CARRY A TOWEL LIKE AN IBIBIO CHIEF

 

I was thinking this morning..... I attended the burial ceremony of the mother of a colleague last Friday. The venue was packed and looking like a political rally. Because it was humid, it didn't take long before we started sweating.

While some of us brought out our handkerchiefs to dry our sweat, I observed a chief sitting closeby had a large white bath towel, the size used for drying your whole body after a bath or shower, on his shoulder on top his traditional attire. I was amazed and asked my colleague if the chief came to the burial to have his bath? Surprisingly, I was told that it is the practice of Ibibio chiefs to have a large towel on one shoulder when they go out. Wow!

It was an aha moment for me because unlike most people that underestimate the efforts associated with an activity, Ibibio chiefs take no chances. They are ready for any volume of sweat, even if it pours like shower.

Some ladies before marriage, see red flags concerning the man they are to marry. Yet, they not only continue with the relationship, they get into the marriage with handkerchief. Error! Be like the Ibibio chiefs and come with a big towel in readiness to clean any volume of sweat the man may cause you.

Similarly, as we get into the final days of this election season, the work of rescuing Nigeria is not one that requires handkerchiefs. We need large towels. Go out to vote on February 25th and do not to go out with an handkerchief, go with a large towel, because we do not want a candidate whose votes have gone low low low to suddenly buga up.

As we enter February in a few days, are you ready for the work ahead? Life is warfare, so do not take things for granted. Just like you don't go to a gun fight with a knife, you also don't go to the bathroom with handkerchief. This year, there is real work to be done, so come with a large towel like an Ibibio chief. Proverbs 24:27 says 'Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.'

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

IT'S TIME TO BE AN ENUGU MAN

 

I was thinking this morning..... I left my house last Friday for a little errand that should have lasted 15mins at most. As I drove out, I noticed very long fuel queues at most of the Fuel stations. A journey that was to last 15mins took almost an hour.

As we crawled along, I turned on the radio and heard the news of a Nigerian man in Enugu State that angrily took a lady to court after she collected N3k to visit him but she didn't show up. The court reportedly held that the lady's action was deceitful and directed her to pay him N150k in damages for going against an agreement.

It was a funny story to me, because I couldn't understand what damages the lady caused the man and was to pay for. But as I thought about it in the middle of criminal fuel queues causing severe traffic, It dawned on me that it's time for Nigerians to sue. Walk with me.

If only we knew earlier that we could sue for damages for being deceived, many would've been rich. Remember, being told as a child that if you swallow the seed of an orange, an orange tree will grow on your head? What about 'read your book o, so that you will have an easy life?' What about the gist that, 'if rain dey fall and sun dey shine means elephant dey born.' Chai! We grew up to know that all na bobo. If only I knew that I could've sued the purveyors of such lies, I sure would've been a billionaire.

On a national level, we have multiple grounds to sue. In 2015, Nigerians were promised uninterrupted electricity within 6 months, cheap and available fuel, security for all and naira equaling the value of the dollar amongst others. Seven plus years down the line, nothing has changed, rather it's become worse. It's time to sue. We must sue these politicians for damages like the Enugu man. Enough of this deceit.

It's another election cycle and the politicians are making promises again. If you sell your vote, you have been paid and have no grounds to sue if they don't deliver. Bank their promises and wait. If they fail, then it's time to be an Enugu man. It's time to sue. Matthew 5:37 'But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.'

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

HAVE YOUR SPOON IN YOUR POCKET

 

I was thinking this morning...... I recently attended a funeral ceremony that took a lot of time. By the time we got to the reception, everyone was famished. It took another hour before the food started going round. When our table was eventually served, the food came without cutlery. My God! The annoyance on the faces of those around the table was obvious.

As we waited in hunger, I recalled the story of a man that went for a funeral service reception uninvited. When asked why he was there, he said he was there for nothing else but to mourn the dead. But as soon as food was served, even before cutlery arrived, he brought out a spoon from his pocket and dug into the steaming jollof rice. Talk about being prepared? Boy Scout!

You can accuse the man of everything but one thing you can't accuse him of is not being prepared. He came to mourn but when the opportunity to munch presented itself, he took it with dispatch.

There are many that are hungry and praying for food. When the food is served, they will be asking and wasting time waiting for the servers to bring cutlery. In this year and the days we are in, only the smart and prepared will survive. Please don't be like me and the others on my table that, despite our hunger, were waiting to be given cutlery before we can eat. If you must enjoy the jollof rice while it is hot, please carry a spoon in your pocket/bag.

You are a job seeker telling everyone you need a job. You went for a wedding or Church service and was introduced to a potential employer who asked for your CV. Instead of reaching into your bag or pocket and hand him a copy of your CV, you responded 'Please, can I send it to you tomorrow?' Like seriously? If you must enjoy the jollof rice while it is hot, please carry a spoon in your pocket.

Same with those looking for a business opportunity or a spouse. Do you have a spoon in your pocket? If the jollof rice is served now without cutlery, will you be able to eat it? Your blessings can come in unexpected places, so you must be prepared to take it. 1st Peter 3:15 says 'be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.'

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey

GROWING ON CONCRETE

 

I was thinking this morning... I recently came across a video of a very fruity pawpaw (papaya) tree which for many is no big deal. When you, however, look down to where it is growing on, then you will understand why I paused to think on this. It grew and was fruiting on top a stack of abandoned cement blocks, about 2m off the earth.

Of all places to grow, that for sure is one of the harshest environment for a pawpaw tree to grow on. According to elementary agriculture, the pawpaw tree require adequate soil moisture, especially in the first two years after planting, but in this instance there was no soil talk less of being adequate. It also said, Papaya trees are good feeders and therefore need to be fertilized regularly.

The question then is, how did this particular pawpaw tree survive on top a stack of cement blocks with no soil, fertilizer nor regular watering? How was it even able to hold firm and sturdy enough to carry the weight of its fruit on top of hollow blocks? All I can see is RESILIENCE or what we call a 'gree-die' spirit in Warri.

If this pawpaw seed can survive, grow and bear such succulent fruits in the worst environmental condition ever, what is your excuse this year? 'Bros, you don't understand. Things are tough in naija. Companies are not employing. I have no man to help me' Think again. The pawpaw tree had no man to help water and fertilize it, yet it grew and now producing fruits.

'Bros, you still don't gerrit. I was abandoned when I was a baby. No parents to support me through life.' Think again. Whoever threw that pawpaw seed on top the cement block, did not expect it to survive. Yet, it survived and now bearing fruits. What is your excuse?

As we go through 2023, be determined not only to survive but to thrive like this pawpaw tree. The interesting thing is when you start bearing fruits those who gave you no chance will be the first to line up to eat of your succulent fruits. Therefore, dig deep, spread your roots and hold firm, because at the scent of water, you will bud (Job 14:9).

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday. 

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey

ALONE ON THE PITCH

I was thinking this morning..... During a football match between Charlton Athletics and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in December 1937, the fog began to thicken soon after the kick-off. The game went unusually silent for the Charlton goalkeeper, Sam Bartram, who remained at his post, peering into the thickening fog from the edge of his penalty area, wondering why the play was not coming his way.

After a long time," he wrote, 'a figure loomed out of the curtain of fog in front of me. It was a policeman, and he gaped at me incredulously. "What on earth are you doing here?" he gasped. "The game was stopped a quarter of an hour ago. The field's completely empty". He hadn't heard the whistle. Wow!

The kick-off whistle for another year (2023) has just been blown and like Charlton goalkeeper, many are doubtful about the future because of the fog of challenges. Though you can't tell what is coming your way, I urge you to remain at your post and peer into the fog. The match is still on.

It might even be that for a period, you will see no action. Your life becomes quiet and you will wonder why the play is not coming your way. Your career, no action. Your marital life, no action. You will probably feel all alone on the pitch. Stay focused and connected. The match is not over.

The sad part of the experience of the Charlton goalkeeper was that none of his team mates cared enough to inform him that the match had ended. For many, because of the noise (trouble) around them they will not hear the prompt to change job or location. Do not depend on those around to tell you because most people care about themselves only. Such is life.

The game of life will not be called off on you. You will finish the game of 2023 and come out victorious. Only be focused because you never know when the ball will be kicked to you. Just keep your eyes on the ball while rejoicing that you've already won the match through Christ (Hebrews 12:2).

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy New Year!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey