What Next?

Meeting With The Devil.

In life it’s not a question of if you will meet the devil it’s a question of when you will have a sitting with him. What will you do when you meet the devil?

        i.            The circumstantial/gray meeting.

When Rita and Jeremy met, it was an 'aha' moment of 'where have you been all these years!' They clicked and connected. That was in a dinner event organized by Rita's employer and they had invited other firms that have partnered with them. They exchanged contacts and in a weeks time, Jeremy had made a request of meeting for coffee. One coffee happened and another…and another. Within six months they were dating and convinced they were meant for each other. Within one year they were a husband and wife after a colourful private wedding. Jeremy used to take 'one for the road' while they were dating. But, by the time they were wedding the one for the road had become 'two'. Both earned a good salary, lived in a good neighbourhood. On one Thursday evening, Jeremy came home sad, dropped on the seat and placed a letter on the table. On opening, Rita could not believe her eyes. Jeremy had lost his job. This was the first appointment he got with the devil. Consequently, was daily dates with the bottle and on that table was the devil too. He completely changed. The little support he was getting from his wife all went with the bottle………… currently, separated, Rita is filing a divorce since she can no longer withstand the physical and emotional abuse meted on her by Jeremy.

      ii.            Deliberate/Stubborn meeting

      When Adolf Hitler was convinced that he no longer needed to see a Jewish face, every action was conscious meeting with the devil in the execution of the plan to eliminate the Jews. The results were devastating. This is no different to when other leaders have orchestrated murder of other people, held on to positions of power by force, led in the looting of their own nation, these are deliberate meetings with the devil.

    iii.            Ignorant/misinformed meeting

      In the 1840s, rabbit keeping was a German practice in Australia. It was common practice amongst the colonists. Rabbits became part of colonist’s diet; unfortunately; one man had a meeting with the devil. Thomas Austin, a landowner, made an import of 24 rabbits from England and for hunting purposes released them in the wild. Austin was an avid hunter when he was in England and was disappointed he could not find anything to hunt in Australia …… within ten years of release the population was very vast that Australians could kill over 2 million rabbits without causing any significant reduction whatsoever. Today, European rabbit in Australia is considered a serious agricultural and environmental pest. The overall loss caused by rabbits in Australia is estimated at $206 million per 1 year. What a terrible desire that Austin had.

How to respond when you meet him.

      Daily in life, we will be faced with situations that will call for us to face the devil. The devil can be a desire, temptation, friend, position,……….. it could just be anything and be happen anytime when we least expect. If our lives are not based on principle, principles that have stood the test of time, the devil will easily have his way.

     Joseph meeting with the devil was a circumstantial one where Jezebel wanted to have him sexually. By PRINCIPLE, Joseph knew there are no negotiations you can have with a beautiful, naked woman's body staring at you. Its either you 'devour' or run. The devil is roaming around, moving around and about seeking a target.

      Whether circumstantial, deliberate or ignorant meeting, one has the power to overcome and make a wise choice. If you meet him by circumstance, step back. If you meet him deliberately, cancel the meeting. If you meet him ignorantly, ask first before you make a move.

Lose To Gain

Rita is not comfortable with her weight. A statement from her husband has been tearing her apart. She is determined. She is determined to regain her shape. When she met her husband, she was the curvy and adorable size. Her man derived joy to see how she received praises from peers from the way she had been able to maintain a seemingly perfect shape. She had been deliberate about, always ate right and light with reduced junk. The wedding was exotic and colourful. One year later, she became pregnant. That is where her journey with weight gain began, she lost the curvy shape, but they were blessed with a beautiful bouncing boy. She lost curves but gained a baby. Now she wants to lose the weight so that she can regain the curvy shape again.

Thomas Edison. His attitude was that every failure was astonishing. ‘I haven't failed I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work’, he said. In 1992, IBM was going to dodo way. It lost  $5 billion, which was the highest at the moment from any company. This became the turning point of the firm where the CEO who followed changed 1BMS strategy and was able to save the giant. Jack in the Box case was even trickier, in 1993 after clients ate contaminated hamburgers from the company; the results were four deaths and 175 hospitalizations. As a result, they executed stringent food measures and standards which helped the almost failing business coupled with even marketing techniques become one of the biggest food chains.

Job’s case can be one of the most significant individual losses of all times. Job lost all his belongs, his peace, his wealth, his children and his wife & friends turned against him. Nonetheless, Job remained steadfast in his faith and believed. After all the treble and tribulation, it is recorded that his fortune was restored twice as much as he had before. He again got children, four sons and three daughters. His daughters are noted to have been the most beautiful in all the land ( Job 42:10-14)

The process we undergo when we lose is not easy at all. It’s a painful process that can cause even the mightiest to fall. Only those that endure the loss, reflect on their mistakes (maintain right perspective since at times one may not have made any errors, but life circumstances happened) have a chance of making a comeback.

Why I Hate Valentine's Day.

Valentine is the most awkward day that people celebrate. I have been trying to find a place in my heart for this day, but I just can't connect with it. Where did this day come from? The story goes that, an emperor by the name Claudius II executed two men on this day. The Catholic Church resulted in naming it St Valentine’s Day. The men were martyrs. This dates back to the 3^rd century. Nonetheless, at the very same date between 13–15 February, the Roman Empire was celebrating the feast of Lupercalia. In the ceremony, the men sacrificed a dog and a goat and then whipped the women with the hides of the animals that had been slain. A historian Noel Lewski, noted that the women were drunk and naked, and they believe the ritual would make them fertile.
Fast forward,today, what happens and why do I hate this day.

     One is not genuine about their feelings. Imagine a person has not been expressive all along, they have never taken you out, bought you a gift, they have been abusive… I mean you've never felt love from them, then they pop up on Feb 14^th with lovey-dovey stuffy. This is even disrespectful, to say the least. Well, one could say they are lovers, and thus they could express their affection at such a day. I beg to differ. It's the laziest day to express it or surprise your lover. Reason being whatever the surprise you pull today, it was expected.

     The kids and the younger generation will be misled. There is this feeling that today is the day of celebrating love. For the children who have no understanding of what love is, they will have a warped mentality of Feb 14^th. In a family set up, a couple do not buy gifts to each other frequently, then a gift pops up today, mind you the last card bought in that house was Feb 14^th the previous year, same to the teddy bears, how do you think the children will interpret it? Additionally, children will not understand why most people are wearing red, hotel décor in red, ladies carrying flowers all over. They will ask questions, but they will not get answers. If they get answers, they will get the wrong ones.

     It is hijacked by the business world. Firms use Valentine's day to enhance their image and as marketing tactic. To most businesses nobody is selling love, they are actually selling items at inflated prices. In the right state of mind, when would a person pay for a hefty and inflated amount for dinner? Well, it’s only in Valentine. It's ‘allowed'. One is getting a raw deal and no value for money, yet they still make a purchase.

     Its psychologically torturing.If a lad is not in a relationship, they start feeling odd and wishful. They can make a hasty choice of getting a lover just to feel ‘okay’ for the day. If one is in a relationship, woe unto you, it’s even worse, the expectation is inflated left, right and center, your partner is expecting you to do something other people are expecting, you will definitely, most likely ,do something.

     My love, now you know why I did nothing today. I just hate valentine I cannot understand why all the reds. I am penning this from a restaurant decorated in white and red with fresh flowers. Tomorrow, they will go back to their old clothings. Please allow me not to do anything on February 14^th.

How About Replacing Worry With Actions?

One of my favourite spot in campus was the centre of the rugby pitch.Saturday and Sunday were the most quiet days in campus.The environment was relaxed and the breeze was cool.On a Sunday after church,I could go take lunch and at around 1500 hrs,I would go sit down in a lotus position like one doing yoga meditation.My mind would start wandering into the issues of life.The biggest questions would be;

What will my future look like?
Will I be successful in  by all standards?
Why am I still in this world?
Was I born to become part of the statistics and just go?
Who will I marry?
Will I be able to go to heights I've seen other people go?
Will I afford decent life? A car? A home? Good education for my kids?
I usually left that spot with more questions than answers.

At times I just lay there and just forget the many questions about life.But then again they never ended,they kept on ring in my heart.I just had to find a solution.A solution I did not know where I would start.Some times, I would wish  I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth that I did not have to worry of what will  happen to my future.Especially in terms of financial provision.Do I have to toil so much that I will be able to provide for my rent,food and securing financial future of my future family?
The more I neared clearing school, the more worried I became.The more worried I became, the more worried I continued to be,the more helpless the situation became.

Fast forward.
In my cup right now, some of the questions I was worried about five years ago, have been answered. In fact, I wonder why I was worried. Right now, though, I have realized something. The questions I worried then have build up into something different. For instance, the question who I will marry; I already know who I will marry, but the questions now are; how will our marriage be? will I be a good husband? will we be happy?

Life happens in phases. At any phase there will still be more questions than the answers available. Nonetheless, choose one thing, not to be worried even a second. For what you  are worried now will cease to be an issue tomorrow. Just edge an action plan and stay focused to it. A milestone at a time.

The Fearless.

I used to spend time and play with kids in my boyhood.Even now I still do.Kids are just amazing.
Especially when they are in a certain age where everything seems impossible.A lot runs my mind when you listen to their questions and the things they ask you to do.

Their dad is the strongest man they know.
They have to fight to get what they want by all means through sheer persistence.
They ask anything,anywhere,anyhow.
They dare try new things.They explore.
They learn quickly and adapt super fast.
...

I wonder, where did kid fearlessness go?
Do I have to be scared and wonder what other people had to say about me?
Why can't I speak out my heart the way a kid does,honestly and openly?
Can't I pursue the music in my heart without being the crowd drowning it?
Where did the aggression go? Can't I play the game of life boldly?
When will I break off the barriers and go for what is in my heart?
Why can't I see possibility in everything instead of impossibilities?

Is it not better to try and fail than fail to try?
Is it not better  to ask and the answer is 'no'  than assume the answer has already been set?
If I don't stand up for what I want in life who will?
If I don't adapt and learn quickly in the ever changing world,am I not waiting for my extinction?
What is holding me back?

What Will You Do?

When they talk dirty and ignoble in your ears,
When they flip through an explicit video in your eyes,
When she touches you and thoughts start running your mind,
When your body demand for more sensations,
What will you do? Will you say everybody is doing it?

When they disregard the walk of brethren,
When they openly tell you church is full of hypocrites,
When they lead a prayerless and Wordless life,
When doctrine run through the media and you're wondering what to believe,
What will you do? Will you just remain silent?

When you've no job and all the I want is 'tea'.
When you want promotion and all they want is what you've reserved for your spouse,
When they back bite in your job and business,
When you've been unfairly dismissed,
What will you do? Will you give in?

When retrenchment is happening all over,
When tough economic times hit and business stand on shaky ground,
When it's even hard to provide for basic family needs,
When all the friends you had depart from you,
What will you do?Will you drain your life into alcohol?

When the person you trusted most betray you,
When the people you thought you can count on turn against you,
When no one wants to be associated with you,
When she hands you the divorce papers,
What will you do?Will you commit suicide?

Tough times will always be there,