CHANGE WE MUST

CHANGE WE MUST

I was out with my dad and our destination was a little village called Isoto somewhere inside Iyana Ipaja. I hope you’re not surprised that there are still villages in Lagos. Those villages earnestly await the fashola factor (F-Factor). We spent a couple of hours there and decided to head back home…but we were to make one stop at Ikeja to pick some supplies. It was there at Ikeja while I was waiting in the vehicle for my dad to return from His purchasing that this story of change began.

Up until this point I haven’t particularly enjoyed the journey, as I was hungry and had my mind on other things but what my eyes saw withdrew me from every other things the present situation. As we (I and my Dad’s driver) sat there in the vehicle we observed two women who apparently were roadside traders, deeply engrossed in a discussion and also treated themselves to bananas. And then it happened, one of them peeled out a banana and threw the pill right onto the middle of the road. To make thing worse, she did it as if she had just tossed it into a bin. I looked with disdain not knowing that the worse were yet to come. Before I could even pass a comment to the driver who was also staring with disbelief, she threw a second peel and then a third peel…..

There, it once again dawned on me that our problem isn’t just bad leadership but it’s bad followership as the follower today will be the leader tomorrow. It just reminds me of where we used to live (Bariga). The locals always made incessant complaints to the local government about a Canal that overflows especially when it rains. Luckily enough, the local government chairman came to inspect the canal on a day it rained and here is what he saw… as the heavy rains poured, the” complainers” who lived on the bank o the canal trooped out and began to dispose their refuse into the flowing canal… bad social character.

Well back to our initial story, having taken enough of this I felt a strong urge to approach her and “educate” her… but I had this restraint. You know that feeling we always have; a feeling that says “what’s your own business? At that, it further dawned on me that it really is my business, what was happening was completely against the vision of Nigeria I have…I had to make the dream a reality. As if we were thinking on the same page, the driver also decided to make a move, we drove forward to the woman and spoke to her. After it all, all she had to say, “sorry oh” then she ordered her son (I think so) to go pick up the peels. I thank God though that she did what was right eventually (maybe because the plate number of our vehicle was Federal Government). The following are what I consider to be valuable lessons from my experience:

What you don’t condemn is what you encourage

Your refusal to stand up for what is just when an unjust act happens in your presence is as good as you been a party to the u just act. Always take the side of what is right. Speak up, because it concerns you.

Take action! Make your dreams become a reality.

What I saw was an act in contrast to my dream. Right there, I had to make the situation conform to what I was seeing, I HAD TO TAKE ACTION! A good number of us have dreams, we must however realize that the world will not celebrate those who have dreams but rather those who take action and produce results. The next thing you must do after you dream is to wake up! Waking up is an action that requires conscious involvement and it provides a platform for the fulfilment of that dreams.

We must stand for the change we desire against all odds, it must diffuse into our actions. Our dreams of the Nigeria we see and believe must build our value systems and also of those around us. We need to bear in mind that even though the event may seem small, inconsequential and irrelevant (just as my experience above), its impact is invaluable especially to the parties involved. Never fail to cease the moment

Relationship

there is a race to run and i cant run alone
there a garden to till and i cant do it alone
there are kids to have, cant do it without you
there is a fight to fight and i need you by my side
there's a world to conquer and we're made to do it together
there's a kingdom to strengthen and we'll do it together
there's so much love, we're destined to enjoy it together

the time is right,
Because it pleases,
love has been awakened

Development without compromise

Development without Compromise

Recently, I’ve been musing about Nigeria; I do that a lot but this time was different (as always). I’ve observed that of recent, there has been a great appeal for local contents. Big hit Nigerian songs blare out from radios and at our parties, our movies are fast becoming best sellers both locally and internationally and despite ALL ODDS, things seem to be looking up; the air of the re-branding concept seems to be taking its toll on things generally. I was even at the Silverbird galleria a couple of months ago and I was appalled at the look of things. For me, places like silverbird, Lagos, Calabar are the faces of development of our times and are an evident re-assurance that things will work out.

Nevertheless, there are issues that I believe need to be addressed. Entering silverbird galleria spurred up mixed feelings in my heart. Firstly I was excited at hi-tech facilities available but on the other hand I was deeply pained particularly at the level of moral decay being displayed. It seems that clothes have all of a sudden become a scarce commodity and we have to resign to patching up little pieces to barely cover up our nakedness (you know what I mean). I keep wondering how things became this bad. Honestly, I applaud recent Nigerian music videos, but they’re contents, I do not applaud. It’s fast becoming an undeclared principle that advancement in technology (development) is directly proportionate to a decrease in moral standards. We even now have a (celebrated) strip club in Lagos and voices aren’t being raised against it!

What’s the way out? Well I’ll briefly share some lessons I learnt from the life of Daniel. I believe that these lessons describe a true pattern for development without compromise. Daniel is a guy in captivity in Babylon. He and three of his friends are enrolled in a special Babylonian school where they are taught the ways, morals and the lifestyle of the Babylonians. On graduation, Daniel and his three friends are found to be the best of all students in the school both amongst their fellow kinsmen and event the native Babylonians. Daniel is made to be part of the Kings special advisers and a world problem has arisen.

Lesson 1: Be Bold

Daniel was faced with an unsolvable problem but yet He did not falter/panic at attempting to provide a solution. There is always a way out! Every problem can be solved! It takes boldness born out of faith to believe this.

Lesson 2: Pray

Having assessed the problem, Daniel prayed to God. Essence: there are usually many ways out of a problem but there us the right way out. God always has the right way!

Lesson 3: Be a problem solver

Of lately I’ve imbibed a philosophy which is “see a problem, think a solution”. I believe that tomorrow naturally belongs to those who can solve today’s problems. This explains Daniels rise to prominence. His ability to be solution minded rather than complain like how every other person did. Nigeria need more people like this.

Lesson 4: Give all glory to God

Honouring and appreciating the source of your problem solving source creates more room/ capacity in you to solve more problems. Daniel openly glorified God for the solution and by proxy development.

Lesson 6: Impose core values

After Daniels promotion to Governor, he ensures that His three other friends are made provincial rulers over the townships. Why??? He’s simply ensuring that the core values they stand for remain in the fabric of the society. Hmm….imagine if u became Governor and you make someone as like minded as you become the minister of information or media… you know just what you see and not see on the TV screens. This is the most important; there is no true development without an establishment in core moral/Societal values.

I believe that if we solve problems and hence bring development, we are further given an opportunity to institute core values that will keep the society in check.

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Cor 10:13 (MSG)

Of lately, I’ve become more acquainted with the word "issues". It's the word we normally use when we're passing through an experience that is seemingly rather complex. But I have realized however that as long as we live, there will always be issues, things will always happen, things rather beyond our control and it's effect may be even more grievous, leaving us in more pain and confusion. Sometimes these issues may be as a result of our mistakes and the confusion we find ourselves in leave us in an overwhelming state of guilt..... Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that we feel is far beyond us, at other times, we find ourselves in a position where we have to make a decision and the options are already tabled before us and really unpleasing....at such points we ask ourselves...how did I get to this point? To choose becomes impossible and to pray...just can’t utter the words.

So what God's response to all this? YOU CAN HANDLE IT! I'm quickly reminded of one of the greatest leaders of all times. He had just led a revolution and delivered his nation from slavery. He was everyone's hero and the entire populace looked unto him. Some seemed to think that they owed him their life. Sometimes just in the few days of his leadership, an "issue" arose and it occurred to Him that he could not lead the nation to their destination because there was just no way to go about it. On EVERY angle, there was just no way! On realizing this, there entire nation was thrown into a state of panic, the impossibility was just so overwhelming that the people lost every sense of confidence they had in their revolutionary leader (Ex 14: 8-21).

Something interesting occurred here though; Exodus 14: 15-16 records God's response.

"The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward! Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." (AMP)

Amidst all the panic and uproar and confusion, God commands Moses to part the red sea. God made Moses realize that he had all he needed to handle the matter, he just needed to boldly take action and then God will follow through.

The good news for you is that God has already commanded you to part the red sea! You can handle it because that's how God designed it. If truly you are His child, then trust that he'll never give you more than you can bear, you're experiencing that issue solely because you can handle it. Like Joseph, Job and even Jesus, in each step of their life, overcoming an issue took them to the next level of their life, for Moses, overcoming the red sea took him to lands beyond the red sea and total deliverance from the hand of the Egyptians, never again was he going to doubt the God who he has now so trusted in. I believe so for you also, whatever issue you're facing you is designed to propel you to the next level of your ministry, work...and also to create in you an unflinching trust in God.

You're more than a conqueror, an overcomer in every ramification...So each time you're passing through any "issue", always have this at the back of your mind: "YOU CAN HANDLE IT"