ARSENAL HAPPENS TO US ALL

 

I was thinking this morning.... The last  four weeks have been terrible for true Arsenal fans. Arsenal FC last won the Premier League in 2003/2004 season. There was so much expectation of them winning something this season, but like in recent years, they faltered in the last mile. First, they gave up the fight with Liverpool for the Premier League, and then their only chance of winning a trophy after 5 years, the Champions League, evaporated after losing to PSG home and away. Since then, the Gunners and Gooners have been the butts of jokes.

Memes and AI generated photos were shared widely on social media with the most striking being a video of a young man approaching a young lady and said, 'Since Arsenal hasn't won a trophy this season, every Arsenal fan will want a girl like you because you are a walking trophy.' Chai! O enter gan. Another that got me thinking was the AI generated image of Arsenal players atop an open roof double-decker bus in the streets of London with the inscription 'We Tried FC.'

Despite Arsenal holding the record for the highest number of FA Cup wins, having claimed the trophy 14 times, most recently in 2020, it didn't stop the trolls focusing on the one thing we've failed at, the Champions League. But then, aren't we all part of 'We Tried FC'? I doubt if there is anyone who has never tried and failed in one way or another. Arsenal happens to us all.

It's the way of the world. First they force you to focus on your failures rather than your success. Next, they will laugh at you for putting in your best and not succeeding. How has putting in your best and not succeeding become a sin? You've studied hard and attempted an exam multiple times and not succeeded, and haters call you 'We Tried FC.' Haba!

Sadly, not everyone can manage failure well, particularly when teased or laughed at. The 19-year-old female student from Ikorodu that committed suicide because she scored 146 in the last JAMB UTME exam, lower then her 190 score for last year, probably did so because she felt disappointed and was afraid of being seen as part of 'We Tried FC.' It was Winston Churchill who said, 'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.' Isaac Newton, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and many other great men all failed spectacularly before they succeeded. Proverbs 24:16 says, 'Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again'. Arsenal happens to us all and it is not a curse.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

WHO IS YOUR SAMARITAN?

 

I was thinking this morning.... a couple of weeks ago, we got the sad news of the death of an elder in church. He was about 70 years old. While his passing was shocking, the manner he died was heart-wrenching. He retired from active service not too long ago and started living alone not long after, having separated from his wife of so many years. The children are all grown up and living on their own.

On the fateful Monday morning, he collapsed while washing clothes. Because he lived alone, there was no one to help. For the next 4 days, he laid dead in his flat. No one who came to look for him got alarmed enough by his absence to break into his flat. By the weekend, the offensive smell and swarm of flies by his window had attracted the attention of his neighbours, who later broke in and discovered his decomposing corpse. 

In my shock, my mind wondered. How is it possible that for the 5 days he was dead in his flat, no one loved him enough to be alarmed by his being incommunicado to go look for him? Where were his children? What was his relationship with his neighbours? Should a 70 year old man even be living alone? There are so many unanswered questions.

Of all the questions, there was one that I couldn't shake off my mind for a long time. For 30 years or more, this man gave the best part of his life bringing up his children. How is it possible that for 5 days, none of the children called their father, who they know live alone, to the point of becoming alarmed when there was no response after 48 hrs? 

I still don't have all the answers and probably never would, but it is important for every man to plan for their retirement years after the kids are long gone. Be intentional about maintaining harmony with your spouse. Aside from death, it is a terrible loss to be separated from your spouse at old age when you both should provide each other succour. Building a strong relationship with your neighbours is another must. 

We all need a Samaritan in life (Luke 10:36), who will care enough to go out of his/her way to ensure you are okay. The Samaritan could be your spouse, child, neighbour, or brother in the Lord. Who is your Samaritan?

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

THE TRAGEDY OF AKPAN'S TOOTHPICK

I was thinking this morning.... Last Tuesday, I joined a few friends and colleagues for dinner at a nice restaurant at Zone 4, Abuja. When we were done devouring the content laid before us, it was time to gist while picking our teeth. We were still on it when one of us told the story of Akpan and his boss, which made us laugh so hard.

Akpan was a house boy who loved picking his teeth after eating and drinking. You can argue that Akpan would pick his teeth after drinking water. His oga got angry one day, called him and said, "Akpan, how can this new pack of toothpick be almost empty?Why is it that you are always using so many toothpicks and throwing them in the bin? Don't ever do that again," he concluded.

For the next few weeks, the quantity of toothpicks in the pack did not drop, and Oga was happy Akpan got the message. Weeks later, madam observed Akpan pick his teeth and put the used toothpick back in the pack. "Akpan, what the heck are you doing?" She yelled. Akpan responded, "My oga say I dey finish the toothpick because I dey use the toothpick and throw am. Na im I say make I put am back after I use am, make e for no finish." Madam almost fainted.

Oga thought to save some money by ordering Akpan not to use toothpick. Now Akpan is using the toothpick and putting it back for Oga to use. Chai! It's a tragedy. How you treat those working for you could determine if you would experience the tragedy of Akpan's toothpick. We've read stories of unhappy domestic staff using oga and madam toothbrush to wash the toilet bowl and put it back for them to use to brush their teeth. It can be akin to the tragedy of Akpan's toothpick.

You employ people to work in your shop or office, and you treat them like slaves. They may not talk back at you, but they sabotage you in various ways. That also can be likened to the tragedy of Akpan's toothpick. Is your subordinate and employee getting under your skin? Discipline them but do so with love to avoid experiencing the tragedy of Akpan's toothpick. Colossians 4:1: "And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don't forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master — God in heaven.”

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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