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.
Friday, 8 February 2013
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Elegy for butterflies
I had a brief moment of what my husband calls life’s little pleasures as I was out walking this morning. I saw a butterfly! Did I hear you say “so what’s great about that?” Well, when was the last time you saw one? Have you not been paying much attention? And no, it has very little to do with my location. I happen to live away from a bustling city centre. I am surrounded by trees, forests, golf courses and beautifully manicured gardens blooming with eye-popping flowers.
I walked all spring and saw no butterflies. Summer is peaking and I finally spotted one. It gladdened my heart but also set me thinking if my grandchildren would ever get to know what the real things are like or depend on the pinned-onto-cardboard carcasses in science labs. A day might come when we start building museums for butterflies and other small animals that are fast disappearing.
O the joy I had as a child chasing butterflies and noting their varied colours, spots and markings. I remember my father showing me how to treat them by catching one himself and illustrating how those beautiful wings crumble when handled with heavy hands. I always associate my childhood with butterflies. In the 70s, I could look out of the windows of my Bedfordshire home and watch them fluttering over the flower beds for hours and wondering how far they travelled to get to my garden. When I moved to Saudi Arabia, I still indulged in butterfly gazing with special fondness for the Al-Hassa swallowtail with its striking black and yellow wings and body. They had some butterflies on postage stamps. I wonder if it is still the same.
In elementary school, I learnt that like honey bees, butterflies pollinate plants. Will my grandchildren be taught the same at schools - what with us destroying their habitats and using toxic pesticides and herbicides in our fields and gardens? With us growing genetically modified plants that contain a bacterium toxic to insects, causing migrating flies that land on fields of these plants to get annihilated? I doubt it.
Did you ever get to watch the cartoon, ‘Hoppity Goes to Town’ when you were little? My children did. It described the return of Hoppity (a grasshopper) to a city in America, having been away for some time, only to find that his insect friends were under threat by the ‘human ones’. I remember the part where the poor insects were running from being trampled by human feet and shouting “the human ones are coming, the human ones are coming!” Have you ever wondered what some of these small inhabitants of the earth would be saying if they could talk? Or maybe they do but we are too busy to hear!
I'm no tree-hugging conservationist but still need to pay attention to some of God’s creations that help to make this earth fun to be in. Today it is the butterfly, tomorrow the bees, which are also disappearing. They might be small but they have their own jobs to do in the grand scheme of life. Or perhaps we should stop procreating and start pollinating? After all, a third of food produced for us humans is dependent on pollinators.
The last two lines of Thomas Gray’s ‘Elegy written in a country churchyard’ come to my mind:
“But thro' the cool sequester'd Vale of Life
Pursue the silent Tenour of thy Doom.”
Look around you after reading this and prove me wrong. It's our call.
I walked all spring and saw no butterflies. Summer is peaking and I finally spotted one. It gladdened my heart but also set me thinking if my grandchildren would ever get to know what the real things are like or depend on the pinned-onto-cardboard carcasses in science labs. A day might come when we start building museums for butterflies and other small animals that are fast disappearing.
O the joy I had as a child chasing butterflies and noting their varied colours, spots and markings. I remember my father showing me how to treat them by catching one himself and illustrating how those beautiful wings crumble when handled with heavy hands. I always associate my childhood with butterflies. In the 70s, I could look out of the windows of my Bedfordshire home and watch them fluttering over the flower beds for hours and wondering how far they travelled to get to my garden. When I moved to Saudi Arabia, I still indulged in butterfly gazing with special fondness for the Al-Hassa swallowtail with its striking black and yellow wings and body. They had some butterflies on postage stamps. I wonder if it is still the same.
In elementary school, I learnt that like honey bees, butterflies pollinate plants. Will my grandchildren be taught the same at schools - what with us destroying their habitats and using toxic pesticides and herbicides in our fields and gardens? With us growing genetically modified plants that contain a bacterium toxic to insects, causing migrating flies that land on fields of these plants to get annihilated? I doubt it.
Did you ever get to watch the cartoon, ‘Hoppity Goes to Town’ when you were little? My children did. It described the return of Hoppity (a grasshopper) to a city in America, having been away for some time, only to find that his insect friends were under threat by the ‘human ones’. I remember the part where the poor insects were running from being trampled by human feet and shouting “the human ones are coming, the human ones are coming!” Have you ever wondered what some of these small inhabitants of the earth would be saying if they could talk? Or maybe they do but we are too busy to hear!
