Sunday morning anchor

This morning I tossed and turned in bed as ECG turned my lights on and off. I didn't care much because the weather was nice and cool. I looked at my phone when my alarm went off and contemplated missing church to have some extra sleep. "You read the mass readings the night before remember?" My brain whispered to me.

After a few more snoozes I slapped myself and got off my bed. Getting ready for church didn't take very long because as I mentioned earlier I didn't really have power so I looked for the most decent outfit that had been already ironed, an orange dress. I got into my car when I was all set and drove off. I seemed a bit late, 15 minutes to be exact but when I entered the church I heard the first reading. I smiled to myself as I sat down.

The sermon was about the sacrifice we are to make for God during Lent. The priest mentioned fasting and said there were so many other things we could sacrifice besides food. So I drifted off thinking about what I was going to sacrifice. A lot of things flew into my head. Some were really pointless and others made a lot of sense. So I decided.

I listened to more of the sermon and was really glad I came. Sure I had missed out on some sleep but it was nothing compared to what I received at church. After mass I set off to find myself a cold  drink because it was a hot Sunday (SUNday lol). On my way I saw a couple of people I always wanted to talk to. To invite them to a group that wanted to expand. For some reason I never talked to them (probably thought they won't be interested) but today I was like 'eh let me just go'. So I went and spoke to them and they liked the idea. Just like that. I smiled to myself after and went home, after my cold drink of cause.

Moral of the story? Sometimes a little effort to do the thing you believe is right or best can bring you more joy than doing something else. Today's first reading was about Abraham and his son Isaac who was almost sacrificed. Abraham had a big thing to do so I guess we can do ours too :)

Being Francis

Francis saw his older brother packing his bags. "Hey Dan, where are you off to?" He asked curiously. Dan looked at him and continued packing. "I don't know how you manage to be happy here." Dan finally replied. He picked up a T-shirt and threw it into his small suitcase. Francis did not see that answer coming. He enquired further and Dan made it clear he was leaving their new home. His brother was even more surprised.

 Just then their sister walked into the room. "What's going on here?" She asked. Francis turned to her and explained Dan's intentions. She shook her head and turned to walk out like nothing was happening. "Pat, won't you tell him to stop this and stay?" Francis called out. Without turning Pat said, "He's not a child. He can do as he pleases." Then she left.

Francis asked his brother why he wanted to leave one more time. "Why should I stay? Father doesn't love me, he expects me to follow so many rules and what do I get in return? Constant disappointment. He says “ask me for anything and you'll have it” but he doesn't honour his words. My friends in the South are living very happy lives free from strict parents. That's where I'm headed." Dan let out. It looked like he had given this a lot of thought.

"Daddy loves us so much. Don't you see that? He gives us a lot of food and everything we need and his rules are just meant to protect us." Francis said. "I'm 25 years old, I need more than food. I have asked him for so many things and he just did nothing." Dan said, beginning to get angry. His little brother tried to calm him down but it was useless. He picked his suitcase and walked out with Francis running behind him. "I have one last thing to say. Count all the things Dad has gotten for you and see if they are worth more than the things you are asking for. I will tell Dad you'll be coming back because I know you will." Francis said almost in tears. "Good luck with that." He said and left the house.

If Pat, Dan and Francis’ father was God and they were normal Christians like you and me, can you relate to their actions? Pat is the Christian who believes but does not spread the word nor help others out. She prefers to be a Christian on an island. Dan is the Christian who loses his faith because he thinks God is asleep or maybe just picky because his prayers are not being answered. He feels all he is doing for God is in vain.

 Francis is the Christian we all want to be. The one who believes in God with all his heart and wants everyone to do same so he calls people to God and encourages them. We have probably been all these people at one point or the other in our journey with Christ. It's time to be Francis in our own little way. If you are not sure how, just pray and an idea will pop into your head, completely unique to you. God bless you :-)

Seven whole days

 Seven whole days, not one in Seven

Should I praise you Lord, like your angels in heaven

Other days I call them friends, but Sunday they are brethren

I forget you several times, but on that day you are sovereign

For several hours I give you my all, then the day breaks and it’s forgotten

Twenty fours go by, but yours is but a tiny portion

My heart wants to do right, to worship you right and give you all glorification

So today I start with a song, I will sing for you, each and every day, not one in seven.

Last minute

You know how sometimes you get the feeling that something isn't right? I was having that feeling and it was extremely strong. As we walked through the bush, several images flashed before my eyes. Kwasi turned to look at me. "Ma guy, hurry up eh?" He said. I increased my pace. We got to the shrine sooner than I expected. If I anyone had told me that I would go see a 'prophet' in my life time I would have laughed and walked away but here I was live and coloured.

I'm sure you judgemental people are already accused me of 'sakawa' but wait till I finish eh? I'm not saying your wrong ooh, just be patient. Before I could change my mind the man came out of his shrine. To my surprise he was in a pair of jeans and a fake Nike t-shirt. I didn't imagine him like that kwraa ooh. I expected to see him in some form of rafia skirt and preferably shirtless, the kind of 'accessories' that would go with the HUT he lived in. He seemed to read my mind (or was it my expression?) and he asked "You doubt my power don't you?" I looked at Kwesi as if the question was addressed to him. This was scary, if I told the truth he might get offended but if I lied and he was indeed powerful, lightening could strike me chale so I just smiled like a fool. He grabbed an egg and threw it into a pot of water and what happened changed my state of mind immediately.

As much as my life was about to change drastically I couldn't forget how far I had gone. I had to do this because I was going to die anyway. A few weeks ago, I was in a bus on my way to Takoradi in search of a job. The foolish bus driver tried to overtake a timber truck and collided with another saloon car. Two people died and there were several injuries. I was on the side of the driver in the middle seat so I only had a few scratches or so I thought. After a couple of days I started feeling weak, had blurry vision and was sent to the hospital. I was expected to be given my malaria shots and discharged but when I saw the look on the Doctor's face I knew it was more serious than that. I was bleeding internally and it was too late to be saved. I had just 3 days to live!

It was Kwesi's idea to go to the prophet. You see, I've never known my father and my mother worked so hard to take care of my little brother and I. She used all the money she had saved to send me all the way through to the university but I couldn't pay her back properly because I didn't have a job. I was her only hope, I didn't want her money to be wasted. Besides Kwesi nobody else knew I was going to kick the bucket soon.

With a bottle of water in my hand, I was about to live the last hours of my life with a difference. That was if it worked. When I got to Kwesi's house, I drunk the water, followed the rest of his instructions and when I opened my eyes, there was so much money on the floor. I couldn't believe it! I had my whole life planned (all 24 hours of it), I would win a lottery, give half of the money to my mum, invest it in some business in the name of my brother oh and of course...party hard!!!

Everything was going on smoothly: mum was so excited, she didn't have to work so hard anymore, my brother was finally going to get his dream video game. I loved the looks on their faces. They had suffered enough and finally they were happy but I couldn't help feeling guilty. In less than 20 hours they would be crying and wont know what I had done. Kwesi seemed to know what I was going through so he put his hand on my shoulder and set up a night out with some friends. We were to have drinks and later go clubbing.

We went out shopping and bought fresh clothes, a car and went to all the hot spots in Accra. For a moment I forgot the clock was ticking. We spent so much money, money I had never handled before, made friends too.(Spend money, get friends free) Reality hit me when I realized how fake some of my friends were. People who would never look at me twice were being all nice and friendly. I sort of liked the idea that I was leaving all these fools behind. I'm sure the alcohol in my system also played a part.

Then it happened, it was about 3:20am. We were driving to another club, I was behind the wheel with Kwesi and two other girls in the car. I don't know where she came from. I happened so quickly. I slammed the breaks as fast as I could but it was too late. I rushed her to the nearest hospital. It was so scary how it happened because I wasn't driving fast. The doctor told us the girl was bleeding internally and little could be done for her. All of a sudden I remembered something the 'prophet' said, "your tragedy would be replicated by the wealth you are about to acquire". Was she paying for the money I had got? This was stupid.I started feeling weak, I guess my time was running out. The nurse noticed and put to me for screening. I was in my dying bed and all I could think about was my family and this girl I had hit.

I told Kwesi to call my family, I had to confess. My soul wouldn't rest that way. He said it was a stupid idea and my mother would die heart broken but I dissagreed. We argued and he walked away. Everytime I closed my eyes to pray I saw terrifing images and a tall man in a red hooded gown stretching out his cold, skinny arm to me. I tried to keep my eyes open as much as I could. Instead I took a pen and paper to write everything down. My state was critical now and when the nurse came and saw me writing she tried to stop me but I insisted and asked her to call my mother for me. My legs felt like they were on fire and I could hear disturbing screams and sounds. That was when I knew God was the only one who could save me but some how I just couldn't call on Hi.....

DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE!