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Chasing Shadows
Two calls from my sister at 5 am had me grumbling as I reached for my phone to call her back. “You this girl, don’t you know people are usually asleep at 5 am, ehn?” I asked immediately she answered my call (you see, I’d promised to send her some things through my cousin who was flying back to Abuja this morning, and I thought she was calling to remind me not to forget them). “Hmm, Elohor you won’t believe what just happened, armed robbers just left the house, David is dead.” I was stunned! Speechless! Armed robbers? How? When? What happened? I stuttered in confusion. Ah! Dead ke? My mind was reeling with so much wild thoughts! So many “what if questions” filled my head. I won’t scare you all with the gory details, but trust me, it must have been an utter nightmare for my sister, my cousin, his wife and kids and the house maid as they locked themselves up in the room upstairs hearing the wall being broken down by God knows what. Do armed robbers carry wrecking balls? This is just crazy world we live in! Think of the trauma the little kids must have gone through, not just being there, but hearing all the sounds coming from downstairs and then the sound of a gun being fired. The only gun shots kids should hear should be from Tom and Jerry or something, not in their house, in the living room right where they play and watch T.V.
You’re probably wondering…… where is she going with all of this? You see, life is nothing! Doesn’t it amaze you how easily humans are struck down? Even the mightiest of men, the wealthiest, the most intelligent, the prettiest, all of us are frail. We have no power whatsoever to save ourselves in the face of death. The pound sterling , no matter how high its exchange rate is can’t buy back life, that knowledge you have can’t either, death won’t say ‘Oh look, here’s a pretty one , think I’ll just let her live’ Reality check: that just doesn’t happen. Death is just inevitable. The when or the how or where is totally beyond our control, we really don’t know when we’ll draw our last breath. We all pray for longevity, but truly who knows tomorrow? Who is able to say what will happen?
Some of us go through life with this air of arrogance, probably because of our job, our family status, people we know or think we know or for other funny reasons. There’s just this attitude of ‘self-sufficiency’ and I’m not talking about money here. Some people just feel like they don’t need God anymore and treat him like he’s a buffet table,”Oh God, I’d like an extra large portion of blessings and special grace and mercy, a rich vegetable salad of wealth, good health and prosperity, and oh God? While you are at it, can you just cause all my enemies to die by fire? And please send an angel to help me hasten up that contract approval? Oh no, I don’t wouldn’t like any helping of true worship or dedication and service to you nor do I want you to correct me when I go astray, my plate is filled already. Thank you God, that will be all for now, talk to you next when I need help.”
We go through life chasing shadows and meaningless material things. Building up things that can be taken away or destroyed easily, forgetting that what truly matters are not our material possessions but the people around us and our relationships with them.
The thing is, this ‘Life is short’ saying is a cliché that really doesn’t even truly describe how short life is. We should just learn to live for the moment, build meaningful lasting relationships, be a friend, love God earnestly, worship Him (this is the sole purpose for mans’ creation in the first place), forgive, get involved in charity, give back to society, make an impact in peoples’ lives, do what you love, spend quality time with your family and friends, lend a helping hand, give your life meaning, spread love all around you and have fun while you are a it.
Just find that which gives you happiness because anything less is not acceptable, go through life with a certain amount of joie de vivré.
Photo Credit: womanist-musings.com
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Elohor Omonemu is a blogger, major introvert, absolutely crazy about fashion, speaks two languages; English and sarcasm and volunteers with Slum2Schol.She blogs at : www.elohoromonemu.wordpress.
Follow her on Twitter: @Mz_fabulousity