I'm no tree-hugging conservationist but still need to pay attention to some of God’s creations that help to make this earth fun to be in. Today it is the butterfly, tomorrow the bees, which are also disappearing. They might be small but they have their own jobs to do in the grand scheme of life. Or perhaps we should stop procreating and start pollinating? After all, a third of food produced for us humans is dependent on pollinators.
The last two lines of Thomas Gray’s ‘Elegy written in a country churchyard’ come to my mind:
“But thro' the cool sequester'd Vale of Life
Pursue the silent Tenour of thy Doom.”
Look around you after reading this and prove me wrong. It's our call.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Putting her foot in it!
I can’t wait to tell you what just happened to me. It was at 10:46 am that my door bell rang. How did I know the exact time, I hear you ask. Well, I had just placed this apple cream coffee cake in the oven, turned to look at the clock and was still holding my oven mittens in my hands.
My initial instinct was to ignore it. I was not expecting any one and have a very busy day ahead of me. But not being the type to ignore door bells unless the timing was positively inconvenient, I took the 13 steps from the centre of my kitchen to my front door (Yep, I went back and counted it before sitting down to write this!), still holding my oven mittens.
Peeping through the key hole, I was initially blinded by the red coat. I then made out the wearer, a middle aged woman who had a young girl in tow. She was clutching a handbag and was already holding out some pamphlets. I knew where she belonged and what she wanted. As a Christian, I welcome and love chatting with others who profess to know God. We might not always see eye to eye but that does not stop me from listening with patience and occasionally putting across my own points. But not today. Shall I just walk back and ignore them?
“Well," I said to myself, "you’re already at the door so you might as well open it and dismiss them politely."
I opened the door still holding my mittens and with a sorry-but-must-get-back-to work look on my face.
“Good morning.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to wake you up from sleep but I would like to…”
What is this? A canned greeting for those who happen to be still at home at 11 am?
“You did not wake me up. I AM COOKING,” I spelled out waving the mittens for effect.
“Oh sorry but you’re still wearing your…” she tried to stutter,
She still didn’t get it. I knew what I was wearing so she had no excuse. I glanced at her little girl who looked to be about 11 and the poor thing had her face fully focused on the ground. She got it.
The woman in red stretched out her hand and offered me her pamphlet. “We’re going around your neighbourhood and inviting people to our Convention on the …”
I took the paper and was about to close my door when I remembered my grace and charm.” Have a very good day ladies.” I smiled that smile that only showed the teeth.. You know; the one that never touched the heart. Then I shut the door.
Turning around, I barged into my guest toilet, located not far from my front door and turned to the full length wall mirror. I had and still have on my lounging Kaftan with a dusting of flour on the left hand side, an evidence of my time in my kitchen. My hair is not bad. True I have no makeup on but there is no way I look like someone who is just roused from sleep. Then I looked at the paper.
"Violence, immorality and global warming, along with
oil spills and other environmental disaster – all
these problems had led concerned people to ask:
WILL HUMANS RUIN THIS EARTH?"
Talk about ruining the earth! Lady, you've tried to ruin my day!! You've just made me feel like a lazy slob who hugs her bed until midday. If only you know what I have achieved this morning and what I still need to do before the end of the day. I felt bad and really small. Then I glanced at the mirror again and smiled, this time for real. Who should be feeling small and embarrassed? Me, in my own home and doing my own thing or this woman who tried to mess my head up by putting her foot in her mouth?
Out of line comments are never pleasant. People must learn to think before they open their mouth. Thoughtless statements can be offensive and such verbal blunders belittle the receiver and chips away confidence.
I now find myself wondering if I am at all like this lady. Have I said some insensitive things to people that left them embarrassed or hurt? If so then I am truly sorry. It is worth thinking positively and saying something complementary at all times.
As for the invitation from the woman in red, it is already resting where it belongs, in my trash can. And I need to go bring my cake out of the oven. It is for a good cause and some folks who are yet unknown to me will enjoy it later. Cheers!
My initial instinct was to ignore it. I was not expecting any one and have a very busy day ahead of me. But not being the type to ignore door bells unless the timing was positively inconvenient, I took the 13 steps from the centre of my kitchen to my front door (Yep, I went back and counted it before sitting down to write this!), still holding my oven mittens.
Peeping through the key hole, I was initially blinded by the red coat. I then made out the wearer, a middle aged woman who had a young girl in tow. She was clutching a handbag and was already holding out some pamphlets. I knew where she belonged and what she wanted. As a Christian, I welcome and love chatting with others who profess to know God. We might not always see eye to eye but that does not stop me from listening with patience and occasionally putting across my own points. But not today. Shall I just walk back and ignore them?
“Well," I said to myself, "you’re already at the door so you might as well open it and dismiss them politely."
I opened the door still holding my mittens and with a sorry-but-must-get-back-to work look on my face.
“Good morning.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to wake you up from sleep but I would like to…”
What is this? A canned greeting for those who happen to be still at home at 11 am?
“You did not wake me up. I AM COOKING,” I spelled out waving the mittens for effect.
“Oh sorry but you’re still wearing your…” she tried to stutter,
She still didn’t get it. I knew what I was wearing so she had no excuse. I glanced at her little girl who looked to be about 11 and the poor thing had her face fully focused on the ground. She got it.
The woman in red stretched out her hand and offered me her pamphlet. “We’re going around your neighbourhood and inviting people to our Convention on the …”
I took the paper and was about to close my door when I remembered my grace and charm.” Have a very good day ladies.” I smiled that smile that only showed the teeth.. You know; the one that never touched the heart. Then I shut the door.
Turning around, I barged into my guest toilet, located not far from my front door and turned to the full length wall mirror. I had and still have on my lounging Kaftan with a dusting of flour on the left hand side, an evidence of my time in my kitchen. My hair is not bad. True I have no makeup on but there is no way I look like someone who is just roused from sleep. Then I looked at the paper.
"Violence, immorality and global warming, along with
oil spills and other environmental disaster – all
these problems had led concerned people to ask:
WILL HUMANS RUIN THIS EARTH?"
Talk about ruining the earth! Lady, you've tried to ruin my day!! You've just made me feel like a lazy slob who hugs her bed until midday. If only you know what I have achieved this morning and what I still need to do before the end of the day. I felt bad and really small. Then I glanced at the mirror again and smiled, this time for real. Who should be feeling small and embarrassed? Me, in my own home and doing my own thing or this woman who tried to mess my head up by putting her foot in her mouth?
Out of line comments are never pleasant. People must learn to think before they open their mouth. Thoughtless statements can be offensive and such verbal blunders belittle the receiver and chips away confidence.
I now find myself wondering if I am at all like this lady. Have I said some insensitive things to people that left them embarrassed or hurt? If so then I am truly sorry. It is worth thinking positively and saying something complementary at all times.
As for the invitation from the woman in red, it is already resting where it belongs, in my trash can. And I need to go bring my cake out of the oven. It is for a good cause and some folks who are yet unknown to me will enjoy it later. Cheers!
Monday, 13 June 2011
Life goes on!
There is no kick in the butt that lands harder than when people start asking why I have abandoned my blog! “Have you run out of ideas,” one asked recently, for which he received a big scowl from me. Me run out of ideas? That would be the day. My head is so packed full of ideas that they disturb my sleep every night. If I could put down all the musings in my head, and find buyers for them, I would be competing with Bill Gates in the riches realm.
No, the ideas are still there. But I did run out of steam and the will to bother. With two rapid demise of loved ones – my mother and mother-in-law and poor health of loved brothers, I decided to withdraw, look inwards and feel sorry for myself. “What a waste of life!” I can now say to myself.
My late father always delighted in telling people that his shoulders were broad enough and mine should have been the same to accommodate all that life threw at me. It’s silly really come to think about it! Nothing would bring back my two mothers and God is healing my brothers. I should put back my forward looking cloak and be me once again. Life goes on.
I like this quote attributed to bestselling author and life coach, Anthony Robbins:
“Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.”
I’m here and must live life to the full. I intend to experience some things, not everything. I promise to take care of myself and my friends, if they let me. I am good at screwing up so nothing new here. Just need to screw up without guilt. I do learn from my mistakes but not all the time. I know that some causes of problems cannot be eliminated but I will certainly eliminate the ‘eliminatables’ and manage others.
I will work hard at not being perfect. That is the bane of my life!
No, the ideas are still there. But I did run out of steam and the will to bother. With two rapid demise of loved ones – my mother and mother-in-law and poor health of loved brothers, I decided to withdraw, look inwards and feel sorry for myself. “What a waste of life!” I can now say to myself.
My late father always delighted in telling people that his shoulders were broad enough and mine should have been the same to accommodate all that life threw at me. It’s silly really come to think about it! Nothing would bring back my two mothers and God is healing my brothers. I should put back my forward looking cloak and be me once again. Life goes on.
I like this quote attributed to bestselling author and life coach, Anthony Robbins:
“Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.”
