THE BURDEN OF LONELINESS

 

I was thinking this morning...... A week ago, I put a call through to a friend I hadn't spoken to in days who had travelled to his village for vacation. He informed me he wasn't feeling okay and was going to visit the hospital. Knowing that he was alone because his family now resides abroad, I decided to call back after a couple of days. After confirming he saw the doctor and was okay, we exchanged pleasantries, and I dropped the call. A few minutes later, I received a message from him expressing his heartfelt appreciation for calling him that morning. It didn't seem like a normal 'thank you for calling' message, and it made me think about the burden of loneliness when one is retired and aged.

Every time I travelled abroad and drove or walked past a retirement home or nursing home for the elderly, I always wondered why we do not have old people's homes in Nigeria. I always felt the retirement home was a good idea because the aged would be well cared for and won't be lonely. How ignorant I was.

Loneliness, I have come to realise, is not the absence of people around you. Rather, it is the absence of connection between you and your loved ones. Loneliness is more emotional than physical. For many, at old age, the biggest challenge is not physical but emotional struggle that comes from loneliness. When you get old, how certain are you that a loved one will visit you?

What sort of relationships are you building with your children? When they all grow up and travel out of the country, would they look forward to visiting you back home with their kids? How often you take time out to be with your children will determine how often they would take time out to visit you when you are aged and alone.

Remember that neighbours, sunday-sunday church members, and domestic staff can't replace the warmth of family and friends (including classmates and colleagues) built over the years. Invest in building strong relationships now. Spend less time chasing money and material things, and give more time to making meaningful connections. Five real friends are better than 5,000 social media friends and followers who will never visit you. The most important connection you can make today is to stay connected to the Vine (John 15:5).

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Easter!

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

CONTINUE WITH YOUR WORK O

 

I was thinking this morning.... Days ago, I stepped out to take a walk within the estate. Two streets away, I observed a teenage boy locked in conversation with a young girl in front of her house. As I got closer, I looked at the girl straight in her eyes and she immediately said with a shaky voice 'gu gu good morning sir,' like someone caught with her hand in the cookie jar. I immediately knew what was going on.

As I walked away, I remembered my days as a teenager in the late 80s. I was at the age where boys were boys and were testing their girls' toasting skills. In one of our evening girls scouting rendezvous, one of us approached a young lady and was delivering his lines with all diligence, while the rest of us stood aside. Suddenly, the girl sighted her dad walking towards them and ducked. The young man immediately took dressing, bent down, and pretended to be doing something meaningful. 

As the girl's father came close, he looked straight at the young man and said, in a very rich yoruba accent, "Dooh. Continue with your work oo. Continue with your work." Before the young man could respond to what he thought was an appreciation and encouragement from an ignorant man, the next statement shocked him. The girl's father concluded, "Continue with your work. Be chasing my daughter." Our guy froze while the rest of us laughed out loud.

That day, I learnt a lesson not to second guess people. Wait for them to land before you assume you know what they have in mind. Many times, we think we know what people want to say even before they say it. We might even believe we have the gift of mind reading. Meanwhile, na over sabi dey worry us. No wonder Warri man says, 'Na over sabi make husband call im wife mummy.'

As I became a father, I understood the folly of children and teenagers thinking they are playing an adult, not realising the adult can see right through their acts long before they even started. That they didn't say anything does not imply they are ignorant. After all, no be eye wey dem take chop eba dem take dey share meat. There are things you handle with wisdom. The bible in Proverbs 3:5-6 cautioned against being overconfident or presumptuous. Be wise.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

THE NIGHT TRAFFIC TAUGHT ME A LESSON

 

I was thinking this morning.... Lagos, in South West Nigeria, is notorious for its traffic, but the traffic jam of last Wednesday was unprecedented. It had rained heavily that morning before I set out from Lekki to VI. Due to the anticipated flood and closure of Independence Bridge, I decided on what I thought was best, rely on Google Maps. Halfway into the trip, the heavens opened, and the rains poured again. Traffic had built up, and Google Maps diverted me towards Bar beach. I drove on partially flooded roads besides Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway still under construction.

After driving to where I thought was the end, I noticed the connection back to the main road had been fenced off, but Google Maps was not aware. As I made a U-turn back to where I started, I understood the proverb that says, "Pastor wey dey pray for mad person no dey close eye." I should have known that too few cars on that back road was a red flag. I eventually got to VI after 3 hours, and I thought my nightmare was over. I was so wrong.

Having completed by business at VI, I thought about by return trip. Before I set out back home at about 7 p.m., I decided to give Google Maps a second chance. Instead of turning left towards Eko Hotel, Google Maps directed me to turn right towards Bonny Camp, with the traffic indicating blue all the way to Lekki. I had not driven 100m when I ran into a traffic jam like I had never before experienced. Every junction was a mad house. The two-lane road had become four. Military personnel were driving in the opposite direction. In the end, we were all stuck and going nowhere. As I wondered how we got here, I recalled the proverb, "Do you know who I am? Do you know who I am?..Na so hold up take dey start."

After about 5 hours, I had covered a modest distance of 1km. I brought out my phone and checked on Google Maps one more time. The roads were still blue. It was then it dawned on me that Google Maps did not anticipate a zero movement traffic, so it interpreted it as the roads being free of traffic. Chai! Google Maps had put me in one chance twice in one day. This time, I was not too angry because "Person wey don faint before no be stranger to death."

Though the traffic was gruelling, I kept hoping it would clear up, and I would zoom all the way home. When it was past midnight, I estimated that if I continued in that path, I won't get home till 5 am. Accepting that I had made the wrong move, again, I decided to make a u-turn. I had literally lived the proverb, "E go beta, e go beta, na im make camel still dey carry load."

After making a u-turn again, against the direction of Google Maps, I made a left turn and was expecting a clear path. Alas, a reckless driver had left his lane and was driving against the oncoming vehicles. He drove to where I was with nowhere to go. Before I could scream at his madness, I saw a military man walk to him and commanded him to reverse back immediately. Without argument, he reversed. I realised the driver had learnt the lesson that, "You no need fork and knife to chop slap."

I eventually got home by 1.30 am, thanks to my decision to turn back. I later understood that those who continued on the path Google Maps recommended did not get out of the traffic till about 4.30 am. Despite the loads of lessons I learnt from that experience, I knew it was just a bad day for me. Like they say, "Cockroach wey jam fowl, jam bad luck."

Many have wondered why people still live in Lagos after such terrible experiences with traffic. I thought about it myself, and the only answer I could come up with is, "Pikin wey wan chop party rice, no dey fear dance." Psalms 34:19 comes to mind.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

NA OUR MAMA BE THIS O

 

I was thinking this morning..... It was usual in Warri to hear senior citizens being called Papa lolo (with the lolo pronounced low-low) and mama lolo. There have been diverse views as to the meaning of papa lolo or mama lolo. While some believe it means an old man or woman that misbehaves, others believe it meant a funky old man or woman. Whatever the meaning, the husband of Fanny wasn't taking it. Who exactly is Fanny's husband?

He was a funky senior citizen in Warri, and his wife, called Fanny, was also well advanced in age. As he walked with swagger into his compound, his children would hail him shouting 'papa lolo.' On a certain day, he just couldn't take it as a compliment anymore and needed to return the insult. As they shouted 'papa lolo,' he responded, 'na Fanny be lolo.' A second hailing of 'papa lolo' was returned with 'na your mama be lolo.'

It was this story that came to my mind when news broke of the incident involving the students of Delta State College of Nursing Science at Asaba. The event’s Master of Ceremony had introduced the first lady by singing the song 'Na our mama be this o,'  and the students responded in unison, 'Na your mama be this,' meaning 'This is your mother,' refusing to accept the designation.

Just like Fanny's husband sees 'papa lolo' as an insult, so many Nigerians have interpreted 'na your mama be this o,' to be an insult. It won't come as a surprise to a typical Waffarian because one common insult to throw at someone is 'Your father,' or 'Your mama.' How simply saying 'your mama' amounts to an insult is still a mystery to me. However, pikin wey say im mama no fine dey use style call im papa blind man.

To me, my mama na my mama. You can't force your mother on me, just like I can't expect you to accept my mother like I do. One thing that is true, though, is the proverb that says, 'No food for lazy man, no be for person wey im mama get bukka.' A mother’s love and compassion for her child cannot be faulted. So, a child that is not proud of his mother, naim know wetin dey do am. Isaiah 49:15 says, 'Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?' Respect and show love to women, be it a babe or mama lolo. Happy Mothers Day to my young wife, my mum and every mother in and around my life. Without you, life for get as e be. Truly, na our mama be this o.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Mothers Day!

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

LIFE NA RODEO

 

I was thinking this morning..... Days ago, a young lady who recently got a job with a multinational company came to me for mentoring. As she unveiled her aspirations and expectations, I dropped nuggets of advice to guide her in her career. A number of times, I was tempted to use some proverbs in buttressing my points. However, every time I started quoting a proverb, the Warri version jumped in front like a spoilt child.

She asked about what it takes to get to the pinacle of her career. I told her about patience. As I made the point about being patient and that good things would always result from diligence, the proverb about the patient dog came to mind. I started by saying, 'The patient dog...' But before I could add 'eats the fattest bone,' the Warriness jumped in and said 'the patient dog.... na hungry go kill am.' At this point, I wasn't sure if my advice to her was to be patient or aggressive.

As we continued the conversation, she asked what else it takes to be successful in the corporate world. I told her about focus, competence, and the determination to succeed. As she wrote down the key points, I concluded by saying, 'Na determination make okada overtake trailer for road.'

She smiled, paused as if to soak in the message, and then asked about the pitfalls to avoid. I told her not to miss an opportunity to learn because we are lifelong learners. Her facial expressions revealed she didn't get the point. I paused and then said, 'Na over confidence make February no complete.' The message immediately sank. Be confident in yourself, but beware of overconfidence.

As we rounded off that session, I asked if she had any other question, to which she responded in the negative. At that point, I told her to focus on building the right relationships both with her supervisors and peers but warned against putting all her trust on people. I had said, 'Forget trust. If trust dey, water nor for boil fish.'

As she left my office, I soliloquised on all I had said and concluded that life is like a rodeo. It is an exhibition in which, like a cowboy, you show your skills at riding the wild horse (broncos). Whether you will succeed will depend on your skills and God. Ephesians 6:13 says '...having done all, to stand.'

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

THE DANCE OF LOVE

 

I was thinking this morning..... Days ago, a friend told me that a mutual friend had separated from her husband after about 10 years of marriage. I was surprised because the couple were successful and looked good together. In my surprise, I did a mental review and was shocked by the number of separated or divorced couples I know. Wow! Why are people no longer fighting for their relationships? Why are we no longer committed to the dance of love?

As I mused, I remembered the romantic dance of Western Parotia. It is one of the most gifted dancers among birds. It holds itself to a very high standard for courtship to be perfect. It carefully cleans up fallen leaves one by one and polishes the branch the female bird will land using snake skin, making them shine brightly. To make the courtship area even more attractive, it carefully finds some brightly coloured nuts and decorates the surrounding with them. It then practices the courtship dance, from the extent of its wing spread to the movements of its feet, all to present the best version of itself to the object of its affection. When its effort eventually pays off by attracting a female bird of paradise, it transforms into a graceful gentleman among birds. Before the performance begins, it gracefully bows deeply to the female bird. Then, an exquisite performance officially starts.

Like Western Parotia, most of us danced this dance during courtship. We went the extra mile to prepare for a prospect to visit. Yet after marriage, we completely stopped dancing. We became stiff and cold. We all need some romantic advice from Western Parotia. 

Like Western Parotia, if we could go the extra mile to woo the object of our affection before marriage, why aren't we going the extra mile to make the marriage work? If we could be patient enough for our spouse to accept us before we tied the knot, why are we so impatient and intolerant after marriage?

Marriage is not a prison. It should be a sanctuary of love and mirth. Like Western Parotia, dance the dance of love for your spouse. It doesn't matter what type of dance. Just dance. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just make the effort. Songs of Solomon 6:13 says, "Dance, dance, girl of Shulam. Let us watch you as you dance."

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

THE FORCE OF BLOOD

 

I was thinking this morning..... After my secondary school, I went to spend the long holiday with an uncle and his family while waiting for my admission to the university. Being a very successful civil servant, they lived a much softer life compared to my home. I was a good nephew, waking up early to clean the house and wash the car. After months of living with them, I expected in my naive mind that I have earned what it takes to be equal to my cousins in the eyes of my uncle. I was so wrong.

