THE DAY MY BACK TURNED RED

I was thinking this morning..... It was a normal school day in 1987. I had lectures that morning and, as usual, had dressed up, packed my books in my school bag, and headed for the 500 Lecture Theatre. Don't get it wrong, my school bag was not any fanciful leather hand bag or backpack. It was a humble Marlboro cigarette brand plastic shopping bag. That was what we could afford at the time.

With weeks of handling, wear and tear had set in, and I didn't realise. After my first lecture on the said day, I swung my designer bag across my back to commence the short walk to my Hall 2 hostel. As I, along with tens of students, flowed along the earth road towards the hostels, someone tapped my shoulder and asked, 'why is your back red?' I was wearing a grey shirt, so I was naturally alarmed at the thought of my back being red. It wasn't until I turned the shirt around that I realised what had happened. The red dye from my precious red Marlboro plastic bag had bled onto my shirt. As every passing student took a glance at my red back in pity, my face flushed and turned red from the embarrassment.

Thinking about it today reminded me of a yoruba adage that says "when a leaf stays too long on a soap, it will also become a soap" meaning you are a direct result of your environment or what you expose yourself to. I had carried the plastic bag for too long, and the colour was transferred to my body.

Be careful with whom you spend most of your time because it won't be long before your back turns red. The unfortunate fact is that you might not realise your back is turning red until it is too late and everyone can see your shame. If you realise soon enough that there is a Marlboro bag (called a friend) that is bleeding negativity on you, don't wait to be told by outsiders. Drop that bag immediately.

Sadly, unlike in the past where you have to spend quality time with someone for their bad behaviour to rub off on you, nowadays, you only need to belong to a social media group with a few negative people, and your back and face will start turning red. Where you are used to isn't always where you belong. Identify your healthy place and stay there. Otherwise, leave before your back turns red. 2nd Corinthians 6:14.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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