SEE WHAT HE SAID: On whose mark?

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Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the first edition of See what he [she] said. This will be a segment where I get to share about movie, message, book…….[the list is inexhaustive] that I’ve watched, listened to, read….; with the lessons attached to it. I hope this new segment encourages us to be better and blesses us as well. [P.S this is not a publicity scheme in anyway]

 
So today I will be sharing Robert Madu’s message titled- On their mark. This message is one that that will bless your life completely because it has blessed me immensely[Please find time to listen to it on YouTube]. 
 
His main text was Hebrews 12:1 -2: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
 
His second text was 1 Samuel 18:5-9: As they returned home, after David had killed the Philistine, the women poured out of all the villages of Israel singing and dancing, welcoming King Saul with tambourines, festive songs, and lutes. In playful frolic the women sang- Saul kills by the thousand,David by the ten thousand!
This made Saul angry—very angry. He took it as a personal insult. He said, “They credit David with ‘ten thousands’ and me with only ‘thousands.’ Before you know it they’ll be giving him the kingdom!” From that moment on, Saul kept his eye on David. 
This message was throwing more light on the dangers of comparison, using Saul as an example. Every individual has a race set before him/her, but not everyone finishes this race because of comparison. 
In everything we are called to do in this world, we are to fix our eyes on Jesus but we do get distracted by the attainment of other colleagues, friends, elderly ones and the list goes on. When the question is supposed to be- Lord, what will you have me do? Where do you want me to be? 
The questions that are being asked are- ‘when will I have the car, Biodun has?’ ‘When will I build the mansion that Chegwe has built for her parents?’ ‘ah! Naomi married at the age of 24, I will be 24 in 9months time, where is the bobo?’. We have taken our eyes off Jesus and focused on the lives of people that we see on Facebook, twitter, instagram and other social media vices. This mistake is not a new one, it started since the time of Saul and David. Saul took his eyes off God and focused on David because of the song that the women sang. And we know how Saul ended.
I know it is very key to say that this comparison issue starts most times with parents. [I mean no disrespect to parents, I type this with all humility] but with statements/questions like- ‘Victor, why can’t you laugh like Peter, your friend’ or ‘Bola, why can’t you sing like Nike; can’t you hear how she sounds?’…… Parents forget the extraordinary individuality of every child. I understand that every parent seeks to bring out the best in every child, but comparison doesn’t do that in the long run. No one person can be like another on this planet, that’s why we all have different races to run. Trying to run another persons race never ends well, no fulfilment. There’s something Robert Madu said: Comparison will consistently cloud the clarity of what God has called you to do. This is very true!
My dearest readers, please let us curve out our own niche in this life. There is a sense of peculiarity to everyone’s calling. It is my desire that we fix our eyes on Jesus and ask him to reveal to us, what he will have us do in this world before we are called home. I am sure he will reveal to us, his word tells us that whatsoever we ask for according to his will, he will do it.
Finally, Robert Madu gave an illustration of what comparison is- when an individual is on a treadmill, the person is in motion but still at the same spot. That is the end result of comparison-Stagnancy! Busy but not moving forward!! The question is-whose mark are you on??? May God help us all. Amen.
Also, I know most of us have role models, how do you curve out your own niche, inasmuch as, you admire their achievements/principles; without running off your lane/mark? Please share your opinion.

Are ‘we’ supposed to be ‘the judge’ over ‘them’??

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“This Pizzahut delivery man cannot get away with this…..”

There are certain routines you’ve got to love.Errrmmm I mean ‘harmless routines. Munching Pizza for dinner on Fridays is my lil’ cousin’s routine. You cannot get away with not giving him; his favourite peperoni with extra cheese pizza, on a Friday evening. Well! I have no issue with the routine, at all. An experience ensued from this routine I witnessed every Friday [then].

Oh Yeah! The delivery man. I will refer to him as PHDM [Pizzahut delivery man]. Every Friday, when the £10.98 pizza is ordered, it gets delivered in 30 minutes. So the first time I had to pay for the pizza on delivery, he said the pizza was £11. I didn’t have an issue with that. Until, it happened three more times subsequently. Then, I hatched a plan for the next Friday. I was so ready to deal with this PHDM. So, the next Friday, I ordered the pizza, made sure I heard the cost correctly over the phone, and emptied my purse. I looked for every penny that was lying around the house to make up £10.98 exactly, no addition.