One weekend, my uncle was decluttering and brought out this nice lace shokoto he hadn't worn since his younger years. Because my cousins already had so many clothes and I, almost nothing, I expected that my uncle would do me the honours. Alas, he gave the lace to his son who doesn't need it. I was really pained and couldn't understand why he would bypass me that really needs it. I was only 15 years old. Years later after I had children of my own, I did exactly what my uncle did. As I considered the reason why, I discovered we were driven by the force of blood.

In the Netflix movie, Yellowstone, Rip, that started living with the John Dutton family since he was a boy was suddenly moved out of the foreman's house to the bunkhouse because Kayce, John's son wanted to live there. When Beth, John's daughter, reminded him that Rip does not deserve to be treated that way because he looks at him like a father, he responded 'But I am not his father, honey. I'm Kayce's father.' The force of blood at work.

We know of so many religious leaders that started their ministries with fellow labourers in the vineyard. These brethren laboured with them from the begining until the ministry became great. Many years later, they side step their co-labourers and will hand over the reins of power to their children at the expense of those that have served them all their lives. Please do not judge them, it is the force of blood at work.

Why would a man find it easy to will his properties to a truant child rather than a relative or stranger that has served him all his life and call him dad? The force of blood. What is in man that makes us willing to give our all to our children? We always say blood is thicker than water, but not when the water is frozen. The connection of children to parents is stronger than we think. Proverbs 13:22.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

THE SWEET DISTRACTION

 

I was thinking this morning... Last week, I was invited as a special guest at the Interhouse Sports and Fun Day of Crestland International School, Port-Harcourt. It was, indeed, an all-round fun day.

Of all the activities, the lollipop race struck home for me. In this race, designed for children in pre-nursery, each child was given a lollipop a few minutes before the race began. At the blast of the whistle, the children were asked to run the 15-meter lap while licking and savouring the sweet. All four children started the race strong, licking the candy and running.

Less than 5m into the race, one of the children could no longer combine the enjoyment with running. He stopped running, and with his hand to his mouth, he held the lollipop stick and just enjoyed himself. The other three runners focused on the race. Before my little friend realised it, the other three runners had got to the finish line. He lost the race because of a sweet distraction.

I remember commencing my doctorate programme immediately after my Masters in 1994. Less than a year into the programme, I got a job and started earning real money for the first time in my life. I decided to put my schooling on hold, promising to return in a couple of years. Well, that 2-year hiatus was 30 years ago last year. To me, making money was a sweet distraction from achieving my dream of being called a doctor.

There are many young girls who started their education strong and on track to getting a degree. Then they met a smashing young man. One thing led to another, and they got pregnant and dropped out of school. Most will promise themselves that after having the baby, they would return to complete their studies. Ten years after, they are still the compound mama Iyabo. Their dream was scuttled by a sweet distraction.

In the race of life, focus is key. Everyone is faced with a sweet distraction ever so often, where you could either enjoy your lollipop or continue running. Sometimes, though, you could have the rare privilege of running and savouring your lollipop. Whatever your situation might be, focus on the prize. Hebrews 12:2 gave us a perfect example of how to avoid the sweet distraction

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

TRUST, PLEASE FORGIVE US

 

I was thinking this morning.... I have been working for safety for over 30 years and thought I knew my employer until a few years ago when a young man came up the altar in my local congregation to give a testimony. When asked to introduce himself, he said his name was 'Safety.' 'Really? Could this be my employer?' I thought, smiling.

About three months ago, I had cause to give a job to a young man called 'Believe.' I initially believed in his ability to deliver on the assigned task. Two months down the line, Believe couldn’t deliver. Today, I no longer believe in Believe.

Then a couple of weeks ago, at a work event, I met a young lady who said her name was 'Signs.' I was confused and initially thought I heard 'Science.' With further probe, she said she is actually a twin, and both of them were named 'Signs' and 'Wonders.' Wow! was my reaction.

Yesterday, I watched the 2025 Netflix Limited Series thriller, Zero Day. Somewhere in Episode 1, I listened to the sitting POTUS trying to convince an hesitant past POTUS to take up a public service job to lead a special team to investigate a cyberattack. She had said, 'The only thing more important than a quick result is the result that everyone can trust. They trust you.'

I pondered those words and recalled that I used to know someone called 'Trust' but haven't seen her in years. I suspect someone must have offended Trust, making her leave the state or probably the country. Everything has fallen apart in Nigeria since Trust disappeared. I have checked the ranks of our political leaders, Trust is not among them. So many religious leaders no longer have Trust as their companion. What about in business? You will never find Trust there. Amongst friends, Trust is missing.

