God bless Nigeria!

I briefly considered the title “God won’t bless Nigeria” but discarded the idea because of people who won’t read the post before jumping to conclusion. The complete sentence should read similar to “God won’t bless Nigeria because God has already blessed Nigeria”. That cleared up, let’s proceed, shall we?

I think we should stop saying “God bless Nigeria” – as in a prayer; as in a future hope. What did Brother Paul say about faith? It’s is the substance of things hoped for (things not yet in existence). So why do we pray? We pray because we have faith God will answer. But should we pray for things already present, available and manifested in the physical?

God has already blessed Nigeria beyond our fair share with a good climate, minerals, land, water, vegetation and oil. But we have refused to do anything reasonable with it. So what does that make us? Exactly like that fellow that hid the talent (money) his master gave him rather than trade (and make goodly returns) with it. So next time you are in your place of worship and the man on the pulpit uses that parable to illustrate some point, and you nod sagely in agreement and think how could someone be so wicked or lacking in understanding, look inwards and around you, we all make up Nigeria, and individually and jointly, we embody that man that hid his talent.

So when we say or pray “God bless Nigeria!”, if God were the master in the parable or if He was a man, how do you think he would feel? Exasperated if nothing else!

So, Nigeria is amply blessed by default. We (citizens) along with all the thieves and sellouts at all levels of government (and that includes the average citizens too – after all, we govern our pockets, houses, behaviours, interactions, tongues, eyes, etc) should decide to set greed and selfishness aside, and do something with the enormous blessings God already deposited within the geographical boundaries of this country well before it was formed!

Let us look under our feet and around us first. And after having harnessed the abundant resources for a better now and a greater tomorrow, we can then thank God for what is, and pray so the future can be even brighter by saying “God bless Nigeria!”

Friday the 13th

I am not a believer in Friday the 13th but some statistics seem to support the view that a disproportionately high amount of negative happenings occur on such days. On the other hand, someone once said it’s possible to find the statistics to support any conclusion.
So, yes, the memories of all those “horror” films remind me of the possibilities of the day. So, yes, my heart sometimes skips a beat when I think of it. But I go about my business giving it no thoughts in general (well, except to put down this article)
Maybe I shouldn’t be quick to dismiss it though? For example, I am “missing” 7,500 out of what is supposed to be 20,000 naira (does this count?) and I am missing a $100 note (but to be fair, I found that out yesterday evening) So, no, I am not a believer.
If I have anywhere to go today or something to do, I am just going to get along with it.

And all the evils of the day can kiss my bare feet while I watch an action movie and drink a can of Malta Goodness!