When not to go with the Flow

 

 

 

It often pays to go with the flow.

To be a good team player

Get along with others   

Scale the ladder of success

We must flow with the currents.

 

 

Those who go with the flow tend to perceived as   

Nice

Respectful

Considerate

Attentive

And caring people.

 

 

Yet oftentimes so as not to rock the boat

Many ignore the obvious

Anytime we turn away from the sick, the weak, the failing or fallen,

Anytime we fail to protect ourselves or others from injustice or violence,

Whenever we turn away from the needy

 

 

Or abuse mother earth

We are going with the negative flow.

Yes go with the “flow” but remember   

Ne’er to do so when currents trundle

Away from the pain and tears of others

 

In life’s twists and turns

Go with the flow

When the tide glorifies God

Preserves mother earth

And upholds the dignity of others

And do not leave yourself behind!



  

 

 

 

 

S.M.O

Good leadership is all about accountability. Good political leaders strive to make life easier for their populace. Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between strategic planning and success. Systematic planning and regular evaluation is essential for success in anything. Visionary leaders enforce this.   

Nigeria is a precarious country with very bad roads. As I drove to the grocery store this morning, I was brooding on the fact that in Nigeria every year people die by the thousands due to bad roads. Data from the Nigerian Road Safety Commission stated that Nigeria has the highest rate of deaths from motor accidents in the whole of Africa, and the number continues to rise. So why are roads in the United States better than roads in Nigeria? The answer is simple: accountability. The U.S government not only builds roads, but has in place agencies that monitor, clean and restore damaged roads. Every once in a while, some roads even get a complete makeover to fit the growing traffic needs of their particular geographical location.  

After shopping I noticed that I was running low on gas and quickly pulled into a Shell gas station because it was on my route. Then I remembered that we also have Shell gas stations in Nigeria. Hmm how Shell become so global, I wondered. Come to think of it, how did Walmart, Google and other multi-national companies get to where they are today? Perhaps the answer to my rhetorical questions is a combination of many factors such as careful research, exhaustive planning, extensive advertisement, consultation of experts among other things. Whenever I go grocery shopping, I always notice new changes here and there. It seems like grocery stores are always sampling, repackaging and remodeling their stores and goods to retain the interest of their customers. As competition continues to increase between businesses, smarter companies now use incentives such as coupons, discounts, sales, fuel points and tons of other “savings” to retain old customers and attract new ones. But the issue here is that they are in business essentially because they are constantly devising new ways to retain the interest of their customers.   

Anyhow, I am not really about roads or giant companies today. What I am about is what I decided to entitle Spiritual Make Over or (S.M.O.) Self-preservation or the survival instinct is human’s most powerful drive. Ordinarily, nobody wants to die. Instead, most people will do anything and everything to be alive. Closely connected to self-preservation is an insatiable desire to succeed. We want better jobs, houses, careers or whatever. And there is nothing wrong with that. It is good to dream, for it motivates us to accomplish great things. So I think the drive for happiness may be linked to the desire for something new or different, at least for some people. This also removes boredom or stagnation..

So what does a Spiritual Make Over mean? I think it says it all, overhauling our spiritual life in order to better connect with God. Good political leaders work hard to provide services to improve the lives of their populace. Happily married couples thrive by creatively learning new ways of making their spouse happy. Perhaps it is time for many of us to turn inwards and clean up from the inside. Perhaps our hearts have become cluttered with egocentricism, anger, greed, hate, unforgiveness or pride. Fortunately, it is possible to change all that. God can, and is willing to help if we ask him. Let us not be too busy to forget Jesus' warning in Mark 8:18. Jesus asked his disciples if they have eyes but fail to see. Let us not fail to see that God is all that we need. St Augustine was right when hundreds of years ago he said that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. “Do you have ears, but fail to hear?” Jesus asked again. It is dangerous to continue to ignore the call for a complete soul makeover because our soul’s needs are as important as our bodily needs.  “Don't you remember?”  asked the Lord yet again. Let us always remember that although we try hard to preserve and improve our lives, we are really sustained by God’s love and mercy. Let us always give God the credit, for he deserves it. More than that, let us continue to invite him to do more for, with and in us. Amen



My Epiphany

For everything in life there is a season says the book of Ecclesiastes. I love this Bible phrase because it contains one of life’s major truths. Two words stand out here: “Everything” and “season.” Christmas is over and the church’s ordinary circle is a few weeks away. Then comes lentern and Easter seasons. Looking out the window, I noticed a flurry of activity, reminding me not to step out of the house without my coat and gloves because it is winter. Yet, my hope that summer will come helps me to endure this winter’s cold and chill. Today the church celebrates the feast of Epiphany. God intended for his Son to be known and proclaimed not just in Judea, but all around the world. Simply put, Epiphany is the feast that commemorates the revelation of Jesus to the gentiles, or non-Jews.  This is a great consolation for the gentiles and all of us.

“Look I am making all things new” says the lord (Rev 12:5). Like Mary, my heart is full of Joy because today the Lord has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God (Psalm 40:3). Today I begin a new and exciting journey as a Canonical Novice of the Sisters of Divine Providence. Although from my earliest years I learned to predict seasons based on how the weather looks or how I feel. But five years ago I would never have accurately predicted this day. I know now because today is my day of Salvation, the “time” that God has determined that it is ripe for me to receive my personal Epiphany – his Divine Revelation. It makes me happy to know that everything concerning me has been predestined by God: My coming to the United States, my graduation from College and now this new journey are all in God’s plan of salvation. It has just been “revealed to me” because the Lord must have determined that I am ready for it. I thank God for what he is doing, even though I may not always know what I am doing. I am willing to continue to trust God and everything ha has in stock for me. I pray that I will continue to cooperate with God as He accomplishes his purpose in my life.

Some New Beginnings can be rough and complex. But I am not worried about complexities because one of our fundamental virtues is Abandonment to Divine Providence which for me means that God will figure out everything in due course if I trust him enough to do that. And so with the Lord, there are really no “season(s).” He only patiently wait for us to be ready for Him. Sometimes in redirecting us back to him, it may be necessary for God to make new wine-skins out of us. Today I am letting God have his way and I pray that we will all continue to do the same, for in God alone is our souls at rest.    

It's All About Making Others Feel Special

There is a common saying that "birds of the same feather flock together" It is not uncommon for people to associate with their likes. This is why wealthy people tend to have rich friends and vice versa. There are times when friendships just happen in the course of daily living. For example new neighbors may end up becoming good friends after a while and deep and lasting friendships could happen in work places, social engagements or while taking College courses. Whatever ones's circumstances of making friends, it is sometimes important to stop and think about those we call “friends” how we met them and why we have retained them as our friends.

This Christmas I thought a lot about how Jesus came to befriend us and make us feel important. In other to accomplish this, Jesus stepped down from his throne and lowered himself in both his divinity and social statues to accomplish God's will. How did he step down from his social statues? Well what readily comes to mind now was when he went to dine with Mathew the task collector and was criticized for doing so, and when Mary Magdalene wiped the feet of Jesus with her hair. All those around, perhaps even some of his followers thought that Jesus thought must be crazy for dinning with task collectors and sinners. "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is” some said in disgust. (Luke 7). But Jesus was not worried about been seen as a sinner because he realized that the only way to effectively transmit God’s graces, healing, love, forgiveness and compassion is by associating with those most in need of his healing and forgiveness and so He went to them.  In practice, it means going to the places where the sick, sorrowing, and sinners would be found  which is often outside the circle.  

We are a lucky generation. Advancement in the areas of education, science and technology has made life both easier and at the same time complex for us. Unlike some of older folks, today we can shop, relate or effectively run an online business. Facebook, Twitter and hosts of other social networks help us to connected with friend’s family. This leaves us with little time for ourselves and those we feel obligated to remain connected with.  How can we ever keep up with sending all the cards and goodwill messages to tons of friends and family members we have? What about those that fall though the cracks for whatever reason(s)? do we ever evil obligated to reach out to them? 

A closer look at Jesus shows that he paid more attention to outcasts, sinners and those that are often ignored. He opened the eyes of many blind people, cured lepers and drove demons out of many among other miracles he performed. All of Jesus beneficiaries were those he called: “the least” of his brethren. In this season of Christmas, let us reflect on how we have reached out to the “least” among us. As we begin another year, I pray that God may help us to seek new ways to make others feel loved.

With some of our School Teens singing Christmas Carol 

in a Nursing Home

It is Well With My Soul

Lately I have been thinking about agape love. The Bible is full of assurances of God's unconditional love for all his of children, Love is the debt, breath and life of the entire Bible and those who posses it, know, love and truly understand God. Love has no time and space, nationality, race, or religion. We must therefore continue to love as Jesus taught, even when it hurts. If we only love those who love us, them we have utterly failed as faithful Christians.

But how can it ever be well with my soul when there is so much evil going on around the world today? All we hear these days is shooting!, terror! war! hunger!, chaos and death. when I realized that the earth is the Lord's and it's fullness. I decided to play my part I ask for the grace to love others; not tomorrow, but today, now. A little love can rid the world of any type of evil. Since love castes away all fears, I rest my case with God that my soul may claim its peace.   

Let Me Says The Lord

Let ME…Says the Lord

Because:                   

I conceived you before the world and all that is it is came being,

I determined your genealogy before and ancestral lineage,

I decided who you and what you are going to become

In time I made come forth

Let me:       

Hold you by the hand and gently lead you where you should go

Show you what I have destined for you before you got here

Help you find the peace that come from knowing and loving me

Ease all your pains and sufferings and restore your true glory

For:                         

I am the Uncreated Creator

I know and can provide all your needs

I love you and is asking you to let me. 

Rediscovering the Gift of Peace

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception, one of the church’s most important feasts in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lately I have been thinking about Peace and what it means at Christmas and in our daily lives. As I listened to the gospel reading this morning and reflect on angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary, I was struck by the final blessing urging us to: “Go in Peace” for the mass was ended.  I quickly realized that our world is most in dare need of true peace much than ever before.

A quick online research shows that the word “peace” or Shalom in Hebrew was mentioned at least 450 times. When at the beginning of his ministry Jesus sent out his disciple, he asked them to be bearers of peace. “When you enter a house, first say, “Peace to this house” he advised in Luke’s gospel chapter 1. Again at the end of his ministry (John 14:17) Jesus’ final words were that of Peace: “My peace I give to you!” furthermore, after his resurrection, Jesus's first words when he appeared to his disciples were that of peace. All these and more examples is a reminder that the type of peace that Jesus gives is that which cannot be found anywhere else. Jesus want us to know that without peace, we stand in danger of losing direction and purpose.

True peace is the ability to be tranquil, a tranquility that emanates only from within. This is why in every liturgical celebration, after the Lord offers us the opportunity to make peace with him, the church further invites us to extend that peace others as well as carry it us as we return to our daily lives. We need to be people of peace so that we can truly reflect his kingdom of God. This advent, let us all continue to pray for world Peace,