Scared

I just had a nightmare
My eyes were open
My glasses by my side
No words heard or spoken
My partly braided kinky hair
Drying up beneath the fan's wind
As I took a short deserved break
From my detangling and twisting
I saw a bug crawl
Slowly and steadily
Getting closer to the wall
Nastily and stealthily
I panicked not knowing what to do
To the huge bug on the floor
I grabbed my glasses to confirm my fears
It shouldn't be some scorpion!!!
As my eyes tuned into focus
I definitely felt silly
No bugs or funny creatures
But a clumped mass of my hair pretty
Blown by the same wind drying my hair
Glad it was all in my mind and no bug was there
Illusions...

Primary School Prayer

When I taught Sunday School
We spoke of prayers Jesus answered
And when we did more often than not
The children would speak of this lot:
'Lord Jesus, please help me find my pen
I can't find it in my room'
'Lord, please help me find my pencil
I need to finish my homework'
And so these prayers went
And I remembered when I said them too
A young child in primary school
'Lord please help me find my eraser
It's still very new'
Never did we talk about answered prayers
And this kind wouldn't show up
This primary school prayer
Of what was lost
Lord, tonight
I say one too
Please help me find this
I've searched my room
It's dear to me Lord
I need it too
I remember when you answered
In primary school
How you answered
Those little children too
I kneel tonight Lord
And come to you
Knowing and believing
You will once again listen
And answer 'Yes, my child, I will help you'
You will answer as you have before
And you will restore
Once more
With undisputed assurance
With child like confidence
With faith
With all my heart
I repeat this prayer
As from primary school
'Dear Holy Spirit
Help me find this'
Thank you, Lord Jesus!
Your Name be praised
Again and again
Father God
Hallowed be Your Name
Hallelujah...

Via Ofosua
On Monday, 22nd February, 2016

The Woman and the Beard

In primary school
She discovered her moustache
Looked back at her pictures
And realised for long she had had
This moustache
Barely seen
But there
Short and almost unnoticeable
Tiny whiskers

A confidence had sprung in me
Ahead of the pack, natural leader of the team
Definitely not authority supreme
They were fearfully up there
I was approachably down here
Ensuring compliance
Pursuing excellence
But not in the realm of the Queen Bees

As she grew older
Her upper lip hairs became longer
Accepted even
And learnt shaving them would worsen
She left them as they were
Odd but rather unnoticeable but still there
She told herself, 'Leave them be
They're not meant to hurt me
Luckily I have no beard'

A natural leader I seemed to be
At least that's what some called me
Getting better at my work
Learning to overcome my demons that lurked
Noticed more women in dreadful high places
Glad I needn't aspire to their graces
Ugly life it mostly seemed
Lonely, hostile those Queen Bees

She asked an 'aunt' why she had a beard
Luckily this aunt was not related to her
The lesson on genetics made it quite clear
Inheritted by many but dormant in few
From which these ugly beards grew
Eeeeewwwwww
Those beards made her cringe
Those scattered curly things
At a woman's chin

Those Queen Bees I'm told
Are hags and old
Climbing up on high ladders
Stepping on faces of others
So they can reach the top
And be there alone
Those Queen Bees I was told

She looked in the mirror and saw a strand
'O God would you permit this?
I don't understand!'
Yes it was, not one but two
Two black curly strands
Sticking out too
She wish she could deny it
But they were there
She was beginning to grow
You guessed right
An ugly beard!!

So I worked hard
And forgot about promotions
After all those high positions
Could also mean demotions
In love and life and family and fun
Bosses were often left with nothing when they had won
And who really wants to be a Queen Bee
Despised and ridiculed
Judged and laid bare?

Some more years down the line
Before the mirror again
She found more strands
All over her chin like they were insane
A moustache untouched
But still easy to keep in order
A beard now all over
In single strands that made her shudder
She now had what made her sad
What in her eyes made women look bad
What made women look mean
Whether they were nice, harsh or unseen
Her standard of beauty now shattered
But harder than when she had discovered
Her moustache young and free
Unaffected by steorotypes and prejudices
She looked harder and saw more
Smaller and longer strands than before
She seemed to have come of age
But why now and why this way
How was she going to live with this beard?

Promotions were granted
And with that came fights
Battles to ensure
What was done was right
Proving that I was worthy of my name
Playing the politics right
Without falling out of the game
Cat calls and name tags
Started to reach my ears
Compromises that affected
My loved ones and all I hold dear
Life could be tough, sometimes lonely
Sometimes fun, sometimes won
Sometimes full of long hours
When others had gone
One day I looked mirror
And took a long hard look at me
Thought about my life
Oh no!!! I had become one of those Queen bees
Not sure how to move forward
With this discovery
I looked at my chin and stared
Oh my goodness!!! Is that a beard????!!

Phone Call

It's 17:07
The EXODUS
Time for me to LEAVE work
At that point I get a call
'Hello?'
'Hello, Ma. The carpenter is in, tools and all'
'Tell him to start work, I'll be home in an hour'
'I told him so, but he says you owe him some 'power''
'Power? What does he mean let me speak with him'
'Please hold'
'Madam?'
'Good evening, Boss. What's going on?'
'Madam, you said you go give me some'
'Please what some?'
'Some more power, more money. So I no fi' start'
'MASSAH you want to TEST my heart?
What money again? I paid for everything just like that
Now you want something more
Boss, MERIBAH, please give the phone to my son'
'Hello Ma?'
'This our carpenter
He wants to QUARREL nti MERIBAH
I won't be long, I'll be home in an hour
Ok?'
'Ok'
'See you soon'
'Bye'
What koraa is this?
TESTING and QUARRELS
When I am about to LEAVE
Call time 17:07
Good heavens!!!
Hmmm, these words weirdly remind me
Of Exodus verse seven
Of chapter seventeen

Exodus 17:7 

And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarrelled and because they tested the LORD saying, 'Is the LORD among us or not?'

(version: NIV-UK)

Via Ofosua
Saturday, 30th January, 2016

The pun, the fun, the Word we heard 

Baker's Spoon - Crafted Thoughts

A gift you declined
You said the thought was fine
You told me your delight
I had to give you something just right
I dreamt of the spoon
And the laughter it gave you and me
You'd be leaving soon
I had to make it a true  reality
I asked for a contact
Called and stated my facts
Got delighted as the hours drew near
They etched those words I still hold dear
Crafted thoughts it seemed
Crafted thoughts became to be
I'm glad you liked the gift my friend
Glad you said it'd be useful at your end
Surprised you hugged me not once but thrice
Glad I took this chance and rolled my dice
I will miss you and I fear memories of you will fade
But I hope as you use this spoon you'll remember good times when you came

Bon voyage, mon amie, my baker friend
May my crafted thoughts remain useful till the end

Honour your word

Yesterday, I made a promise. A promise that didn't cost much in Ghana cedis. I was to fulfill it today and I wanted to do so this morning. But here's the hitch, it would mean I would only have one ₵20 note to get to work. That wasn't good because public transport drivers may not get change for a fare that's less than a tenth of that early in the morning. Also drivers could be rude if you gave them such a huge amount at that time of the day. But I decided to keep my promise, I thought it showed good example and the one I had promised was looking forward to it.

So I used up all my small change to keep my promise and set out for work. As expected,  the driver I first met grumbled a lot. Unexpectedly, however, he asked me to get down after a distance! The second driver grumbled too, but when I reached my stop, he gave me my ₵20 note. I thanked him and gave him the only two coins I had instead. Those coins are worth a tenth of the current fare (which is really really small in view of the recent fuel price increase and the not yet adjusted transport fares). I told him, 'May God make these a blessing to you,' and alighted.

And then I waited for the bus. After a bit, a black car stopped where I was. Not unusual, it's a bus stop and lots of cars had stopped there already. I heard my name. Recognised my fellow bus boarder in the front seat. Got pleasantly surprised. Did a quick calculation of where this lift could take us to. Sat in the car and realised my other colleague I hadn't seen in a while because she had been on leave! A free ride to work! In fact, three free rides to work...

And it got me thinking and writing...

How many times have we been required to honour our words? How many times have we made promises that we intended to keep, but never did? How many times did procrastination become justified by our convenience? How many times have we let our family down? Our bosses and subordinates down? Our friends down? God down?

How many times have we shunned honouring our word in even the little things assuming God could be mocked? Assuming we did not reap what we sowed (Galatians 6:7-9)?
- I'll wash the dishes
- I'll buy electricity units on my way from work
- Kofi, drink your medicine and I'll give you cake
- I'll submit the report today
- I'll explain the Maths assignment to you
- I'll call you back

And how many times have we actually done so and experienced that God delights in Christians who walk their talk? Ɔseadeɛyɔfoɔ no*? The promisefulfillers? Those who witness the faithfulness of God by being faithful themselves?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to boast. It is to my own shame that I am reminded of the many times I said I will do stuff for others and God but eventually refused to do them. We are truly saved by grace. But now that we are saved, we should produce fruit worthy of our calling. For faith without deeds is dead (James 2:21-26).

Interestingly enough, God rewards our faithfulness to Him and to others in more ways than one. My free rides to work reminded me of this.

He is The Faithful Who delights in His faithful. Need we doubt this and be, do otherwise?

And after reading this, which of the two groups of times would we rather increase to God's glory? Which one would we rather proclaim to the World in our deeds? Which one would boldly shout without words, 'Christ in me!!!'

Which one?
Yes, I am asking you as much as I ask myself today...

... which one?

.

Galatians 6:7-9 (NIVUK)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

.
James 2:21-26 (NIVUK)
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.  24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

.
*Ɔseadeɛyɔfoɔ no: from the twi word, Ɔseadeɛyɔ, meaning one who does what s/he says s/he will do, a dependable person who fulfills his/her promises. Often an appellation for God. Ɔseadeɛyɔfoɔ no would then mean the people that do what they say they would do.

The Wonder Years

At 7
I wanted to watch it
They said I was tired
So I had to go to bed
At 17
I wanted to watch it
And though I was tired
I could, so I did
At 27
I wanted to watch it
I was tired
But it was wise not to, I went to bed
And missed the show
Even though
I may not see it again
My entire body more important
Than the delight of my eyes

At 5
I wanted to eat it
But couldn't
She said she had no money
In her money-filled purse
At 15
I wanted to eat it
And bought it
I had saved my own money
I decided how I operated my own purse
At 25
I wanted to eat it
But I walked away
My salary could afford it
But my body could not
The weight gain was obvious
The life plans still pending
I needed to be wise on my spending
And that sweet treat
That juicy fat piece
Cost more than its price
Than its every bite

At 10
I wanted to miss school
But he woke me up at 5
I wanted to cry
I got ready begrudgingly
Got to school in time
At 20
I wanted to miss class
So I analysed its importance
Half asleep in my bed
I stayed in my room
To go for tutorials instead
At 30
I wanted to miss work
My body sore
From the day before
Early morning meeting I could not ignore
Deadlines to meet
The work mine to complete
I pulled myself out of bed
Prayed for the next public holiday
To arrive quickly instead
Make myself worth my salt
Perform my duties, keep my job
Be reliable as my conscience could be
Early hours late nights
So I can get my output right

Sigh, a lot changes in 10 and 20 years....
It's a wonder what happened to these wonder years*

*with loose reference to American Comedy TV series 'The Wonder Years'. You may read the plot at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonder_Years