As usual, he arrived with the pizza, he said £11, and I responded: ‘Sorry. isn’t it £10.98?’ That’s what I heard over the phone. I gave him the ‘put together 98p’ and a £10 note. Yes! I did it-that was the first thing, that I muttered within. Few seconds after, I have to say, it was a different feeling entirely. The contentment I sought from accomplishing my well-hatched plan was nowhere to be found. I felt really bad. So I thought hard, and the counsellor [The Holy Spirit] made me realise that I had taken it upon myself to judge the PHDM, and decided to take action following suit.

You know, all I felt at those moments were- ‘this man is so dishonest and I don’t like it’, ‘why can’t he just say £10.98 and I will give him £11, out of my own freewill?’. To say the least of all the thoughts.

It took a ‘trivial’ experience as such to learn Luke 6:37 [I’m still in love with the MSG version]: ‘Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticise their faults- unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down, that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people, you’ll find life a lot easier…..’

I must say it takes the help of the helper to be able to practice Luke 6:37, it is very possible to be; non-judgemental, not pick on the faults/failures of people or criticise their faults. But it takes conscious acknowledgement  to leave the judging to God and not take His place. I know we, humans, somehow get some satisfaction from being able to identify the faults and failures in other people. And we feel it’s our place to correct, ‘straighten the crooked behaviour’. Luke 6:37 has said it all, if you will like someone else to mete such treatment on you [which I know no one likes], then you can carry on [disobedience to God’s word- not advisable].

So my lovelies, in this race that is set before us, let us seek to live a non-judgemental life. Let us seek to see the good in people despite their faults [everyone has got one], we will see life will get a whole lot easier. Personally, I make this a prayer point daily. Being judgemental/ critical can destroy relationships and most of all- we can’t be totally  used by God perfectly. Remember we are to work towards becoming like Christ, and Christ was not judgemental, the more reason why He loves us all.

I have a question- how does Luke 6: 37 correlate with judges and lawyers? what are your thoughts? anything wrong with their positions; considering the ‘thou shall not judge….’ commandment? Please, let’s get talking.

P.S I have submitted my dissertation, I thank God for seeing me through. I also want to thank you for your patience. I am back, and it sure feels good. Also, some good news- I am working on starting vlogs soon. I will keep you posted. xx

-All images from Google

Who are we asking?

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Hello everyone,

I know it has been a very long while, I know…..what’s the reason for the hiatus?? I’ve just been ‘soaked up’ in my dissertation for the past 6 weeks. I can’t believe I am actually typing up a post now. I will fully resume blogging 2 weeks from today [Please bear with me!!]

One thing is certain-I miss blogging a lot. It is only a matter of time before this phase [dissertation phase] will be over. I hope I’m forgiven? Also I want to thank those that checked on me to find out why there’s been no post lately and those who kept checking relentlessly for new posts. I really appreciate the gestures! I have a lil’ something to share today…….

Throughout today, I’ve sanely [not intentionally but sanely] cut myself three times while doing certain stuffs around the house. Two of which I know the cause, and one which I have no idea. So while I was typing up my work tonight, a thought came to my mind………

Ask Google!!!

Today I am owning up to the fact that I’ve ask Google more questions than I’ve asked any human being and God. Oh yeah! Here’s what I typed: ‘why did I cut myself severally today?’ and you know the rest…there was no satisfying answer,of course. And then, I realised how we, humans, seek answers from the wrong places, people, even things.

Something bad [or something unexpected] happens, and we look for that friend, that colleague, that search engine, that professional/expert and so on; to give us answers. We forget the one who holds the answers to all questions. How do I know that? Isaiah 46:10 [I love how the New living translation puts the message across] says

‘only I (God) can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will surely come to pass, for I do whatever I wish’

I am not saying that I was meant to ask God: Baba, why all these cuts today nah?? that’s just a prelude. Hopefully, I won’t be asking Google any more silly questions. My point is: let us return to asking God all the unanswered questions in our hearts, He has the perfect answers. No man, thing(Siri) or search engine (Google) can give you accurate answers where your future, present and past is concerned.

This is the little piece of encouragement I’ve today. So henceforth, Let’s ask God, not friends, family or Google. [lol]

Stay blessed! Will be back soon…Please share

P.S Ever asked Google (any other search engine) a silly question? Let’s have it…

Princess Okechukwu!

 

 

 

 

Always want a return??

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It’s a deal! But what do I get in return?

It was a spring morning, the sun was out; and no sign of rain. The past two days had been an archetype of ‘raining cats and dogs’. It was the Spring half term, and the weather had prevented Ola from visiting his friend, Chima. Since the sun was out this day, Ola’s mum [Mrs Majekodunmi] decided to kill two birds with a stone. She wanted to go shopping and couldn’t leave Ola at home by himself.

A play date it is then! She said to Ola.

Within the next 20 minutes, Ola and his mum were on their way to Chima’s house as his mother [Mrs Ikechukwu] had said it wouldn’t be a bother to have Ola at hers, as Chima would love it. Mrs Majekodunmi had packed some of Ola’s favourite snacks, before their departure for Chima’s residence. She dropped him off, exchanged pleasantries with Mrs Ikechukwu and left for her shopping.

Although it had just been four days since Chima and Ola had seen in prep school, they started catching up as if it had been four years. While they were playing with their DS games, Chima became hungry and wanted a snack, he went to the kitchen; took a pack of  Hula hoops [cheese and onion]. He opened it and started eating. Ola asked to taste it. Chima gave him one ring out of the possible 30 rings in the pack [they are his favourite].

Uhmmmm, this is yummy! Ola shrieked. Please, can I have some more? he asked

Chima frowned, Okay! I will give you but what do I get in return?……………..

I can honestly identify with the above scenario. As a child, if you were ever going to get any of my sweeties, biscuits and all, you should be prepared to console me with something more enticing [valuable]. After all, you were definitely shortening my ration.
Here’s the drill: being a child comes with its innocence, naivety, and all sorts. So there are so many things that can be overlooked. But with time, those childish thoughts and behaviours need to go.

It is quite sad that in the world we live in, giving is drastically becoming an ‘extinct’ act. We have more transactions and exchanges [trade by barter] than giving. So if a person must give something out, something must come in as well. When you say “I am giving a gift”, expectations for a reward should be ‘knocked off the table’-that’s the difference between gift and commerce.

If today I give someone something, and the motive behind my giving is to get ‘an equal’ or ‘bigger’ reward, then it is not a gift any more, it is a transaction. Naturally, human beings are wired in a manner that ‘if I give, a reward should follow suit’. But I am a firm believer of giving generously not expecting a repayment. How can this be possible? The Holy Spirit work this out in us.

So if every time you give and your motive behind giving is to get back, then I consider this statement as wrong– ‘I gave Betty a perfume’ and this statement – ‘I sold a perfume to Betty and she gave me £40 or She gave me a pair of shoes instead of cash’ as right.

As a sign of courtesy, it is expected that when you receive a gift, you give something back, I am well aware of that. But the truth is when you are giving genuinely, you do not expect anything back. As a receiver, you are under no obligation to give something back. If you can give back, and want to give back, give! But if you can’t give back, don’t kill yourself trying to give back. There should be a difference between gift and goods.

So do you think there are certain circumstances where you have [compulsory] to repay a gift? 

WE ALL SAY AMEN!!

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Sometimes, little details matter. Well, most times they do- but we love the big details that we push the little details aside. Those little stories, little histories- now meaningless to us because everyone is grown up; actually they matter.  Little details have been used to dispossess, to prove a point, to malign. To humanise and sadly to dehumanise. Aha! Didn’t the lion, the great king of the forest cry to the little rat for help when he was caught in the net-trap of the hunter? Remember that story from the children’s book? Although the witty tortoise was my favourite character, I remember that lion-rat story because of the strength of the little. Try bumping your little toe against a stone, if the excruciating pain doesn’t remind you that the little toe is as important as the big head.

Little stories can break the dignity of a people. They can repair that same broken dignity. They can form an opinion, that lasts, at least the basic fragments of it still stays alive once the wear and tear of life kicks in. Sometimes, one remembers those little stories, experiences that formed my own version of religious consciousness. Shaped by experiences, now little stories. No, we do not need Ogbeni’s new law of religious dressing in public schools to value, respect and understand the religious- and yet not to take it seriously. Or the over zealous law enacted by someone wearing trousers, banning ladies from doing so; there were other forms of religious consciousness. I remember always looking forward to Sallah meat during the Muslim holiday. A stream of it would come throughout the two days- fried, cooked, roasted, toasted- each neighbour and friend in a silent battle to outdo themselves in the amount of food they will bring. Of course we would ‘retaliate back’, during Easter and Christmas, but that was not the point. The point was sharing, was friendship, was giving- that was religious consciousness.

Of course, all days weren’t about food and meat. I remember the groups we formed when the ‘owners’ of the State Water Board choose to ‘withhold’ the water supply. And we would go looking for water, like hunters searching for game in the wild forest. Instinctively, our first port of call was the marbled mosque close to the house. Okay, not so close, but close enough. I can’t remember what I liked most- the graciousness of the men that opened the taps for us or the marble architectural design of the mosque exterior or the chatter of football and school work we engaged in- I can’t seem to remember exactly. It was fun for me then, that was my own version of religious consciousness. Of admiration, respect and ideas. You see, it was that way.

