From the church sited few meter away from my kitchen window this morning. đ
"Praise the Lord!
Praaaaaaaaaaaaise the Loooooooord!"
The sound was drawn out and the shouter was visibly overjoyed. Very overjoyed. The church probably anticipated that the testimony was really going to be a big one. I drop my plate into sink waiting with great expectation to hear the testimony that was going to take my breath away⊠or not.
The testifier told of great intrigues and twists and turns that dogged her every step, she told of the enemies that fought against her and the friends that helped her, she told of all these and how in the end she gotâŠ
âŠa VISA!
A VISA?!!!
I couldnât believe my ears! A visa! Amidst the roaring shouts and jubilant screams coming out of that building I couldnât seem to think clearly. So, She came up to the pulpit and made all that noise just because she got a visa? This could only be Nigeria!
I have seen strange things, believe me, and some of those things were in religious gatherings. I have heard strange things as well and a number of them were disguised as âtestimoniesâ.
I have heard people testify that;
They travelled to the village and got safely back.
They got admission into university.
They passed their WAEC or NECO.
Their relative got a government appointment or got elected.
They bought a car.
They found money on the ground.
They flew in a plane.
They travelled abroad.
Do you see what I see in this list?đ I see confusion. I see disorientation and a painful lack of vision. At what point along the line did we as a nation come to expect and accept deprivation, dilapidation and degradation as a way of life? At what point did we come to see a deviation from these as a testimony? How ever did we come to this state where the basic amenities of life have become as water in the desert? Why have expectations turned to exceptions? How did we degenerate to a nation of low expectations?
That NEPA gives uninterrupted power for 24 hours and we say they did well?!
That a policeman collected âonlyâ N50 bribe so he was kind?!
That a government official looted âonlyâ some billions but as long as they did two roads and one clinic, they tried?!
The very fact that we see these things as miracles is a big problem and an indication of the very urgent need for mental overhaul. You know why? Miracles donât happen everyday. They wouldnât be miracles if they did. So in testifying of these things as miracles, we have come to silently say that we expect and accept that these things are and will remain once in a purple moonâs happening- rare occurences. We have gradually come to accept those things that should be taken for granted as divine miracles to throw a party for and celebrate.
You want to know what I see? I see mentally bruised people. I see trampled self-respect. I see an identity crisis.
Of course if you read you should pass WAEC and NECO. Of course if you pass your Oâlevels you should get an admission into a higher institution. Of course if the roads are in good condition there would be less accidents when coming from the village- accidents which are blamed on witches and wizards. Of course a visa should not be an escape ticket. Of course these things should be normal in a normal society! But they have become abnormalâŠ
Yesterday, someone here wrote in his piece, âOur rulers have done more damage to our minds than they have done to the country. Because of the misgovernance of Nigeria, we have become a country of low expectationsâ
and thatâs so true! And so sad.
Itâs not enough to say âThings must changeâ. Of course, with or without your input, with or without your deliberate effort, things will change. But the end point of things left to change on their own are rarely positive. We, YOU and I, must deliberately, purposefully, intentionally, consciously do all we can to initiate the change we want seen. And since the mind is where the change begins, then we must seek avenues to upgrade our minds. That is the starting point. That is the turning point. The foundation.
For a moment, forget about changing the world- or even changing Nigeria. Concentrate on YOU! Concentrate on elevating your thinking, elevating your mind for it is the birth-place of paradigms and the source of Belief-Systems and Values-Systems.
Change the Mind, Change the Man.
©HamzWrites