Anti Muzzy

They all call on His name

I was watching the game between Burkina Faso and Ghana recently during the African Cup of Nations. I could not help but notice that both teams were very prayerful. From prostrating to making the sign of the cross, they were all at it. And then it hit me. What was God expected to do in a situation like this? Ghana was obviously beseeching Him to give them victory and Burkina Faso was prostrating and making the same request. Poor God!

 Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be God even for a day? The owner of the house kneels by his bedside to ask for protection for his life and property before going to bed and miles away, the thief who has targeted his home for the night is donning his balaclava while asking God for success with his midnight venture at the house. The accused is praying for the heart of the judge to be softened while his victim prays for God to give him his day in court. The shop proprietor down the road is praying for customers to miss the entrance of the shop next to his and make a beeline to his own while, the owner of next door is asking that He makes every customer walking down the street to be oblivious of his competitor. He might even promise a visit to his church for thanksgiving as soon as the rival’s shop is shut down for good due to lack of business.

 What about our prayers for hurt feelings; perceived or real? You all know what I am talking about because we have all been down that road. We all (including those who profess not to believe in Him) call on God to avenge us. Meanwhile the ‘enemy’ who is seeing the situation from his/her own perspective thinks he is the one ‘done in’ and like some people I know, pray for hell fire and damnation on you. And so it goes on day by day, every hour, every minute and every second, every human voice calling on one being for help.

I am reminded of a song from the German music film Bandits entitled “If I were God”. Part of the lyric goes like this:

‘If I were God, 
I would see all the things I never see 
I would always be with you and make all your dreams come true 
I would fill your days with laughter 
I would live a million years 
We'd be happy ever after.’ 

For your dreams to come true, some people would have to have theirs dashed. Days filled with joy means having everything your way thus causing others to lose out on their own joy. As it happened in the game I watched, Burkina Faso won and the Burkinabes went home full of joy and believing that God was on their side. I can only imagine how the Ghanaians felt. You see where I am coming from?

 The movie Bruce Almighty only scratched the surface of what it might mean to be God. I don’t know about you but I don’t wish to be Him for even a second!

  Chika Norah Udezue Wednesday February 6th, 2013.