they only need to watch while it is being done. A principle which in advanced stage bothers on the power of imagery: becoming what you behold. Imagery is what gets me personally intoxicated after watching an inspiring video on YouTube, firing me up with the 'I can' spirit and mind set. It is what makes boys misbehave with wild stunts after watching action movies. It's the same concept upon which mentoring is built. It is why we have role models, the best of which is Jesus. It is why we are glued to social media. Advertisements thrives on this principle. It's also the same principle that answers why we dress for instance like those of the western world. It's just a bit worrisome that the sense of discernment towards what is actually right or wrong about the things we emulate is relatively scarce. It is a very powerful and profound concept that governs our world in both positive and negative ways. Becoming what we behold is regardless of whether we are conscious of it or not. That's why we need to take responsibility for the things we set our gaze on. We should be very deliberate about them . Choosing only the things that motivates, inspires and build up. I can go on and on but I just hope you get to understand the enormous life transforming power of influence. This is my bit to open your eyes to it.
I was an innocent and plain minded little boy of about five years old waiting for life to impress my societal norms on me. Owing to the fact that I had a good Christian family background the expectations have it that the indelible imprints on the pages of my heart would be morally sound. But not all my exposures could be monitored and duly censored. The more reason why parents resolved that having done their best in training their wards it takes God to instill his fears and discipline into a child's heart till adulthood. Since it is pretty hard to cage the quest in kids to mingle with their peers, my parent’s out of their liberality allowed me to occasionally visit and play with my friends next door . On one of such visit I was exposed to an act that would have made me pick up an addiction capable of sending me to an early grave. On that fateful day,while playing with my friends, I stumbled on their Dad sitting right in his living room with a piece of paper and some dry leaf-like particles that I couldn't tell what exactly it was then. My intelligent brain made a match with what I saw and what used to be concealed in the lipton tea bag. I saw him carefully placing the substance into the piece of paper, wrapping it up and with a box of matches he lighted it, the end result was thick rich smoke oozing out of both his mouth and his nose. My curiosity was aroused with the smoke as my main attraction point. This must be the next experiment to carry out, I thought to myself. The old man never knew that he had created a replica in my heart and of course immediately I got back home I acted out the script he showed me in oblivion by smoking the content of a lipton tea bag in an hidden corner of my house. It remains a miracle how the act never grew into an habitual lifestyle. It was much later that I discovered that what I actually saw earlier was Indian hemp. Kids need not be told to do what adults do, they only need to watch while it is being done. A principle which in advanced stage bothers on the power of imagery: becoming what you behold. Imagery is what gets me personally intoxicated after watching an inspiring video on YouTube, firing me up with the 'I can' spirit and mind set. It is what makes boys misbehave with wild stunts after watching action movies. It's the same concept upon which mentoring is built. It is why we have role models, the best of which is Jesus. It is why we are glued to social media. Advertisements thrives on this principle. It's also the same principle that answers why we dress for instance like those of the western world. It's just a bit worrisome that the sense of discernment towards what is actually right or wrong about the things we emulate is relatively scarce. It is a very powerful and profound concept that governs our world in both positive and negative ways. Becoming what we behold is regardless of whether we are conscious of it or not. That's why we need to take responsibility for the things we set our gaze on. We should be very deliberate about them . Choosing only the things that motivates, inspires and build up. I can go on and on but I just hope you get to understand the enormous life transforming power of influence. This is my bit to open your eyes to it.
Tuesday 12 July 2016
DRAWN FROM MY FIRST FLIGHT
I stepped into the airplane for the first time with fear running down my spine, one informed by incessant plane crash in time past. Although normalcy seemed to have been restored to the aviation industry, the apprehension was carried over to mark my initial experience on the flight heading to the treasure base city of Port Harcourt (Nigeria). Many thanks to NYSC posting that availed me this opportunity. It was the longest journey I have ever had to embark on, hence Speed and comfort influenced the means of transportation I opted for. Had I not surmounted my fears, the whole experience would have remained only in the realm of fantasy with no inherent lessons to learn. The first insight drawn came in plain language, if you don’t win your fears you can’t scale great heights.
As I tried to locate a seat, my preference was for a space by the window side. I wanted an unhindered view of what the earth looked like from the sky. Having found one, I settled down and ran a thorough scan through my mind ensuring that I had no unresolved grudge, just in case the unexpected happens. Making Heaven had always been my ultimate goal.
No sooner the metallic Bird took off my fears began to ease out. A peep through the window revealed the earth looking like an artistic sketch of map painted dominantly with green. While I looked on, something happened to my imagination, it became enlarged with a sense of possibility towards something bigger. My horizon has been broadened. If only Abraham had an airplane when God promised all he could see, he probably would have travelled round and possessed the entire globe. No doubt the extent to which we see determines the much we can achieve. I once learnt from a book that things are always created twice: first in the workshop of the mind and then and only then in reality.
