Tale of two birds...

During seasonal migration, there once lived two colourful birds in an old nest. They grew up together. One day, one of them flew out to see the world. It was so enthralling. He returned excitedly to share his discovery with the other. “Hey! Do you know that we were meant to fly?” Let us fly away, far away into the hills. Its the season to migrate”.

But we’ve never been out there before. I am scared” The other replied.

“We have nothing to lose. Let’s fly till our wings breaks the winds out there.”

Since, the fearful bird was not ready to give it a trial, the enthusiastic bird flew away and return to his friend the second time.

 “I have gone to spy out the world and again, i found it so magnificent! There are trees to perch on, fruits to eat, flowers to suck and greenery to bask in.There is more to life than where we were raised”.

The dreadful bird complained as usual: “ Oh! No...our wings are too old and we will miss our old friends...we might even fall off, yanked down in the face of storm. It’s safer here. It’s calm here today. It’s better to stay back in this familiar old nest".

But the other bird was dying on the inside...he laid down and he could n't sleep. Something told him, he was more than this. He was meant to fly. 

One fateful day, he saw the winds blowing towards him; he vigorously threw himself out of the nest into the wind. And he just flew away quietly from the old nest to find joy. 

Least to add, the fearful bird lived on alone in the nest. So sadly ever after for not daring to venture, for not risking what it takes to see the world. The winter came and it froze to death in her nest.

If you are still thinking that i am talking about some two birds; you have missed it. I am talking about you!  Do you understand your seasons? 

Do you realize that you are not meant to die, frozen by fear? You must never buy into the lie of the devil. You might be born small. You were meant to become great.Your wings were shaped to fly. You were shaped for significance. So, soar above all your limitations. Become all what you were meant to be. The almighty God created you for a purpose!  You must realize that not everybody is prepared to go into the same future with you. Not everybody will see what you are seeing. Not everybody will go where you want to go in life. And if you are going to fulfill your truest dreams in life; sometimes you just have to fly there all alone. You’ve got to learn to fly all by yourself. You've got to escape far away from your dream killers.

What is the most important thing to you in this life?-A tribute!

If I ask you this one question that: what is the most important thing to you in this life? What will you tell me? In my limited version of experience, I have come to realize that in the final analysis, Life is the only thing...it's the most important thing. Not our dreams, not our visions, not our ambitions but breathe. Those things we are able to do while we are still living here. Those noble deeds we are able to do are the things we will be remembered for. Those opportunities we are able to seize, those lives we are able to touch and the service we have offered unto God are the truest valuables.

Just like fire will be remembered for the ember. The smokes that we leave behind us are our deeds, service and relationships. What we have built or broken? Who we have helped upwards or held up? From the ashes of our history will remnant of stories come, out of the lips of those we have impacted. Those things we have been able to achieve for God and others will stand out like embers from dead fires. The ashes of memory that remains on the altar of time after our life is over are those who will miss us or not.

Yes! I know that people are taken up daily and they are blown off this earth. Death cannot be as extraordinary to everyone as much. Very recently in Jos, Nigeria was an uprising that claimed many lives. The crisis was of political, religious and unclear. It was crudely fuelled by ignorance, hatred and wickedness. Churches have been reported burnt in the massacre of many innocent lives, even sucklings were killed. I saw a photograph on Facebook taken during the crisis. It was of a burnt suckling lying side by side with her dead mother as though both were roasted game.
Another photo taken on the location revealed an amputee girl with her intestine busting out of stomach. Her hair and roasted-body were the remains we could identify. Corpses were laid on the floors. Most were covered with wrappers of survivors who stood by and wept as attendants.

My vocabulary could not capture the experience. I was not there present but how I felt when I saw the numbers of those who had died was not as one sedated. Why would people with gut kill their neighbours? Humans with the same breathe like them. Having blood like them. It is still a mystery to me. What saddens my heart was the reality that is dawning at us. Will this become a norm? Can’t we truly live together as brothers and sisters that we are? Despites all our love songs and debut albums on peace and unity?! And this is not the first time this cruelty will be happening in the same region of the same country.

Worst than death is death…worst of all is to experience the death of a friend amidst the news of metropolitan deaths! It tends to make you vulnerable, humble and mumble. You tend to utter such questions like: what is the most important thing? What is more important to you? About the same time, I heard of the passage of a lady who was one time my old friend and loyal “disciple”. I was privileged to lead her while we pioneered a campus fellowship during my final year in the university in Nigeria. It was during those days of small beginnings in a small town of Ayetoro in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

I still remember vividly those times. I remember her commitment. The way she sang in the choir and when she is alone. She once told me about her dreams, desires and vision. She wanted to grow up in the Lord to impact lives through preaching of the word and singing of life-transforming songs. She admired the lady preacher Joyce Meyer. She wants her life to make a mark like hers. She once asked me how she can become a impactful preacher of the gospel. I remember how she did everything with all her being... The smile on her face was encouraging… The way she played innocently like a baby… She would often serve her last food to entertain her guests while she goes without eating much. She just wanted to give and give. She is an epitome of sacrifice. She will hardly show it on her face when she is going through tough times. She may be cracking on her inside but you will hardly know it. She could handle pressure to a very large extent without complaining.

Although, you may not know Sholape Joto, she was a friend who touched my life in a remarkable way. She would often tell me to slow down in the middle of overwhelming school-workload. She was a pretty lady a guy would love to marry. But she did not get marry before passing on to glory. She graduated from a stressful university program, where for one whole year the penultimate year students are subjected to a farm life that can be likened to the slavery experiences of the Pre-cambrian era. So tedious was their farm practical year in that program that whoever went through never came out the same. The instructors were full of sadism. The farming activities itself was done with crude implements rather than improved technology. Activities such as weeding, planting, harvesting, processing and more are the order of the day.

All proceeds from the farm produce must be brought in to the instructors of the program. Coordination was so ruthless that even diseased crops, failed crops and pest infested crops had to be accounted for. They were evaluated as though they actually got harvested fresh as other germ-free produce. Failure to pay for crop failure is tantamount to a fail grade for the affected students. It was despite of weather, natural disaster, and genetics that students were to pay for the proceeds of their planted crops. The seeds are brought in at the beginning of season by students. The harvests are sold and proceeds brought in at the end of season. It was irrespective of outcome if you want to earn a passing grade.

Sad to say, that my friend graduated from such difficult program but she did not get to enjoy the victory. The tradition has it in Nigeria that fresh university graduates get enlisted to serve the nation in a certain National youth service corp called NYSC program. This is where fresh graduates get to sing some patriotic songs and anthem daily in a mock military camp. This service is regarded as an honourable period where patriotism displayed. Fresh graduated go through military drills daily as they dress up in mock military kits singing “Ajuwaya” songs (patriotic songs). My late friend would not be singing nor serving along with her comrades this year because she died just few days to the commencement of this year’s service program. She will not be serving her fatherland for the next one year or ever. Unlike others she already served her heavenly father when she could. Although, she won’t be singing any “Ajuwaya” song in the NYSC, she will be singing Halleluiah song in heaven amongst the host of Angels. She had sung so much in her daily life when she was here. She would usually wake up singing. When bathing, cooking and at her leisure times, always caught singing.

So sad about her story is that she did not wait to release that album before she died. She loved singing and she did sing as many times as possible especially during ministrations in the church choir. She sang on Sundays and week days. She preached her heart out when she finally became the Coordinator of Ogun Varsity Christian fellowship. As at the time I knew her, her priority was obvious. She was not thrilled by frivolities. She stood out of the crowd. And deliberately associated with greatness… much more on her mind was her dream. She wants to live a life of impact. As I looked back on her life, I came away with several lessons. Whenever we talk about vision, dreams and more; one thing that is certain is that these things are grand but that breathe within us is the most important!

Be sure you're right!

As we celebrate another Christmas.
I call to mind how the year went by so quick.
It was just like yesterday.
We were all greeting:Happy New Year!
We were embracing one another
We were visiting Santa
and shopping for discounts
We were happy to make it into this old year.
We gave gifts to our loved ones.
Everyone was in the celebration spirit
We were all dreaming of what this old New Year would be like.
Funny enough, this year is gone already.
We are looking forward to something new again.
Its a cycle and we are getting older.
We are talking about another year already.
Do you remember all your plans last year?
Today is marking another beginning.
Make sure you're right.
Be sure you are correct concerning all you believe in.
Because it takes a decade,
It takes just ten years to figure you out
Whether you are right or wrong
We will know in ten years time
All your excuses and arguments will cease
You will personally come to the moment of truth
Your pride will show, your ego will pass through furnace
People will finally find out who you really are
We will all figure out
whether you've been right all along
Or you've been presumptuous.
Be wise my friend.
Be ready to test everything you believe in
Keep company with the wise.
Try your hands on new things.
Its what you do for yourself that lasts
Don't wait for a perfect time
Many times, things never come so easy
At least not exactly the way you expect
never be too scared to take action
Be ready to learn and improve
Learn from books, elders, and even babies.
Get ready for another year
But this time, be sure you're right!

The field of Dreams …

When I saw the North Star!
I set out after it
When I saw that flickering light,
I ran on, holding to my beliefs and briefs
Towards vision like moth to light
Towards dreams like butterfly to grains of pollen
When I saw the dreams,
I pursued with my whole heart.
I called, I turned
To the east and the west, I yelled.
I begged and beckoned
For the Supporters club of life
But Lo! They won’t come
Wary of my daydreaming
Boycotting my rescue
The supporters club failed me
They despised my dreams.
They will not come to my aid.
At a point I began to doubt.
I felt sorry
I pity partied self.
I felt like a loser.
I even considered I was crazy
I was regarded: that unserious fool.
Rejected with the baggage of my dreams
Lonely with the blanket of my ideas
I laid me down to sleep without
In the cold winter of November
I was left in the field of dreams
I held on
I was holding on to the dreams without fail
In my doubts and uncertainties
I started out
I started taking small steps…
Made small and big mistakes
But I kept on moving
Then a bold step…
Then another, after another
I saw crowd gunning for most profitable ventures
Not my kind of silly venture
They’re still chasing another’s field till date.
But then, I stayed in mine, at home alone
And behold! It speaks…
The dreams speak!
It was for an appointed time
Then the traffic shifted
The crowd changed.
They held my way
Into the field of dreams
They came to me
Where I’ve once laid alone
I can now barely rest
I now have more sweet and honey
From the honeycomb of my dreams
Dreams…they don't die. They age like men,
they sprout wings and fly
Don't give up until they come true!

Is your dream keeping you awake?

I lay silently in the dark night; thinking of my pain. I looked up at the clock on the wall; the time was 4:00am. It’s another day. It’s been over six hours. I have labored, pondered and worried all night. Although I lay in one spot, my heart has been all around the world. I’ve moaned, groaned and cowed. I’ve been brooding for hours over nothing! I could not bring out anything tangible from that sleeplessness.
Have you ever had a sleepless night? Have you ever had a sleepless night?
Ever wondered what could keep one awake all night?

A king once lie awoke all night because of one man. He could not understand why until he asked for the books of remembrance. There in the book was this man's name.It was recorded that he(Mordecai) at a time in history had saved the life of the king from a coup plotted against him. He did a good work for the king but it went unrewarded. I know you know the story.It's in the account of Queen Esther in the Bible. You remember that the king had to figure out how to reward Mordecai at daybreak. He made him ride on the king’s horse which is the Limousine of that time. He was so honored that his enemy was made to be his chauffeur in his limousine ride that the king gave him.

I will remind you of another scenario where there was a sleepless night.It happened somewhere in Israel. There was a community garden called Gethsemane. There Jesus went with his disciples. They all slept except Jesus. He could not sleep even when his disciples were sleeping. He prayed all night to decide on his mission. Should he die for the world indeed? Why can't he dodge it? Should he really save mankind according to the divine plan drawn before the foundations of the world or should he decline? Should he go to the cross or take a detour now? Should he settle as a motivational speaker, as a teacher or even go back into carpentry? Or he should be the very savior he was meant to be?

I think we've all reached that point in our life when we feel pressured. Should we be ourselves or try to be what people want us to be? Should we live to fulfill the expectations of the crowd or retreat to the solitude of our life and continue living real as we've always been? Jesus thought whether or not to remain a teacher, or accept the invitation to be the king who can provide food for all his subject. He could succeed in whichever he decide on. He decided to take a corresponding action on the kingdom message he has been preaching about and here we are today. We were saved because of that single decision he took when he was in a tight spot concerning his dream.

If you have ever lain awake all night, you will appreciate sleep. You will understand what I am describing. When you think of what could make you lie awake all night. You will prefer to avoid it in the first place. I know of some few things that can bring sleep disorder to people: Death of loved one, debt, pain and plague. But then there is dream! And that is where I am going. Your dream can make you have a sleep disorder. It can make lying down to close your eyes elude you. And it should do just that! If your dream is not keeping you awake enough; its time to throw it out and get another dream.

There are people who believe that tough situations often kill people’s dream. I disagree. Dreams don’t die. Dreams often outlive us. We don’t die, if our dream is still speaking even after we have gone out of this world. Dreams, like men age. They sprout wings and fly into fulfillment. If they don’t get acted upon; they change state. They vaporize into the hearts of someone else. Such as the neighbor down the street, the bus driver, the Groceries store's salesgirl. Someone takes up a cause. And you wonder who told her about your plans? The truth is: we are all united in the grand picture. There is something called "dream seepage"...it is the transfer of ideas from heart to hearts, across the universe. As we travel through this planet, it continues to happen. If we are unwilling to make the move, someone else will. It may have died in your heart but in actual sense, it did not. Someone somewhere is working on it. It only died in you because you refused to make a move concerning it.

There are some people who live with strong will, drive, passion. These people pops up where you try to get rid of them. They often achieve their goals. Just like them. We should be. We should act strong willed. Every one of us has the capacity we need to reach that height we see. Just determine where you want to go as far as your dream is concerned. You can decide to settle for the less or lead a life of extraordinaire. See the juicy part of the dream and act on it.Once you can see it. It gives you hope during silent nights of sleeplessness. During the debt, during the pains; you will know that there’s a silver lining waiting you at the end of the dark tunnel. You will hold on until you reach there. You stay awake until you are knighted in success.