Saturday 26 December 2020

Different Paths, Same Destination

 


I was thinking this morning..... last Sunday we had a mini-reunion of my University graduating class of 91. It was a momentous occasion because it was the first time many saw themselves 29 years after we graduated. As we caught up, reminisced and discussed our trajectories, life's lessons were dropping on my laps. 


First, I realised that though we started from the same terminal (Microbiology Department) and headed to the same destination (fulfilment and happiness), we did not all take-off at the same time. While most left after the first degree, some of us stayed back for our Masters degree and left 2 years later. Twenty nine (29) years after, we arrived at a common location on our way to fulfilling destiny. Different departure times but same destination.

Secondly, aside not leaving at the same time, we also did not board the same vehicle to take us to our destination. Of the 11 of us that showed up for the reunion, four took the flight of working in applied sector (Manufacturing, Oil & Gas etc.), another four went into business, two took the vehicle of banking and one ended up as a teacher. So, it didn't matter the vehicle we boarded, they are all taking us to our destination. We must not all work in an oil company or be bank managers, just do your thing and we will get there. Like they say 'just dey your dey make I dey my dey and we will be fine.'

As we interacted, I noticed that, yes we took different paths towards the pursuit of happiness (destiny), not everyone has achieved their goal. The different routes had their peculiarities. Some routes were smooth, others bumpy. Some achieved relative success very early in the journey, others later on, but a few others ran into serious potholes on their path that almost crashed their vehicle of life. For some the vehicles taking them broke down at some point setting them years back in marriage, finances or child bearing, while others had a smooth ride. One thing that is however true was that all 11 of us seem to have some form of fulfilment, not implying we do not wish for a lot more.

But how is it that we all had 4 years of same preparation but followed different paths to destiny? In life, there are different vehicles and paths to destiny. The path to take is at the discretion of each person. You may have looked back on the last 30 years, 10 years or even this year 2020 and it seems like the vehicle of your life has crashed. Please do not truncate the journey. Encourage yourself, fix the vehicle and stay the course. The journey might take longer but the destination is the same. It is not about who gets there first or whether you are full or empty when you arrive but rather about getting there. Stay the course and you will surely get there. With 4 days left to the end of 2020, look unto to Jesus so you could finish strong  (Hebrews 12:2).

Happy Sunday.

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

Saturday 19 December 2020

Uneasy Lies The Head

 


I was thinking this morning.... as I stepped out of the aircraft last Wednesday fully dressed and Covid protocols compliant. I was feeling a bit uneasy and decided to check why. My findings are, my head was covered with an Hausa cap (called Fula or Wagambari), my eyes with sunglasses, my nose and mouth with cloth mask and my ears plugged with ear piece. Haba!!! All these accessories for one head? For the first time, I had a unique understanding of the expression 'uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.' olboy, it wasn't easy for my head that day. Lol..


As I reflected on this head figuratively, I saw a correlation with the family. Consider this. The cap (your parents) are above and meeting their needs puts some pressure on the head from above. The sunglasses (your spouse) shield the eyes from direct sun rays, but their needs sometimes put pressure on the side of the head. The ear pieces signify your children. Hmm! They have your ears but without God and proper planning, they can give you headache. Finally, the face masks (your friends and relatives) which are very necessary if you must stay 'coro-free' could end up choking you (I can't breathe). Haba! Uneasy lies the head...

Just like my head, this is the season for heads of families to feel the pressure. This season, forty years ago, I can remember what my parents were going through. I will trouble them like Ekpan fly until Christmas clothes and shoes show up. But unlike those years, 2020 has been a year like no other and many family heads are struggling. So wives, please don't put pressure on your husbands and children don't trouble your parents like I did mine in those days. Relatives and friends, abeg make una dey calm down because uneasy lies the head...

It doesn't matter if the head is as big as 'Ozengbe's' or small, the pressure is real. Whether head of family, head of class/department, head of the unit/church or head of state, uneasy lies the head.
Please show some understanding, protect and pray for the head because the peace of the head is the peace of the whole body. No wonder Peter said in John 13:9 'Lord wash also my head.'

Merry Christmas.

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

Saturday 12 December 2020

SUPER WHAT?


was thinking this morning.... it's 18 days to the end of 2020 and what a year it has been. When I tried to think of a word to describe this year, what came to mind was 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.' Eh relax! I am not speaking gibberish. The word was popularised in the 1964 film Mary Poppins, in which it is used as the title of a song and defined as 'something to say when you have nothing to say'. Truly, concerning 2020, I have nothing to say.