Cruising right in the air was absolute fun. I was actually on top of the world. The demonstration of safety procedures by air hostess looked like a playlet well rehearsed to entertain passengers. The experience was worth it. Just that I couldn’t but wonder how the white man conceived and actualised this innovation that combed the clouds when the puzzling fact remains that the black man also has the same unutilised potentials hanging between his two ears. This made me resolve to explore and maximise all my capabilities. I had always known that some individuals will weep profusely when they get to heaven. Not because of things they did wrong, but for promising potentials they had but failed to discover and tap into. This gives credence to the description of being heaven conscious but earthly irrelevant.
Mid way into the journey was a sudden vibration that over took the airbus. One would be tempted to ask if there were gallops in the air. I kept my calm regardless, not because I was a superman but a friend had told me prior to that time of his own similar experience. My mind had been better prepared. It is also true in life that there will be ups and down. Life doesn't promise a smooth ride all the way, but you can be rest assured of safety if Jesus is in the boat of your life. The journey lasted for about 50 minutes, one that would have taken an entire day by land. Flying is surely the best route to arriving at our destinations in life. Dare to fly and let God be your carrier.
As I tried to locate a seat, my preference was for a space by the window side. I wanted an unhindered view of what the earth looked like from the sky. Having found one, I settled down and ran a thorough scan through my mind ensuring that I had no unresolved grudge, just in case the unexpected happens. Making Heaven had always been my ultimate goal.
No sooner the metallic Bird took off my fears began to ease out. A peep through the window revealed the earth looking like an artistic sketch of map painted dominantly with green. While I looked on, something happened to my imagination, it became enlarged with a sense of possibility towards something bigger. My horizon has been broadened. If only Abraham had an airplane when God promised all he could see, he probably would have travelled round and possessed the entire globe. No doubt the extent to which we see determines the much we can achieve. I once learnt from a book that things are always created twice: first in the workshop of the mind and then and only then in reality.
Cruising right in the air was absolute fun. I was actually on top of the world. The demonstration of safety procedures by air hostess looked like a playlet well rehearsed to entertain passengers. The experience was worth it. Just that I couldn’t but wonder how the white man conceived and actualised this innovation that combed the clouds when the puzzling fact remains that the black man also has the same unutilised potentials hanging between his two ears. This made me resolve to explore and maximise all my capabilities. I had always known that some individuals will weep profusely when they get to heaven. Not because of things they did wrong, but for promising potentials they had but failed to discover and tap into. This gives credence to the description of being heaven conscious but earthly irrelevant.
Mid way into the journey was a sudden vibration that over took the airbus. One would be tempted to ask if there were gallops in the air. I kept my calm regardless, not because I was a superman but a friend had told me prior to that time of his own similar experience. My mind had been better prepared. It is also true in life that there will be ups and down. Life doesn't promise a smooth ride all the way, but you can be rest assured of safety if Jesus is in the boat of your life. The journey lasted for about 50 minutes, one that would have taken an entire day by land. Flying is surely the best route to arriving at our destinations in life. Dare to fly and let God be your carrier.
Thursday 16 June 2016
HANGING ON GOD’S DP ( DISPLAY PICTURE)
How would you feel if all your contacts on social media ( bbm & whats app) updated their display picture with your best selfie? Thrilled, excited, honoured and feeling on top of the world i guess. This brings to mind the special treat we get on our birthday's when our picture graces every ones DP. Let me share the source of inspiration for this write up. It was during leisure at work, i tried to check my unread messages only to notice that my friend had updated his DP with my picture. I felt so good about it and to return his kind gesture i sent him a prayer, may God use you on His DP. The prayer i sent not long after got me thinking. What would it look like to be on Gods DP? (assuming he has one). The result of my soul searching is what i thought to share in this piece.
To start with, it would be helpful to find out the essence of a display picture? Google couldn’t help much so i resorted to asking myself the simple question, why do people change their DP ? Some reasons soon surfaced as i mused over the question in my mind. The first discovery is to reveal and display our identity in looks, beauty, gender e.t.c . if this is true in any way it means that anyone who hangs on Gods DP would most likely be used to reveal his identity as God. With few exceptions most people update their DP with their personal pictures. This implies that you get to know people by their display picture. A man on God’s DP is one whose life shows God’s character and attitude. The best example we find is Jesus.
Aside from revealing identity, display pictures are used to celebrate people and advertise products. How many contacts do you think God will have if He truly was on social media? I doubt if any platform can accommodate his followers, number of likes and retweets without slowing down or crashing the server. Now imagine the popularity that will be attracted by the face on God’s DP. Such would barely walk the street in any major city of the world without being spotted and duly recognised. Brands like Coca cola and other telecom giant would keep the chase for endorsing such person as a brand ambassador. The fortune that comes with such will almost be invaluable.
