Monday, October 24

Salt

Sorry! Its not a review of the Angelina Jolie movie!

Someone mentioned the word 'salt' yesterday, and my mind went to the famous Lot's wife who became a pillar of salt!

…why did she look back? Was she expressly told not to? I had to go back and check to be sure and found that she was indeed told! In fact the whole episode was one of such urgency…hurry! Go! Don’t look back…get into the mountains, don’t remain on the plains…explicit, urgent instructions. What could have held such appeal for this woman in Sodom and Gomorrah that she risked dying for?

Look at the Israelites during the wilderness journey. They so tried the patience of God! Gosh! They wept and whined and cried for the leeks, the garlic, the cucumber in Egypt….we don’t want this ‘food’ coming from the sky jo! What?! Water from a rock?! Please! They couldn’t bear  this ‘hardship’, which is ridiculous and strange because they were slaves under hard labour, but it seem that as long as they could have garlic and cucumber and leeks and onions, they were content to remain slaves! (They conveniently forgot that they cried for freedom for 400 hundred years). Sigh. So typical of us too.

So, I came right down to me…and of course, you! What are those things in our past that we so long for? The things that hold us back, longings for the things we had, things that make us unable to have any (future) expectations?? What is so good in our yesterday that we can’t bear not to go back to? Didn’t God say the ‘glory of the latter house will be greater than the former?’ Is He a liar? Has He lied to you? What makes yesterday better than today? If you really want to be truthful an objective?? No matter how bad it is today, I never starve. I never go without food at anytime anymore. No matter how bad it gets today, I really do not want to go back to selling old newspaper and bournvita tins in order to feed! Oh yes! I honestly do not want to walk in pouring rain (in addition to getting sprayed by passing vehicles) at 5.30am on my way to work, where, on arrival I hide in the toilet to ‘re-wash’ and dry my clothes using the hand dryer! I really, really, do not want to end up with 4 other people, in the same house, and with 2  on the same bed! I do not even look forward to eating salad and chicken in a house full of strife, where there is no freedom. I, please and please, do not want to have to trek for miles to and fro school because I am too broke to take the bus. PLEASE.

So, why elect to ‘look back’ and die? You may presently have no job, you may be as broke as anything, you may long for a child, you may have experienced devastation in ways that no other person can understand, someone may have died, it may even be more horrible than these, still in the midst of it all, looking at The Situation really closely, tell me, isn’t there something you are truly grateful for? Ok, if you can’t find anything, may I put it to you that you are not responsible for the air you breath? As long as you have that, then you hope! Who knows whether your joblessness is an opportunity to do ‘something else?’ Who knows whether the delay in childbirth is to foster closeness with your husband (I said ‘who knows’ oh!) Who knows whether the delay in this husband is for me to learn patience (I pray this works oh! Lol) Who knows whether the death of that somebody is to deliver them from the terrible evil to come? To free them from pain? Who knows?? God does, and since in His sovereignty He has decided to take you and I through this Wilderness and says to eat manna, and quail, and drink water supplied from rock, and that in the midst of it all, however long the trip, our clothes and shoes will not wear, and what’s more, that we would come out of The Journey a better person, I think I had better cooperate, in my own interest. Oh, and did Job not say, in his own utter devastation (is your situation like Job’s?? *eyebrow raised*),though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him?’ Well, I guess it is a function of what/who you believe in. You may have options, I don’t.
I do not want to become a pillar of salt; dead and useless. #Fimisile.

I dare you to search your heart (and past) and present situation and see if today is not better, in some way, than yesterday!...and…

Be free oh.

Wednesday, October 19

Describe Your Corner

Describe your corner; What is in it?
Laughter? peace? Joy? wholesomeness? Fun?


Are there flowers? Roses, daffodils, Jasmine, Daisy?
Is the fragrance wafting up to envelop, and bring pleasure?
Is it fresh and cool? Like the dew of Hamon?
Can the breeze sweeping your flowers left and right be felt?
Swaying them to its rhythm-
a rhythm of memories,
of the deeds of the Most High…


Is it colourful around you?
What shades of purple, blue, green, yellow, red…?
What does each signify?-
Giving? Encouragement? A word in season? A charge?


How about your curtains?
Are they in vibrant, flowery fabrics?
How are they woven or sewn?
Are the pleats perfect and minute?
Are they like a tapestry? Each patch telling a story?
Does the fabric fall in thick folds,
Singing to the floor like oil from Aaron’s head?
To heal, and anoint?


What about your flooring?
Is it made of tiles or carpets or wood?
Does contact with it bring instant peace and tranquility;
a sense of ‘home?’


Are there birds in your corner?
Chirping and flitting daintily from branch to branch?
Singing their own special songs in their peculiar cry?
Is it quiet or noisy around you?
Is there peace, in the midst of the noise?


How about music?
What beat belts forth?
Cool, smooth…jazzy…
Breathing life in the humdrum?
Whispering in notes of comfort and ...hope
A sound of heaven
Can we hear the sigh of the butterfly…in your corner?


Describe your corner.
What is in it??


-Zouzou
Be...free...oh

inspired by:  'Brighten the Corner Where You Are' at www.kunbibalogun.com.

Tuesday, October 18

Zouzou's Musings: The Season is Ending...(Inspired by Bookie).

Zouzou's Musings: The Season is Ending...(Inspired by Bookie).: Oh my! I have a deep sense of urgency right now! Where did this come from? Is it fear? I have to discern o...my heart is beating, is this a ...

Wednesday, October 12

(Dont) Rub My Back

Again, I began to think about 'constraints', how draining and burdensome it can be. an how typical of us humans.
First off, a disclaimer: I am not the perfect person, friend, sister, colleague.  In fact, I can categorically tell you that I am by far far, the less than perfect sister.  I always thought that I would never allow my sisters to write a tribute to me because if they wanted to write in all honesty, they would tell you what a terribly grouchy ‘yeller’ I am. And that  when there are  challenges at home, I become so irritated and taciturn. And when I don’t want to talk about it, I escape to my room!
But, that is not what this blog is about. I recently began to think that the people I need now are those who can be true, who can be themselves with me, just as I hope I can be to them.  The Yorubas have an adage in the line of 'you cannot say we aren’t friends anymore’, well, I beg to differ. I can totally tell you that ‘I am not doing’ friend again. 
I don’t care to have many friends on Facebook. Because you are the friend of a friend of a friend doesn’t mean we should automatically become friends, duh. If we cannot add value to one another, don't share the same interests or moral code, then there really is no point. If all someone does is make you laugh and you know you need that, please do your best to keep such a one close by, and do all your best to work at the relationship. Friendships can and should be diverse, no two friends are the same. In a 3-way friendship, two people are always closer to each other than all three together (did I make sense there?)
So friends, be yourself; let’s not ‘rub’ each other’s back because that is how it should be. Rub my back because you know its what I need and what you should do, not because I rubbed yours when it hurt. Don’t follow me because I am following you, and vice versa. Don’t share a secret with me because I shared some with you. The greatest help you can do yourself and others is to be yourself and be true. If I don't have unnecessary  expectations of you, why should you burden yourself? Its too whom much is given that much is expected. 

Lets break free of unnecessary constraints.
Be free oh.

Monday, October 10

#JustMuse

People! I am publishing through a mobile phone for the first time; hence I crave your indulgence in advance if the presentation of this blog (note I didn't say grammar), is less than excellent!
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Its after 1am this Monday morning and I cannot sleep.
I am not 'actively' worrying though I have my very many issues (they say I don't look it, which is good).
I just want to randomly muse here and tell you some of the things I have been up to...we had an awesome Women's Breakfast meeting on Saturday morning despite the heavy downpour that flooded the streets of Lagos. That I had to drive through the 'sea' really broke my heart, it hurt me badly (sad).

Sunday: I didn't go to Church, for a very simple reason, which I refuse to even be guilty about, but I spent the whole day either reading, or randomly watching The Mentalist (that Jane Patrick's wardrobe leaves so much to be desired! So much! Jeez). Anyway, I read a couple of blogs, subscribed to one or two, started to follow a few more people on twitter, read a book... But the theme of everything I read is the call to 'do something'. 'Brighten the Corner where you are!' And I felt, more than ever before that with all that is going on around us today, we must never be guilty of living the ordinary life! Someone once said that we 'dare not die, having accomplished nothing!' Steve Job, world changer, sleeps at age 56! I guarantee you his head was still full of a lot more of Apple stuff but alas!
So, as I lie awake this morning, having already 'wondered and pondered on my Face Book page, and tweeted more random thoughts (a lot of 'randoms' tonight wouldn't you say??), I am resolved (again) to 'up and do something.'
I hope you take a leaf out of my book. Some of you reading my blog should start one of their own, you have so much to offer...your comments are so passionate and full of ideas..showcase your talents and gifts, feed the poor, clothe the naked, help the needy, pray and...don't forget:
Be free oh.

PS/Am beginning to think we have overflooged this issue of 'doing something' mais, comme les gens sont si tetus et refusent carrement de faire rien!! Yeah yeah, figure it out! :-)

Tuesday, October 4

Proudly Nigerian

Seeing as how I have said, and reiterated quite often, that I do not (of myself) plan to live elsewhere because I am (very) proudly Nigerian, it occurred to me, and the fact was driven home (with big, huge nails) on Sunday, that I am not really doing much to celebrate, support and praise this country, my ‘pride’. Who can blame me, and a large percentage of the populace?? We get browbeaten, put down, cheated, denied of the basic(est) amenities....the government is selfish, unable to protect its citizens, full of (hidden) agendas put together for  selfish purposes, education system run down….eh hen eh hen…there I go, concentrating on the bad!!!...ok,  slow down and breathe…breathe…

During the service on Sunday, my eyes (even if there were more than a thousand people at this service, I can only speak for myself, abi?) were open to see that my country is good, My mind went in different directions of the (indeed) good things that Nigeria has to offer; it don’t matter whether I see the good today, I know she is capable of it, and seeing as the bible says that the ‘glory of the latter house will be greater than the former’, I have hope!
I was reminded of my growing up; ours was not a rich family, but we never lacked for food! I could never forget the cartons and cartons of peak milk! I remember very vividly, we drank milk like it was water, my mother bought stuff in bulk. Our house was like a provision store...our plate of food had meat swimming in it (how many people still eat with more than 2 pieces of meat these days??). We had clothes in abundance, we had shoes (gosh, am reminded of those clogs!!! I have to look for the pictures). Everything in abundance. How did it become so bad?
All I am saying here is that we had a better life then, but we can have it better again.

During this long weekend celebrating Nigeria’s 51st, I  determined that I would henceforth concentrate on and applaud the good things! I would make a conscious effort to remember them and be grateful for them. If for nothing, that I am here, writing a blog for you to read!  I am grateful for life, I am grateful for God Himself, I am grateful that though there isn’t frequent electricity, we have learnt to survive;  I am glad for the Nigerian Survival Instinct! This is a great thing to applaud; Nigerians never give up. I am grateful that though we had a floods in some states that killed hundreds, that though Boko Haram is doing its best to hold the country hostage, that though Jos, the once peaceful City be on fire and many have died, that though the politicians are manipulating the system for their own gains, that though kidnapping of high-ranking (and now low, average and no ranking sef) people abound, that though we sleep in darkness, and spend a fortune on diesel, I am grateful we have never experienced earthquakes, landslides, tsunami, and other natural disasters. How would we have coped?? I believe God knows exactly what it is we can bear and has left us with those, not also without hope!

Today, I declare: ‘Nigeria we hail thee, our own dear native land, though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand,…’

No matter your nationality, take stock (of your country) and be grateful too,

I am (very) proudly Nigerian.
Be free oh!