Wednesday, 29 June 2016

By the Rivers of Babylon


Many are the good deeds we exhibit
With the enemy standing by to persecute us
Persecution gradually grows into constant torment
Still holding on to our faith
We are aggressively dragged into captivity
Where we are left for dead

We feed on rotten food remains
On the days our captors are friendly
With our flesh torn and bitten into
As Scripture continually encourages us
To not fear that which only harms the flesh
So we stand steadfast in the WORD

Then folly spreads in the city like famine
Our captors after exhausting the meager strength of their sorcerers
Remember then that they took us captive
They took knowledge captive
They immediately request for our release
To heal their broken nation with our knowledge

We do not refuse to heal the nation
But we ask them a frank question
How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?
Be steadfast!
Do not be discouraged.
Because God is in control.

Sunday, 19 June 2016

A SON'S HERO, A DAUGHTER'S SUGAR DADDY

I am supposed to write about father’s day but I cannot write this piece without being bias. I know better than to write to this piece describing only, the father I knew and loved; my dad and hero.  Although I do not deny the fact that at various stages in my life, a few elderly men assumed the role of father. I want to seize this opportunity to propagate my definition of a father’s love per the life my biological father portrayed in the years past.
Unlike the love of a mother which is portrayed in the forms of showing of affection, care and love that caters for the emotional needs of their children, a father’s love towards his family is distinct, that is the provision of needs and the financial pillar of the home.
Before I proceed with this write up, I want to digress a little bit to share with you a statement I overheard an elderly man make when he was invited to settle a dispute between a young lady whose father abandoned his roles and was seeking a reconciliation with her after she had become successful in life; “A man is not required to cater for your needs to be your father, the mere fact that he gave birth to you makes him your father”. This statement makes scientific sense because the young lady came about when an ordinary man answered to the call of biology but he does not qualify to be her father in the essence of the word father; that I strongly disagree. In essence, The Most High God is our father, in essence the relative who provides for your needs is your father, in essence some of us regard our pastors as father (spiritual father is what we call them) as for biology, it only plays a close to irrelevant role in the construction of the theory of fatherhood.
I felt and still feel ungrateful for turning a blind eye on the efforts of my father when he catered for us. He would complain that he didn’t have enough when we ask for financial assistance stating also that, he sometimes had to go to bed on an empty stomach. “Eeeei!!” we mocked, “With all the money you have, how can a rich man like you sleep on an empty stomach!”.  Don’t be so quick to judge us because we reacted in such an unpleasant manner because he had portrayed himself as the provider of our every need so much so that we never imagined he lacked a thing and this justified our unpleasant but innocent reaction.. Truth is, he did lack a few things but he didn’t want his family to lack anything. This is the man worthy to be called, father, a daughter’s sugar daddy and a son’s hero.

This day is not celebrated with the love and care accorded to mothers on mother’s day because a father’s efforts are hidden from the eyes of his children as he goes the extra mile to break deals with people sometimes at the expense of his life just to meet the needs of his family. He understands comfort but sacrifices it for the comfort of his family.  Most of us can attest to the fact that all we know about our father is that he is that IMF that comes in to bail out the family in times of financial difficulties but the point we are all missing here is the fact that without the provisions a father puts in place for the children, their mothers love will make no sense to them. Often times, I hear children express anger at their father's action or inaction because they only receive money and periodic phone calls from them and that he does not make time to play with them. I laugh and want to ask them a simple question; will you rather your father plays with you all day at home and says “I love you” anytime you ask for fees because he cannot afford it? Which of your numerous bills can the ‘I love you’s’ and the ‘plays’ you request of your father settle?
The role of mothers is felt and evident but for the fathers, it takes a matured mind to translate all the financial support he invests into the family as love, the same way we quantify all the love and care of our mother in its monetary equivalents.
So anytime you say a word of prayer for your mother, telling the Good Lord how much more years you desire that He adds to the age of your mother whose presence you feel, pause for a second and think of the man that sacrificed his presence and time to enable you to feel loved by your mother because he spends his entire life striving to pay the necessary homage to Maslow.
Motherhood and fatherhood use different doctrines in executing their roles. This makes their roles different but complementary and must not be analysed in isolation. Both of our parents cannot play the role of a mother (showing love and affection) neither can they assume the role of a father (financial pillar), it’s a blend of both that makes parenting complete.
If I had the veto power, I will forbid the celebration of mothers and fathers in isolation to pave way for the celebration of both parents on a designated day (Parent's Day) because their roles complement each other and are complete together not in isolation.
Let’s appreciate the efforts of fathers so we do not leave them unappreciated. I honor and celebrate my father and I know you do too. So to all fathers in the world(biological fathers constituting the minority), we honor and celebrate you! We respect your hustle Fathers!
Happy Father’s Day!
God richly bless you Father!!


