THE WORLD

The world is a stage

Where we all have a part to play

Which depends on ones willingness

And the ability put into it

Life is a lottery

There are many ups and downs

Which is all part of life

And ultimately a game of chance

Life is a gamble

Throw the wrong number

And you’ll have yourself to blame

On the other hand you might win handsomely

The world is a market square

We have all come to buy and sell

The goods are on display to see

Our kingdom is yet to come

The world is reaching out in nobody

Love all being and hate all evil

Have faith in yourself

And never say you have failed

© Campbell Mariam Oluwatoyin

LIFE IS WORTH A LOT.

This morning I left my home for work, I was not very happy because I just got a disappointment. I was trying to push myself to point where nothing but God matters when suddenly.....................

The driver of the bus I had boarded started shouting, "that vehicle is going to turn over" over and over again. Before we knew what had happened a trailer and turned over on the express. We were in the bus and the driver did not bother to stop but this is what we saw.

The front wind screen of the trailer had crashed and the driver ran out with blood on his face, one of the passengers was lying on the road dead, while about two others were trapped under the vehicle. Its so sad that we have placed our quest and search for money even over the safety of our lives.

Why have I said this? Simply because the driver did not have a seat belt neither did the person sitting beside him. Then there is also the people riding with the trailer that sit in the section where the load is kept. They don’t even have any form of protection or safety.

Last year around December, another accident happened along Apapa-Oshodi express way that involved a heavy duty truck that belonged to a prominent company in Nigeria. Lives were lost, all because of carelessness and no value for life.

Is life so unimportant or of no much value and worth that we fail to protect it, even if it’s our life? Have we forgotten that it is only when we are alive that we can enjoy the money we struggle so hard to have? Do we not understand that the most important thing to us is the life that God has given us? What about the people we have left behind? How do they survive? How wicked can we be to ourselves?

Sometimes I harden my heart to situations like this, it’s so sad that a wonderful life that could end up been one of the greatest that Nigeria ever had was lost dues to carelessness. It’s a shame that today someone said goodbye to her son, or husband; a child said good bye to his or her dad with the hope of seeing him later in the day. The only thing they would hear today is the news of death, death of their loved one, the bread winner of the family and probably the only source of income. What they would be in search of now is not where the next meal will be coming from but how do we bury this man?

Please let us place more value on our lives if not for us then for those that love us and depend on us. Let us not give our families a pain which might never go away. Let us live our lives with the utmost care. We know that only God can protect, “but Folorunsho to figi ogede gun ope………” (he who says he has God and continues to put himself in danger…………) what will become of him?

Nigeria and your people need you alive, God needs you alive. Remember also that the good you do will speak for you on that day as well.

May God help us all!!

INDIVIDUALISM - THE "ME" SYNDROME!!

As I read the book, "The complete Idiot's Guide to philosophy" by Jay Stevenson, it amazes me the effect of being, knowing and ethics on individuals and society. Honestly? I never knew philosophy was this interesting!

Please read the excerpt I have culled out of the book, I have decided to share this because I saw a little of me here.

Individualism is the view that individual rights and freedoms should form the basis of society. Collectivism is the view that the stability of society is more important than individual rights and freedoms.

Me First

The downside of individualism is that individualists sometimes forget how important other people are in their lives. We all need help from other people whether we realize it or not, even if we think we are independent. Say, for example, a person becomes successful partly because of opportunities resulting from personal connections. If this person is an individualist, she is likely to overlook the social connections involved and take the full credit for her success.

Not only might this person be ungrateful, she is likely to be unsympathetic toward people who don’t have the right connections themselves. Individualists tend to look at those who are unsuccessful as being at fault for their lack of success. When they see a homeless or an unemployed person, they don’t say to themselves, “That person needs more help”—they say “That person should have tried harder to succeed.”

This is only one of the problems with individualism. Another is that it encourages people to be competitive rather than cooperative. Individualists tend to be out for themselves, often at the expense of others. Still, this doesn’t mean that it’s always better to emphasize the good of society over the good of the individual.

The above philosophy does not honour God neither does it build growth. If we check ourselves and find we are involved in this we must do an about turn to colectivism

THE ME I SEE

On a faithful day some decades ago there was a lot of rejoicing and happiness when a new baby girl was born into the world. Little did the world know that that little girl child would go through pains and so much trials and still be single.

Growing up was fun, because even if I was not born with a golden spoon in my mouth at least I had the proverbial silver spoon to hold on to. Things were good! In a time when Nigeria was growing my parents were actually among one of the very comfortable ones.

Life for the little Girl I was back then, was laced with comfort and joy and even though I saw people with not so much as we had, it never occurred to me that we could end up in penury or that my dad's numerous companies could all go bankrupt. But then what did a little girl know? My early years in school were the best and that was because I did not only learn, I had the best teacher ever, MY DAD!

Anyway, thing started unraveling in my secondary school days. Life was beginning to get hard and I began to have an understanding of what going to bed without food meant, not having the money to buy that which you wanted when you wanted it was a major issue. The fact that we end up blaming life for our situations also became something I had to learn and then another thing I had to unlearn as the times went by. I grew up knowing that life was not really as we had lived it while growing up but that sometimes "things just go wrong" Why? I don't know but really I have no intention of pushing blame.

Later in my early 20s I began to understand that we alone can carve our own destinies, not our parents, not our situation and most importantly not our government. I had spent 5 years at home waiting to gain admission into the university, and then suddenly it dawned on me that if I continued to sit at home I might never go to university. So I determined in myself in 1997 that once i sat for the exam and I made the average score I was going to get admission and you know what? I DID! It was not as difficult as I had thought neither was it as easy as we all think it was. But I was able to get admission into 2 universities the same year.

What was left was where was the money going to come from? I was stumped but then I said to myself, you are in and nothing would stop you from graduating. Then and there I decided I would make good use of what I had. I started making hair for friends since I was good at that. Then I started home coaching later on when friends would make hair and not pay. I did a lot of jobs in the university but I also enjoyed my time there as well. I remember the days of been ever present at the student union arcade, the joy of been part of the activism (at least to a level) and the enjoyment of making good grades in spite of work and play. I was not at my best but I did my best, both at work and at school.

But then the learning was not over. I had to learn that the universities in Nigeria never prepare you for the outside world and I learnt the hard way. With what I had, I found it hard to get a job coupled with the fact that I was already nearing my 3.0 years and I did not serve with my mates. It was so bad at one time that I wondered if I was going to have to go get married first before getting a job. But then I realise that I don't have a job because I don't have any skills to offer any employer. So I started to build and build and here I am now I don't just have the skills but I am very proud of where I am and give thanks to my creator for his grace and love.

I grew up as a snob that selected friends and found it hard to relate with anyone below my level, but now I can relate with anyone whatever and where ever. It’s a great thing to know that all it took for me was that decision to be the creator of my own destiny. To take my destiny (the one that God gave me) in my own hands and make of it what I dream of in the dead of the night.

I am not there yet but at least now I know that I will get there. When? I can't tell you for sure, but when I do get there I will let you know.

Power of the People!!

Today I saw first hand how Nigerians can as a force collectively work together to achieve a positive growth!!

I had planned my day day but somehow i had to add to the plan so I could make time to meet another responsibility. Like most changes, it required additional resources even though I had looked at what I had and assumed that It would be okay.

After leaving the last place of appointment (the added appointment), I got to the bus-stop to realize that the Transporters had tripled the fare. It was crazy!! It is not new that their was a crowd at the bus-stop no. what I found fascinating was that this people actually refused to pay above the normal rate. Even though some would come and board at the inflated rate, the others refused.

Out of nowhere came this Patriotic Nigerian dressed in suit and looking quite elegant, he insisted that no one should board any of the vehicles. the park touts took it up with him and suddenly the others on the outside looking in joined and it was the passengers against the bus drivers and touts. It was a sight to behold. No fighting just an insistence that the fair should be brought down.

I had to leave the bus-stop for a while cos I had to go meet someone but when I got back MAGIC!! The fare was back to the normal price and their was no longer crowd at the bus-stop. I was proud to be a Nigerian. Like my people would say, "e sweet my belle say dis kain tin fit hapen"

Reflecting on this I realized that collectively we can have the change we want if we want it enough. Today this people realized that it is their right to dictate the price and that they could if they worked together. One person stood up to lead a group of people with a common goal and the others followed in his quest.

If we can come together and find that common goal, work together to see it happen then we would be better off for it. All that is needed is for us to realize that the destiny of the country is in our hands and not those in power!

God bless Nigeria!

God bless Nigerians!!

The Dawn of a New Generation!! Nigeria @ 51!!!

I went to a vigil yesterday and it was great why? because as we started the vigil we were asked to give thanks that today we are here as Nigerians united under one umbrella praying together. It was awesome! Then a few minutes ago my friend was chatting with me and she asks "you had not said anything about the independence, you of all people". I laughed and thought what else can one say to a generation just growing?

However, I remember the first independence celebration I watched on TV. Yeah I remember our silver jubilee and if you ask me that was the best Independence ceremony Nigeria ever had that i soooooooooo enjoyed. The theme was great and for me since then I strongly understood the value of unity. Sticking out together as one!

Today Nigeria is 1 year into the second generation of a people free from colonial masters. We moved out of Egypt but the sad part is that like the Israelite did after leaving Egypt we still moving round in the wilderness. Israel was supposed to spend less than 2 months crossing over to the promised land but they spent 40years doing what they should have done in 40days.

You know why? They never looked forward; not to the future or to the promises that God gave them. All they could think of was the fact that they never had to be responsible for anything except "be a slave". Feeding, sleeping, washing, even the sex of the children they had was determined by their masters. So much so that they lacked the power to think for themselves, they just existed.

Our generation; those of us that were born after the independence in 1960 is a year old today. However, we still allow our lives to be dictated by the mistakes of the first generation and the masters they got their training from. Honestly I must tell you it is only a person with slave mentality and the fear of been responsible that will hoard for himself not having the hope of surviving on his own.

What we need are Nigerians of young mind and uncommon sense that would take responsibility for freedom. I once read a book by Myles Monroe, it was titled the burden of freedom. I guess most of us have not read it abi? Anyway the book tells us the difference between a slave generation, a delivered generation and a truly free generation. A slave generation is a zombie nation with no thought for the past and non for the future, the only thing he is good for is serving the master. The delivered generation is happy to be free of its master but does not want the responsibility of thinking and planning for his future. He would rather give that to "A Moses" to do. If he is hungry "Moses" does something about it, if he needs to pee "Moses" does something about it. And then if he needs to hear from God"Moses" does the hearing then he relates it to him. He does not want a part of the God who gave him responsibility as well as freedom. The truly free generation is the one that takes the deliverance and converts it into ownership by taking responsibility for his future.

The Israelite never understood this and neither did Adam in the garden. God called, Adam answered. When he was asked did you eat the fruit, he replies not with an apology but he shelves the responsibility for his act on the guy that gave him life (his creator). The way he saw it; if God had not made woman he would not have sinned. Very funny I am sure the devil would have found another way. Imagine what would have happened if Adam had come out accepting he was wrong and asks for a chance to make amends?

Our generation must stand up and be responsible. Create jobs instead of waiting for one to be offered to us. Study hard, buy books, read had instead of waiting for the government to fill the library and the lecturers to teach us what we need to know. Talk directly to your maker instead of waiting for a "Pastor" that would fast on your behalf. Lets be creative, innovative, truly free and be Nigerian.

Ours is the generation that counts!!

We are the Joshua generation that crossed Jordan and got the land that was promised our fathers. They dreamt of freedom of been independent, but they forgot to dream of true freedom because to be truly free we must hold the future by the throat and direct it the way we know it should be. We must be willing to take care of the house we live in but did not build, water the grapes that we will harvest but did not plant, pave the roads of our lives that was we move on but did not build. We must be willing to live a freedom we have but did not work for.

WE MUST BE READY TO WORK!! WE ARE JUST A YEAR OLD, THIS SECOND GENERATION OF OURS AND YET WE ARE NOT YET IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I WONDER WHY?

I AM PROUD TO BE NIGERIAN, MY HEAD ARE LIFTED HIGH AND I WOULD NOT WISH TO BE CALLED BY ANY OTHER NATIONALITY EXCEPT "A NIGERIAN"

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE MY PEOPLE. GOD BLESS NIGERIA AND GOD BLESS US ALL!!

IS DATING BIBLICAL?

As I enter into the room full of youths, I quietly find a seat at the back of the back, after greeting my Pastor who I saw seated a few feet away from me, so as not to disturb the flow of the workshop going on.

I was listening with amazement to some of the responses that a few youths gave to the question “Is dating biblical?” I simply smiled at some of the responses. Well you should have been there, they were simply funny.

First I don’t think I ever came across the word ‘dating’ in the bible. It could be there and I might not have noticed though. Please let me know where it is if you have come across it. Second, some of them don’t even actually know what the word meant! You could deduct that from their responses that they thought they knew but do not. Ah yes! Back to the koko of the matter…………

The thing is as I sat thinking, Pastor asked someone to call me. I looked his way and he pointed to the front of the hall, and I thought “I hope he is not saying what I think he means”. Then I go to him and he says “go and answer that question”. I was surprised!

Anyway I go the front give my answer starting with the meaning and making everyone realize that as long as we live within the confines of the meaning of the word nothing is wrong with dating and that dating can be fun. You can take your dad out on a date or a friend of the same sex. Basically dating is just going out and having a nice time. Then I get home and go into the dictionary for the meaning of the word date and I am floored…. Aside from time at which things happen or is about to happen; a meeting; and make an appointment with, the dictionary also gives the meaning of date as ‘go out together as sexual partners’. So I realize that they are not off the mark at all since they look at it from that perspective and so I begin to wonder.

If dating were to be biblical which of the meaning would it encourage? Going put as sexual partners is also a meeting and it’s an event as well. So I wonder myself and then as I go into the word I realize that the most applicable biblical context would be meeting with friends or family without the sexual additions.

So if the dictionary tells us that dating is going out as sexual partners the what would courtship be?