Or Mr Friday, whom we had to, in understanding, always reschedule a volunteer meeting from Saturday to Friday evening because of he was of the Seventh Day Adventist. At that time- I remember- I couldn’t fathom why a Christian choose to be odd, while the rest of us, wore the best of clothes available on Sunday. I remember trying to find out why; I was given a long-winded answer that seemed like an extension to the question, than an answer- so I stopped the questions. I remember always coming back home late on Friday evenings from school, because of the loudspeaker from the nearby mosque never wanted to be friends with me on Friday afternoons. I understood and changed my schedule, reading in school till late. Once that started, I settled into a routine and it was perfect. That was religious consciousness.

In the end, like the Igbos say, ‘Ekpere niile bere n’Amen’. All prayers end in Amen. The essence of true religion is righteousness. We all say Amen. Isn’t it said that, better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof? If ‘Amen’ is said at the end- which every religion will agree- doesn’t that mean that, there is space for everyone? The understanding of this- that is religious consciousness. But you see, simple things when given to man, appear to be the most complicated of things. To the fat, chubby, bloated stomach Nigerian politician (okay, not all of them fit this description), religious consciousness isn’t what I have seen, but something else. Like ensuring that the main concern of pupils and students isn’t their books, but their dressing. Like provoking the ‘other side’ to, in a dash, arrange for masquerades to come as ‘teachers’ to the school as if that was what was lacking. Like provoking strong responses and verbal bellicosity from another side. Somalia- it started this way, a brand of religious consciousness, then what it is today. And sadly, one is unfolding before our very eyes.

But, in the end- we all say, Amen. What is held as sacrosanct to us- that very thing- all seem to speak in recognisable languages to themselves. And perhaps offer a laughter- or a smirk of pity- to us, as we choose strange ways of exhibiting religious consciousness. They listen to each other, and agree on some compromise, refusing the violence that come with a show of superiority. But we chose not to listen. The politicians refuse to believe that and covertly or without covert, use those very quotes, ideals, inclination to turn things- to their favour, while we somehow accept them. But my brother, there is space for everyone. The religions agree on that, hence they all say amen- hoping that some day we realise that, we all say amen. Amen. Similarities. Space. That is religious consciousness.

Okechukwu Okorie.

AGE- secret or public knowledge?

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Hello all,

I’ve observed a trend that I feel is quite fascinating. So here’s an illustration of the trend:

PERSON 1-Amaka
It’s Amaka’s birthday, her friends and invited guests sing the popular ‘happy birthday’ song for her. They are singing the concluding part of the song: how old are you now??…. And Amaka replies: I’m a year older today…..

PERSON 2- Chris
Chris is an actor and he has been invited to come on a popular talk show to have a chit-chat with the presenter and most especially to entertain his fans. So as the question and answer segment is in progress, the presenter asks Chris: So one of your fans on twitter has sent in a question, Bella wants to know how old you are? and I’m sure your other fans want to know as well…..Chris smiles and replies: Hello Bella, shout out to you and my other loyal fans out there. I am 38 years old……
[No one makes a fuss, almost everyone (90%) takes his word for it]

PERSON 3- Fatima
Fatima is an On-Air Personality (OAP), she has just celebrated her 25th birthday. Her pictures of the little celebration, has surfaced on blogs, magazines and all. On the blogs, you see comments like ‘Arrrgh I hate when people tell lies, how can she say she is 25. The first time I heard about her, we were age mates, how come she’s younger than me now’ or ‘Nah!! she is not 25, she does not look it at all. Liar! Liar!!’

So here’s the thing- why is it that when a Nigerian/African says his/her age, most people just believe he/she is being untruthful. But when a Westerner says his/her age, there isn’t a dispute/contention as to the answer given?
I can confidently say that out of 10 instances I’ve witnessed, only 2 are believed to be truthful in the case of an African/Nigerian, while only 2 people may believe the  person [most times, celebrities]. With reference to the case of Amaka, you find out that people just keep the age to themselves and say ‘I am a year older, why is my age anyone’s business. After all, if I say it nobody will believe me’.

So when you are asked: how old are you? Do you say your exact age, not being bothered about what the listener(s) think(s)? or do you give the ‘early 20s, 30s, late 40s’ answer? or do you scrutinise the person asking first, before blotting it out?

And why do you think this disparity exist, between the ‘African’ and the ‘Westerner’? Over to you.

Have a lovely weekend.