IF SO, DOXOLOGY!

 

I was thinking this morning... Only a handful of people born after 1970 will truly appreciate the expression, “If so, doxology!”

In the 70s and 80s, when secondary school boys were aspiring Shakespeareans and romance was conducted through handwritten letters, there was a peculiar language of love.

First, instead of writing an address, the young lover would simply write “Ditto.” Then came the masterpiece:

My Dearest Sweetheart,
This is the calligraphy of Wey Mey, written with the golden pen of love from the bottomless pit of my heart.

How are you and your entire household? I hope you are swimming in the ocean of good health? If so, doxology!

Yours forever in the garden of love,

Wey Mey.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

Those Xs were not multiplication signs. They represented kisses! Na wa o! Our fathers were not the only ones who knew how to express love.

Although I never wrote such letters, I was always fascinated by “If so, doxology.” I neither understood what it meant nor bothered to find out. After all, who needed a dictionary when love was doing the talking?

Last week, a colleague resurrected this ancient correspondence during a conversation, and my curiosity was awakened.

I discovered that doxology comes from two Greek words: doxa, meaning glory or praise, and logos, meaning word or expression. Essentially, it is an expression of praise to God.

So, those young lovers were actually saying, “If you are well, glory be to God!” Imagine that! Theology hidden inside teenage romance!

As I reminisced, I wondered how many marriages today owe their existence to those beautifully exaggerated love letters. Some people probably married because somebody promised them an ocean of affection with neither canoe nor life jacket!

It certainly wasn't my strategy for winning the heart of my young wife. Perhaps it worked for others. If so, doxology!

Since I wasn't particularly gifted in the art of romantic calligraphy, I channelled much of my energy into building my professional career.

Last Friday, I was honoured with the award of Professional Fellowship by the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES). As I stood during the induction, I reflected on my professional journey and the many people, opportunities, challenges and experiences that have shaped it.

Truthfully, titles have never been my motivation. I have always believed that the value of a professional is measured less by the letters after their name and more by the difference they make.

Nevertheless, this recognition is deeply appreciated. I hope the Fellowship will further strengthen my commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability and mentoring the next generation of environmental professionals.

And if it does, doxology!

You see, the more I reflect on that forgotten expression, the more I realise that those secondary school boys, perhaps unknowingly, were teaching us something profound.

Life is full of “if so” moments.

If your family is healthy, doxology!

If your children are making progress, doxology!

If your years of labour are being recognised, doxology!

If you have survived challenges that once appeared insurmountable, doxology!

And even when things have not turned out exactly as planned, there is still something for which to be grateful. As the Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks.”

Perhaps it is time we resurrected this beautiful expression, not necessarily in love letters, but in our everyday conversations. Because behind every achievement is a story of grace, and behind every testimony is a reason to give thanks.

As for me, from the days of youthful dreams in Warri to this latest professional recognition, I can only look back and say:

If so, doxology!

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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

WHEN LIFE REASSIGNS THE OFFICERS

 

I was thinking this morning.... A couple of days ago, I stumbled on this photograph and it stirred up a deep feeling of nostalgia. It was taken almost 25 years ago at my traditional wedding ceremony.

A few years before then, about eight of us friends had organised ourselves into a group and started calling ourselves “Officers.”

Someone who didn't know us might have thought we belonged to some arm of the military or law enforcement. After all, wetin eight young men dey call themselves Officers for? 😂

We were neither appointed nor elected public officers. We were simply Chief Executive Officers in our own small corners. It was a social group built around friendship, brotherhood and supporting one another whenever the need arose. We were young, ambitious and just beginning our working lives.

Those years were memorable. I was the youngest and eventually the last Officer to get married. And then, as they say, life began to life. Marriage came. Children arrived. Responsibilities multiplied. Careers demanded more. Everybody began pursuing that proverbial greener pasture.

Gradually, our frequent gatherings became less frequent. Two Officers got better opportunities in Lagos and left Warri. Years later, my own greener pasture carried me to Rivers State. Sadly, one of us was eventually called to eternity. May the Lord continue to rest his soul.

Almost 25 years have passed since the Officers gathered to support me at my wedding. Yesterday, I called some of them, and we reminisced about those beautiful Warri years. The laughter, the friendship, the struggles and the dreams we shared.

And something struck me.

No quarrel separated us. No disagreement broke the group. Nobody officially resigned from the Officers. Life simply reassigned us.

New cities. New careers. New families. New friendships. New responsibilities. New circles.

As Warri people would say, “River no dey flow straight, but e still dey reach where e dey go.”

Sometimes we feel guilty that we are no longer as close to old friends as we once were. But perhaps not every friendship is meant to remain physically close forever. Some people belong permanently to a chapter of our lives even when life moves us into another chapter.

So, if an old photograph suddenly reminds you of people with whom you once shared beautiful moments, don't just smile and scroll past. Make the call.

Twenty-five years may have passed, but you may discover that beneath all the distance, responsibilities and grey hairs, the friendship is still there, waiting for someone to say:

“Officer, how you dey?”

"A friend loves at all times" says Proverbs 17:17.

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Sunday!

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