Trust, please, where are you? Why are you not around like your other companions? I attended NSPPD and other large religious gatherings, and I saw 'Signs' and 'Wonders' there. At my workplace, I see 'Safety' every day. Even 'Believe' occassionally shows up. But where is Trust? Where in the world can I find Trust? Trust, wherever you are, forgive us and come back.

While Proverbs 20:6 asked, 'Who can find a trustworthy man,' I am pleading for someone to find Trust and bring her back to Nigeria. We all need Trust to make progress.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

Mama, My Shoe!

 

I was thinking this morning.... I was at my desk on Monday morning when my colleague walked in. Because I hadn't seen him in over a week, I walked over to his desk for a warm handshake. As I shook his hand, my attention was drawn to his solid steel-toe boots. 'Who are you kicking this morning?' I asked. In his visibly confused look, I could tell he was wondering what I meant. I decided to save him the trouble by telling him the story of my cousin, Big-T.

In 1991, during my NYSC year, I usually spent short breaks with my aunt at the Borokiri area of Port-Harcourt. My cousin, Big-T, who was a teenager at the time, had this pair of boots that he used as a secret weapon should he get into a fight. Using the steel toes boot to kick anyone was a sure knockout tactic. On a particular day, we were all seated in the living room when Big-T dashed in. He was heading for his room when my aunt stopped him. Holding his hand, my aunt asked what the problem was. With so much anger, Big-T snarled, 'Mama, my shoe. My shoe. Mama, my shoe.'

While we all laughed, we knew that someone had offended him, and he wanted to unleash his secret weapon, his steel-toe boots, to kick the hell out of that potentially unfortunate boy. But then, we held him back. 'Mama, my shoe' is an allegory of 'I will teach you a lesson.'

Most people have secret weapons they deploy to fight back offences, similar to the venom snakes deploy. You see a man in a lovey-dovey mode with his wife, and she asks him for money or some favour he is not willing to meet. Knowing that he can do it but don't want to, she immediately activates the 'Mama, my shoe' weapon. For some, it is malice, others will starve their spouse of food or sex.

What's your weapon of offence or defence in the face of an attack? When you cry 'Mama, my shoe,' what should your victim expect? Character assassination, physical assault or spiritual arrows? When next your spouse, colleague or some random stranger offends you and you run into your weapon store screaming 'Mama, my shoe,' please ensure it is the shoes of peace you are going for, because Ephesians 6:15 says 'And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.'

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

WHO BROKE YOUR COCONUT?

I was thinking this morning..... I was invited to the commissioning of a multibillion naira facility during this past week. After the commissioning, the MD invited me to his office to tell me his story. He recounted how he rose from a humble beginning sleeping on the bare floor and mats in a remote village in Delta State to becoming a very successful businessman today. 'I have always made it my guiding principle not to see the hundreds of people that work for me from the lens of MD vs Worker, because I was in a worse state than them many years ago.'

He told me how information got to him about a tenant in one of his blocks of flats in Port-Harcourt. 'I was told how the children of this tenant were sent home from school because they were unable to pay the fees, and I was really touched. If they couldn't pay school fees, how can they pay the rent? I imagined. It reminded me of how I was sleeping on mats and bare floor for many years. I immediately called my lawyer and instructed him that all 12 tenants in the block of flats should no longer pay rent. That was 6 years ago.'

As I listened to him, I imagined how wonderful the world would be if everyone who had a humble beginning like him would give a helping hand to people in difficult situations. As I mused, I recalled the words of my young wife, 'When the gods break your coconut, stay humble.'

It's very easy to feel proud and walk like someone wearing a shoulder pad because you 'don hammer.' There are some very successful people from very poor backgrounds. Today, they treat their former classmates and other not so fortunate people like rag. They avoid them saying 'this one is not in my class.' Just a personal reminder from my wife, 'When the gods break your coconut, stay humble.'