I’m here and must live life to the full. I intend to experience some things, not everything. I promise to take care of myself and my friends, if they let me. I am good at screwing up so nothing new here. Just need to screw up without guilt. I do learn from my mistakes but not all the time. I know that some causes of problems cannot be eliminated but I will certainly eliminate the ‘eliminatables’ and manage others.
I will work hard at not being perfect. That is the bane of my life!
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Grounded by fear!
I’ve been hit by both physical and mental lethargy and it is not funny! I feel like fashioning some wire coat hangers to prop myself up but I know that I won’t even have the strength to bend those wires into shape. It is like my real muscles have decided to go on AWOL.
Mentally my level of consciousness is zero. I want to sleep yet I feel too tired to do so! I cannot concentrate (Am I even making sense as I write this!). I cannot think and cannot think out why I am not thinking. O boy, what a mess. I am supposed to be working from home today – you know, articles to write, mails to reply, rooms to tidy, shopping to do (God, I don’t want to be seen by anybody) but what have I done so far? Nothing. My brain is a mush!!
I know what my problem is. I have a mother who is 100 years old but two days ago, started getting weak. I am so far away and can do very little from here. I know that she is in good hands. No, that’s not my worry.
I am just frightened that I might get a bad news. And don’t tell me that she has lived a long life. It is never enough!
Mentally my level of consciousness is zero. I want to sleep yet I feel too tired to do so! I cannot concentrate (Am I even making sense as I write this!). I cannot think and cannot think out why I am not thinking. O boy, what a mess. I am supposed to be working from home today – you know, articles to write, mails to reply, rooms to tidy, shopping to do (God, I don’t want to be seen by anybody) but what have I done so far? Nothing. My brain is a mush!!
I know what my problem is. I have a mother who is 100 years old but two days ago, started getting weak. I am so far away and can do very little from here. I know that she is in good hands. No, that’s not my worry.
I am just frightened that I might get a bad news. And don’t tell me that she has lived a long life. It is never enough!
Sunday, 7 February 2010
I recently encountered a man who is difficult, obnoxious and downright rude. Nothing is good unless it comes from him. He has no respect for people in authority, believes only in himself and knows how to use his pen or shall I say computer keyboard as a poisonous dart. He says things with the intention of hurting others.
But I will not be doing myself and my age any favours if I pretend not to have seen his kind. I’m sure you have too. I don’t know what your first instinct is when faced with such characters. Being only human, mine is often to protect myself when attacked. Like the Hulk, I find myself thinking “Don’t make me angry. You won’t like me when I’m angry!” But my intelligence overrides any tit for tat actions I sometimes feel like taking, for which I thank God.
I don’t know who said that “Holding a grudge against someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”. How true! I have learnt not to hold grudges because it gives me skin pain. What’s more, while I’m there seething with anger, the perpetrator might be relaxing at home quaffing beer, unaware that I’m seething.
No, I value my life and my sanity. And I don’t want to age before my time or even when it is my time to do so. That’s why I smile more than I frown; dance whenever I can, even in my kitchen while I cook and often see every cup as half full – even if there is just a drop in the bottom. Believe me, if you say that it is half full, then it really is!
Yep, like my late father used to say, “My shoulders are broad enough.”
Finally, I thank God that I am not married to this guy! His home life must suck!!
But I will not be doing myself and my age any favours if I pretend not to have seen his kind. I’m sure you have too. I don’t know what your first instinct is when faced with such characters. Being only human, mine is often to protect myself when attacked. Like the Hulk, I find myself thinking “Don’t make me angry. You won’t like me when I’m angry!” But my intelligence overrides any tit for tat actions I sometimes feel like taking, for which I thank God.
I don’t know who said that “Holding a grudge against someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die”. How true! I have learnt not to hold grudges because it gives me skin pain. What’s more, while I’m there seething with anger, the perpetrator might be relaxing at home quaffing beer, unaware that I’m seething.
No, I value my life and my sanity. And I don’t want to age before my time or even when it is my time to do so. That’s why I smile more than I frown; dance whenever I can, even in my kitchen while I cook and often see every cup as half full – even if there is just a drop in the bottom. Believe me, if you say that it is half full, then it really is!
Yep, like my late father used to say, “My shoulders are broad enough.”
Finally, I thank God that I am not married to this guy! His home life must suck!!
Sunday, 10 January 2010
And all because the lady loved cheese
It happened 33 years ago in a country that neither manufactured nor saw cheese as part of its food; there were yummier and more wholesome things to keep the mouth busy! In fact the only places to get cheese were from the very few specialist shops that catered for the foreigners who lived and worked there. But this young girl had developed a liking for cheese, an act that seemed odd and baffled many.
Now the real story. She married in her final year in the University and soon after her degree exams, set off to overseas to join her young love who had proceeded before her. The plan was that she would stop over in the capital city, visit with husband’s eldest brother and his family and then fly off from there. This newly acquired brother-in-law called her to find out what she would enjoy eating while she was with them. Cheese, she promptly answered. The silly girl did not even pause and think how the cheese could be acquired. All she knew was that her favourite thing to eat was cheese.
And so she flew into town and was warmly welcomed by her new family. Come evening time and her brother-in-law returned from work. Between his newspapers, files and briefcase was a carrier bag looking rather heavy. He approached the young bride, gave her a big hug, and then dropping the papers, briefcase and files on the table, offered her the carrier bag. “For you,” he said. The bag weighed a ton. OK, less than that but still very heavy. Peering inside, she was confronted by the biggest slab of cheese she had ever seen or might see again. It seemed that instead of asking the shopkeeper to cut him a slab, her benefactor must have gone for the whole piece in the shop! It must have cost him a bundle but did he seem to have minded? Nah!!
Over the years, this bride (no longer young!) was to find out that his generosity did not start or end with her. He was a born giver who delighted in giving to relatives and his community. He also delighted in good news, rejoiced with people in their success and shared in their joy and sorrow. He was big but his heart was bigger. He was a man of the people, a great story teller and even enjoyed an occasional gossip too. He was a joy to be with. What’s more, he gave without expecting anything in return. Two years ago when he visited his brother whose wife he indulged with the slab of cheese, she reminded him of his largess and asked how he expected her to eat a whole cheese within a short time. “Well, you said that you liked it and so I got it for you,” was his answer.
Yes, life dealt him a few bad hands which made him recoil a little. But he remained ever so loyal. On the 5th of December 2009, he graced his young nephew’s wedding and despite his arthritis and ill health, danced with the young couple. On the 21 of December, he took his last breath, plunging his family, both immediate and extended, his community and all those who had the honour of knowing him into grief and mourning.
Sam, thanks for the cheese, for encouraging me, for your joy in my successes in life, for bragging about me, my husband and children. But most of all, thank you for being you. I will remember you not only when I eat cheese but always. Rest in peace!
Now the real story. She married in her final year in the University and soon after her degree exams, set off to overseas to join her young love who had proceeded before her. The plan was that she would stop over in the capital city, visit with husband’s eldest brother and his family and then fly off from there. This newly acquired brother-in-law called her to find out what she would enjoy eating while she was with them. Cheese, she promptly answered. The silly girl did not even pause and think how the cheese could be acquired. All she knew was that her favourite thing to eat was cheese.
And so she flew into town and was warmly welcomed by her new family. Come evening time and her brother-in-law returned from work. Between his newspapers, files and briefcase was a carrier bag looking rather heavy. He approached the young bride, gave her a big hug, and then dropping the papers, briefcase and files on the table, offered her the carrier bag. “For you,” he said. The bag weighed a ton. OK, less than that but still very heavy. Peering inside, she was confronted by the biggest slab of cheese she had ever seen or might see again. It seemed that instead of asking the shopkeeper to cut him a slab, her benefactor must have gone for the whole piece in the shop! It must have cost him a bundle but did he seem to have minded? Nah!!
Over the years, this bride (no longer young!) was to find out that his generosity did not start or end with her. He was a born giver who delighted in giving to relatives and his community. He also delighted in good news, rejoiced with people in their success and shared in their joy and sorrow. He was big but his heart was bigger. He was a man of the people, a great story teller and even enjoyed an occasional gossip too. He was a joy to be with. What’s more, he gave without expecting anything in return. Two years ago when he visited his brother whose wife he indulged with the slab of cheese, she reminded him of his largess and asked how he expected her to eat a whole cheese within a short time. “Well, you said that you liked it and so I got it for you,” was his answer.
Yes, life dealt him a few bad hands which made him recoil a little. But he remained ever so loyal. On the 5th of December 2009, he graced his young nephew’s wedding and despite his arthritis and ill health, danced with the young couple. On the 21 of December, he took his last breath, plunging his family, both immediate and extended, his community and all those who had the honour of knowing him into grief and mourning.
Sam, thanks for the cheese, for encouraging me, for your joy in my successes in life, for bragging about me, my husband and children. But most of all, thank you for being you. I will remember you not only when I eat cheese but always. Rest in peace!
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