Lastly for the sake of brevity, the display pictures also come in form of short written text intending to inspire and motivate. They conveys messages. If Solomon was on Gods DP he would probably convey wisdom while Abraham would convey Faith. Both of them put together would also convey prosperity. Whoever rocks Gods DP would convey all the messages God stands for, like Holiness, Purity, Prosperity, Healing, Grace, Mercy, Abundance e.t.c. I close with the same prayer, May God use you on His DP.
To start with, it would be helpful to find out the essence of a display picture? Google couldn’t help much so i resorted to asking myself the simple question, why do people change their DP ? Some reasons soon surfaced as i mused over the question in my mind. The first discovery is to reveal and display our identity in looks, beauty, gender e.t.c . if this is true in any way it means that anyone who hangs on Gods DP would most likely be used to reveal his identity as God. With few exceptions most people update their DP with their personal pictures. This implies that you get to know people by their display picture. A man on God’s DP is one whose life shows God’s character and attitude. The best example we find is Jesus.
Aside from revealing identity, display pictures are used to celebrate people and advertise products. How many contacts do you think God will have if He truly was on social media? I doubt if any platform can accommodate his followers, number of likes and retweets without slowing down or crashing the server. Now imagine the popularity that will be attracted by the face on God’s DP. Such would barely walk the street in any major city of the world without being spotted and duly recognised. Brands like Coca cola and other telecom giant would keep the chase for endorsing such person as a brand ambassador. The fortune that comes with such will almost be invaluable.
Lastly for the sake of brevity, the display pictures also come in form of short written text intending to inspire and motivate. They conveys messages. If Solomon was on Gods DP he would probably convey wisdom while Abraham would convey Faith. Both of them put together would also convey prosperity. Whoever rocks Gods DP would convey all the messages God stands for, like Holiness, Purity, Prosperity, Healing, Grace, Mercy, Abundance e.t.c. I close with the same prayer, May God use you on His DP.
Saturday 11 June 2016
WAITING
How long will it take till I get there
I Have been tiresomely chilling here
with nothing seeming to show for
Do I really need to wait this more
Looking around doesn't help the matter
See the pace of those we raced as a starter
I seem not to feel like one of a kind
Taking two steps ahead and four behind
Life answered me back saying
My waiting shall be for a training
Denial will not be the result of delay
A great tomorrow is birthed today
Shall I not learn before I earn
Shall I not train before i attain
Shall I not be made before I trade
Shall I not know the art before i act.
Waiting in my pain will bring my gain
Making my story will command the glory
I would rather wait and get it straight
Than be in haste and go astray.
I Have been tiresomely chilling here
with nothing seeming to show for
Do I really need to wait this more
Looking around doesn't help the matter
See the pace of those we raced as a starter
I seem not to feel like one of a kind
Taking two steps ahead and four behind
Life answered me back saying
My waiting shall be for a training
Denial will not be the result of delay
A great tomorrow is birthed today
Shall I not learn before I earn
Shall I not train before i attain
Shall I not be made before I trade
Shall I not know the art before i act.
Waiting in my pain will bring my gain
Making my story will command the glory
I would rather wait and get it straight
Than be in haste and go astray.
Thursday 9 June 2016
ROD OF LIFE
As a little boy, I always anticipated that period when I would access freedom from the rod of my parents. The practice was such that when you attain a certain age you automatically get exempted from punishment (flogging). It is assumed that one would have attained a level of maturity with a good sense of reasoning and that of decision making. For me the worst stage to be in is when Daddy and mummy still beats and subject you to various punishments. I remember getting into trouble with my sister one day when we both went out to play with our friends. Obviously my mum needed us to run certain errands but we were nowhere around to lend a helping hand. This heightened her frustration and her resolve to deal with us mercilessly. Eventually she found us and lured us home as though nothing was wrong, but as soon as we got home she unleashed terror on us. She was angrier with my Sister because more expectations were on her for kitchen work. Moved with compassion on how she flogged her I intervened saying “do you want to kill her", this provoked her to divert the whole flogging on me. That was one experience out of many that characterised childhood. It is needful to add that my parents loved us, just that one way they expressed their love was through the rod of correction. This accounted for why I anxiously anticipated a graduation from that state of childhood. Little did I know that life (in adulthood) has its own rod that beats tougher. Truly I got freedom from my parent’s rod but was launched into the invisible rod of life. This rod beats harshly with consequences for wrong choices and decisions made, even also for harmful habits that we indulge in as adult. What would you call the end result of a deteriorating health on a drug addict or chain smoker, what would you call poverty that looms from reckless spending and other poor financial decisions , what about the stigma and complexities that comes with unwanted pregnancy of a teenager , or a school truant who ends up an illiterate. These are few examples of life's rod. It then dawned on me that I wasn't actually free from the rod; I only graduated from that of childhood to adulthood. The childhood spanking, scolding and its like is designed to shield us from that of adulthood. The summary of this piece is that we need to come to a place of maturity where we take responsibility for our lives bearing the consequence of our decisions in mind.
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