The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' as 'a nonsense word, originally used especially by children, and typically expressing excited approbation: fantastic, fabulous', while Dictionary.com says it is 'used as a nonsense word by children to express approval or to represent the longest word in English.' Actually, it is not a nonsense word but a compound word said by Richard Lederer in his book Crazy English to be made up of these words: super- 'above', cali- 'beauty', fragilistic- 'delicate', expiali- 'to atone', and -docious 'educable', with all of these parts combined meaning 'Atoning for educability through delicate beauty.' Hmm!

Many cannot wait to see the end of 2020 which has been aptly described as unprecedented. To most people, this year has been nothing but overwhelming and if asked to describe this year in one word considering their peculiar circumstances, many may not find the right words may create a new word.

I thought about the families of the 1.57 million people that have died from Covid-19 this year alone worldwide including 1,919 deaths in Nigeria. They entered 2020 with great expectations and never dreamt they will lose a loved one. Covid came and broke their hearts. If you hear them in their shock and sorrrow describing 2020 as  'Supercovidfatalityexpialidocious,' please do not conclude they are speaking nonsense. It's their way of saying something when there is nothing to say.

What about the millions that have lost their source of livelihood this year from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic? The International Labour Organisation (ILO) had estimated that about 25 million people will lose their jobs worldwide as a result of Covid-19. When asked, these people will probably describe 2020 as 'Supercovidmakemejoblessexpialidocious.'

Now it's the holiday season and many countries are battling the second wave of the pandemic. Despite the subdued celebrations, some had gone the whole mile to deck their homes and surrounding with boughs of holly, having wreath on their front door to give a warm welcome to guests and fill us with a sense of wonder and nostalgia. For these, they had made the conscious decision to subjugate the pain of Covid-19 and other negative experiences to the dustbin of oblivion and decided to showcase the beauty of the holiday season. As I walked through beautifully decorated houses and streets in my estate, all I could say was 'Supersantamerrychristmasexpialidocious.'

Whatever it is you have seen this year, you are better off than 1.6 million people that Covid-19 killed. Therefore make shakara and celebrate. Splash the colours and finish 2020 on a high. 1st Thessalonians 5:18 says 'In every thing give thanks.'

Happy Sunday.

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

Saturday 5 December 2020

Thankful for XIX

 


I was thinking this morning.... about nineteen (19) not just because of its significance of being the first two numbers of the year in which my young wife and I were born but also because this day 19 years ago, we had our traditional marriage. There are many reasons for me to be thankful everyday, but on this day I am thankful for nineteen (19) which is XIX in roman numeral.


Many will not want to think of 19 because it reminds them of Covid-19. Understandably so. To me I am thinking that just like the moon appears in the same exact position in the sky every 19th year and eclipses of the Sun tend to recur in periods of 19 years, we should be that predictable in giving thanks. Therefore, on this day, like in other years, I am thankful for 19 years (228 months) of marital bliss. Thankful for XIX.

For many, when they think 19, they are appreciative of the technological breakthroughs of the 1900’s which started with aeroplanes in 1903, bras in 1913, televisions in 1925, canned beer in 1935, microwave ovens in 1946, CDs in 1965 and finally Viagra in 1998. I'm not sure which is most important to you, to me it is 19 years (991 weeks) of countless memories of joy. Thankful for XIX.

Someone might be saying that I am talking '19 to the dozen' meaning I am talking very quickly, without stopping. Please don't blame me, afterall I did not receive '19 Propositions' like Charles I received from Parliament in 1642 to limit the power of the Crown. Rather, God has enlarged our coast in 19 years (6,935 days). Thankful for XIX.

Where do we go for the 19th anniversary? Thanks to Covid restrictions, we won't be able to take the longest non-stop flight in the world, scheduled by Singapore Airlines, that takes 19 hours from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey nor be like Internet personalities Gunnar Garfors and Pak Tay-yong that visited 19 countries in 24 hours, setting a new world record for the most countries visited in one day. However, we sure know that God is taking us somewhere better than 19 countries. Thankful for XIX.

Nineteen! A standard golf course has 18 holes, but golfers will often talk about going to the '19th hole', meaning the club house, where they can celebrate how they played. Unlike golfers, our 19th hole will not be the club house but the house of God to give God thanks for 19 years (166,550 hours and counting) of endless love. Why? Genesis 19:19 says 'Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to us.' Thankful for XIX.

Happy bronze anniversary to us.

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