Wednesday, 15 June 2016

I AM ALI

I AM ALI!” a rabbi led mourners in this chorus during the funeral ceremony of the late Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr as the overwhelming crowd gathered to pay their last respects to an American Olympic and professional boxer and activist; a significant and celebrated sports figure of the 20th century. I have never met the man neither am I an avid fan of boxing but the little I knew about this man from video excerpts of his boxing matches and interviews, portrayed him undoubtedly as one of the few great men that ever walked the earth. Ali was known to be inspiring, fearless, an optimist, a humanitarian, a poet, , a motivator, the man who brought boxing to the front pages, controversial and polarizing figure both inside and outside the ring among other attributes.
As I also pay my last respect to this great man, I will want bring to bear an exceptional quality of Mohammed Ali that had never been attributed to him; his looks. Mohammed Ali was a very handsome looking man and the ladies would attest to the fact. He was a fine gentleman but was never described as such. Was that to mean his beauty was not striking or evident enough? 

Obviously not, anyone could spot a handsome man miles away. The reason is simple; his potentials outweighed his physical beauty by a relatively big margin. This made his varied qualities noticeable as against his outward appearance. He had the looks but possessed better qualities inside of him that he exhibited with much skill and perfection.
What is there to learn from the world viewing Ali as a potential but never as a handsome man?
Well, many of us who per some self acclaimed standards which are still subject to scrutiny, are regarded as beautiful or handsome and feel that is all there is to life. So we neglect our potentials to concentrate only on how to keep up our appearances(look good). We will go the extra mile to purchase expensive products to enhance our short-lived beauty but invest nothing in discovering our varied potentials. 
In recent times, ladies suffer a lot more violence in relationships simply because the only finesse they possess is to look and appear beautiful so much so that they couldn’t even tell night from day. Simply put, if we were to look beyond their outward appearances, they added up to nothing and are virtually of no use to even themselves. Beauty is subjective but I can assure you that the beauty people see in you as you go about exhibiting your potential and talent never ever fades off the eye of admirers. In the case of physical beauty, I give you till you are a little over thirty and you’ll be amazed at the amount of time you spent nurturing nothing.
Like Ali, let us strive to be celebrated not for what our physical body presents but with the potential that exists in us. I believe you’ll want to be accorded with the quantum of respect accorded Ali on his funeral day. Yes, we all do but it was born out of the investments he put in growing every skill he possessed and not his physical appearance. This is not far-fetched; it only takes a change of mind and heart
It’s not what you take when you leave the world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go”, a singer's words. You will definitely not take your pretty body past your grave but exhibiting and growing your talent to its fullest capacity will be your legacy that will remain with humanity after you are long gone. How often we mention the names of the greatest playwright, Shakespeare and renowned scientist, Isaac Newton as though we knew them personally or are still in existence?They obviously did not achieve this form of immortality by mere nurturing of their looks.
Let us look past the physical appearances and pretty faces to build our potentials and that will remain our legacy forever.
Finally, say the words “I AM ALI!” with much confidence, replacing your name where it indicates "ALI" to stir up your quest in seeking that inner beauty and potential you have hidden in you. 

I AM ATSU!” and this is my humble tribute to the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)

Saturday, 11 June 2016

LET GO AND LET GOD

Often times in life we are faced with diverse challenges that presents ‘giving up’ as the only option. Truth is, when complications set in, we fail to reverence the fact that we cannot overcome it all alone. We tend to seek the opinions of others; going around asking others what they would do if they were faced with similar situations. Their answer however is always the same; “QUIT!” or even worse they recommend that we fall in line, that is, for us to do what others are doing so we end up as ordinary as everyone else is.
The big question I am asking here is; “How much force do we exert in pulling the arrow in a bow backwards to attain a desired peak?” Very deep and farther backward I guess

Same applies to our life situations, when we go through challenges in life, we do not have to give up or “fall in line” as they term it. We are expected to have in mind our desired aim/objective despite the challenges. Always remember; the deeper the challenges seem to drive you backward, the higher the height you will attain when you come out successful.
So I urge you to go entrepreneurial, become that actor/artist/artiste you always desire, be that photographer you always dream of, or that gentleman/lady you aspire to be.
Setbacks will definitely invite you for a drink and seem to take you for a ride farther backwards but like the arrow, the deeper it seems to take you backward, the higher the height you will attain when you are released from your bow of challenges.
Do not give up! Instead Let Go and Let God;
                                                                                                                                     
As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend

I bring my broken dreams to God
Because He is my friend

But then, instead of leaving Him
In peace to work Alone,

I hung around and try to help
With ways that are my own

Alas! I snatch them back and cry’
“How can you be so slow?!”

“My Child,” He says, “What can I do?
You never did let GO”

Recite this poem to yourself as often as you can as a source of motivation during challenging times so you always remember to Let Go and Let God.

Jehovah be your guide in Jesus’ Name, Amen!