WEEP, EVEN FOR THE DRUNK

It’s so easy to ignore the drunken vagabond and not see anything special in him.

This evening, I stopped by a local battery seller to get a battery, when a drunk stopped by. I quickly took few steps backward, as he looked like a lunatic on the loose. His clothes and feet were dirty, and he looked totally unkempt. I soon caught a whiff of the alcohol beneath his breath. I’d drawn my conclusion about this man before he had opened his mouth. But the moment he spoke, I  was amazed!!! He spoke flawless English, devoid of an accent. In that state of stupor, his brain was still sharp, as the trader tried to play a fast one on him, but he still took permanent control.

It occurred to me that he just might be a victim of circumstance, and might even have had a proper ‘buttie’ early education.

I can remember one of the managers of Celtel Nigeria, telling us during training that he had a schoolmate who attended his ‘buttie’ private school (in the class of Andrao and Corona schools) whom he saw at the bus stop one day. He was an area boy with all the ‘area’ around him, but he still spoke flawless English. He lost his father, and from then on, things started going down for them, till he landed where he was.

Before drawing up any negative conclusion about that woman that was caught eating from the bin, and was given some food, only for you to see her smoking, or the lady that would sleep with any man so much as says ‘hello’, or that drunk that isn’t easy on the eyes oe nose, think twice!!!

Written on 10/8/2011

WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE CLINCHED IT

I was playing spider solitaire this Monday morning, instead of staring at a blank screen, when I thought the game I got was super-duper easy. I felt like ending the game for one that would be more challenging, as things started adding up right from the start. I decided to enjoy the ease, and coast along. I didn’t take it serious ‘cause I was very positive that I had it clinched, and was playing on for formality-sake.

I lost the game.

I couldn't believe it, and had to wonder where things had gone wrong.

I realized I had taken the game for granted, because I was sure I had won.

In the real world, this kind of behaviour crops up in various scenarios:

The man who thinks he’s married his wife, and therefore takes her for granted and treats her badly;

Or the woman who thinks “phew! Now, I have him in my ‘trap’, so let me relax, and forget about looking good”;

Or the student who thinks “Well, I’ve got a 4.8 cummulative GPA, and I’m in my final year, they can’t but give me my 1^st class”;

Or the parents who take their children for granted, and do not bother fostering good relationships with them;

Or believers who take God for a ride, and don’t give him reverence.

Let’s watch out for areas in our lives we are taking some people, God or situations for granted.

Written 11/14/2011 11:47am

All is vanity

I yearned for a car, how little it came, I did not care,

All my care was that I had my own means of transport,

To take me to places of pleasure,

Beaches, the movies, restaurants, I must visit,

To visit friends and acquaintances, I mustn’t miss,

When at last the car arrived, small it was, yet excited I was,

Alas, the places I yearned to visit, I scarcely went,

All is vanity, my soul then sighed.

I was reading Ecclesiastes today, about how King Solomon got whatsoever he desired. He became the greatest of all men and kings, yet at the end, despite having it all he said “and I looked on all the works that my hand had wrought, and on the labour that I had labored to do: and behold, all was VANITY…”

I look at life, and realize that I’ve had various desires, yet they have no lasting thrill.

My latest desire was to have a dog.

I’d been nursing and nurturing this desire for a couple of years, such that I looked up extensive information about the breed I desired.

It was a dream I thought would take a long time to achieve as my parents didn’t want a pet in the house…until I talked about dogs (once again) to my dad, and he said I could get one.

I couldn’t believe it!!!

I started searching the internet for a local dog breeder, and got one, unexpectedly (of course I prayed about it).

I contacted him, and we arranged on delivery…and of course, payment. Mind you, I was still a bit scared of dogs, and didn’t know what to expect. On seeing him, he was so adorable and cute, and barely filled my palm. That was it.

I love him, I’m happy I have him, but the thrill is all gone ( but this isn’t vanity, as he is a wonderful creature of God).

Written on 25th July, 2011 6.06pm