It's been a Hindu tradition for ages to break coconut during auspicious occasions like buying new cars or even starting a new business. To them, breaking coconut is synonymous with prosperity. In that context, not everyone is lucky to break coconut. They've done all within their powers and even prayed for divine support, but the coconut refuse to break. You may or may not have exerted energy, yet your coconut broke, and you are enjoying the succulent white fruit. As you enjoy, remember that 'When the gods break your coconut, stay humble.' Remember Proverbs 18:11-12.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

Your Value, My Nothing

 

I was thinking this morning.... Last week, I was decluttering my wardrobe when I saw this lace kaftan or what we used to call buba and shokoto. I had made that outfit  for the dedication of my first child and had been reluctant over the years to give it away because it always reminds me of the joy of that special day. The value of that piece of clothing to me is not in the cost but the memories associated with it. To someone else, it is a piece of relic.

Some years ago, when my son was in his early teens and about my height, I decided to give him a shirt I really loved. I thought it would look good on him. My boy wore it once and never again touched it. After many months, I noticed the shirt was buried in his wardrobe. As I took it out, I wondered how a piece of clothing I value so much meant nothing to him. It was then I appreciated the relativity of value.

To my son, the shirt was old school and not his type of clothing. T-shirt was his thing at the time. However, to me, apart from the shirt being expensive, I looked and felt good in it. While the shirt was valuable to me, it meant nothing to my son. My value, his nothing.

Something that means the world to one person can mean absolutely nothing to another person. You see a man treat his wife condescendingly. He insults her, beats her up, and handles her like rag. Yet another man adores that same woman, worships the floor she walks on and praying for a chance to be with her and love her. What is nothing to the husband, is of value to another man.

Value is relative. Some things may not have monetary value, yet they are priceless. Some things become priceless because of what they represent to some persons. What's valuable to me is not up to you to decide. Just like what's valuable to you has nothing to do with me. The Eiffel Tower in Paris looks like a pile of metals to me, but because it is valuable to the French, it has become valuable to the world.

Believe in what you value, and others will come to respect it as well. Respect what I value just like I will respect yours. It's okay if we disagree on what material things we value, but one thing we should never disagree on is valuing a soul. Every life is more valuable than gold. Job 28:16.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

 

I was thinking this morning.... I woke up Friday morning with the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. While ajebutter people will wonder why I am speaking gibberish, a Warri man will say 'bros, why you dey yarn opata na?' However, the oldies will remember the word as a song and single from the 1964 Disney musical film Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.

The song says about the word in a part, 'even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious, if you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious.' The Cambridge dictionary defines supercalifragilisticexpialidocious to mean extremely good or wonderful.

With each passing day of 2025, I am better appreciating how extremely wonderful life is. There is this open area in front of my house, where wild banana grew for some years. Just before Christmas of last year, the estate decided it wanted to use the area as children playground. They dug out all the banana trees and filled the area with over 10 inches height of sharp sand. With no more trees in the area, the children had fun playing in the open sandy park.

Then came the first rains of 2025 last week. As I went out for my morning walk that Friday morning, I observed that despite the 10 inches sharp sand that covered whatsoever was left of the banana plant, fresh suckers had sprung from the ground. Wow! I stood for some minutes pondering on the determination of the suckers to survive and could only whisper Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Life is extremely good and wonderful if only we can look beyond our challenges and focus on our creator and creation. Despite the weight and harshness of the sharp sand that had buried whatever was left of the banana plant, the suckers still forced their way out with the first rains. Life is wonderful. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

The events of 2024 may have buried your confidence and swag. Please don't let it bury your dreams and hope. As you navigate 2025, refuse to be buried under the weight of disappointment. Push yourself, make the effort to stay afloat, because at the scent of water you will bud again (Job 14:9). Why? Life is wonderful and this year shall be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH LIFE?

 

I was thinking this morning.... I have been lodging in high-end hotels for many years and usually will enjoy their 4 course orishirishi. Recently, I noticed I was no longer enjoying these expensive lavish meals. I'd rather step outside the hotel to a quaint, modest restaurant close by to enjoy a dish of ewa agoin and diced dodo or amala and ewedu served in the same dish. Why would I not enjoy the expensive 4 course meal and yet be fully satisfied with one course Nigerian dish?

As I pondered, I recalled how a former CEO of Nigeria e-commerce giant, Konga, committed suicide in June of 2024. Why would a successful young man with big businesses and lots of cars decide to end his life while another man living in a 2-bedroom flat and managing a jalopy car be so happy and want to live on earth for 200 years? I also know of a man with 5 children and no job. Poverty take hand touch ground for im life, and he is wondering if he is cursed. He is definitely not satisfied with life. Hmm! What makes for a satisfied life? Is it success?

Some chase after multiple titles such as double chief, Dr, Engr, Pst, as a symbol of success but still not satisfied after 10 titles, yet a simple man with just Mr as his prefix is satisfied. I tell you the truth, a satisfied life is better than the success the world is selling.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying success in life is not good but that aiming for satisfaction in life is a better goal than aiming for success in life. True, there are many who are successful and satisfied with life, just like there are millions who are satisfied with life without success as we know it.

If you’ve developed a taste for expensive cuisines and material things, then you will need wealth to derive satisfaction. But we generally do not need wealth to be satisfied in life. Rather, we need contentment. A satisfied life is better than a successful life because our success is measured by others, but our satisfaction is measured by our own soul, mind, and heart.

Genesis 25:8 - 'Then Abraham breathed his last and he died at a good old age, an old man who was satisfied [with life]'. As you navigate 2025, pray to be satisfied with life.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

STANDING WITH ME

I was thinking this morning..... As we ended the year 2024 and entered a new year 2025, many were engaged in both thanksgiving and celebrating in divers ways. While it may have been quiet for some, many made memories they would cherish for a long time.

On the 1st of January 2025, my colleague and friend, IBB, bowed out of active service and invited us to a thanksgiving service to commemorate the auspicious occasion and his birthday. At the close of the service, everyone gathered around to congratulate him on the milestones. With wide smiles, he acknowledged everyone and also took both group and individual photos. He did so to keep a memory of the moment everyone was standing with him.

Also, during the festive period, many took time out to visit Amusement and Nature Parks. At one of the Nature Parks, I observed people relaxing and enjoying the gifts of nature. As they did, they kept their phones busy taking photos of themselves standing with Nature.

Both literally and figuratively, it is easier to stand for extended periods when one is moving forward than when one is in one position. Remember Abiola and June 12? It took just two years of no progress for those shouting, 'On June 12, we stand' to sit down and eventually sleep on June 12. Similarly, 'On your mandate, we stand. On your mandate, we stand,' is still relevant because the owner of the mandate is in power.

There are too many people who do not know what they stand for. They have no principle or ideology they stand for. They are easily swayed like the proverbial reed. They are called fair-weather friends because they only stand with you when things are good. They jump ship and squat if it doesn't favour them.

As we go through 2025, there will be times when we will worry and have doubts about our dreams and expectations. We may even face tumultuous circumstances that will make us afraid. At times like these, we will need friends and family that will stand with us, but las las, all we need is the assurance that God is standing with us. Romans 8:31.

Congratulations and happy retirement, my friend. God is standing with you.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

THE FOOTPRINTS OF LIFE

 

I was thinking this morning.... It was the last day of 2024, and I decided to visit a couple of project sites at work to be sure all was going okay. I was referred to the stand-in engineer, Engr Sanni, at one of the sites since the chief engineer I was familiar with had gone on holiday. I sent for Engr Sanni to see me. When he arrived, I asked him how things were going.

He gave me a brief and assured me all was fine. I pointed out a few observations and turned to leave. 'Sir, you look and sound familiar,' Engr Sanni said and then asked, 'Please, what's your name?' When I told him my name, he smiled and said, 'I said it. You were my teacher many years ago at Bonny National Grammar School (BNGS) during your service year. When I first heard your voice, I suspected it was you. My name is Sanni'

I leaned in to scan his face again. Wow! It was truly Sanni, the boy from the North, whose father was a big trader in Bonny in 1991. The father had employed me to take his son extra mural studies and make sure he passed his WASC. Today, that same Sanni is an engineer.

Thirty-three years ago, I arrived on this island called Bonny, with nothing but dreams and energy to impact lives. I did my all to give the young and impressionable men at BNGS a shot at being successful in life. I hardly thought about what the future holds, but I knew that whatever I did then would speak sometime in the future.

Student Sanni becoming Engr Sanni is one of those stories. Arriving in 2025 is like arriving on a fresh island. Whatever you do today and for the rest of 2025 will leave footprints in the sand of time. The footprints will either be heading in the right direction or the wrong way. Wherever it leads can be traced to you. When those who crossed your path in the past hear your voice in the future, will they celebrate the reunion or avoid you?

Be intentional about what you do this year. The seeds you sow this year will become fruits in the years ahead. What fruit will it be? Ecclesiastes 11:1 - Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy New Year!

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