My Reflections - Gems of truth!

My Reflections - Gems of truth!

- A man can sing a lie all day long to such extent that he believes the lie and the people around him could become believers of that lie having heard it too often. That said, no matter how long and how often the lie is told, the real truth remains the same.

- Truth can't be judged based on popularity or likability  Truth is based on facts. There was a time many thought the earth was flat. It must have been a popular notion at the time. Now, we know for a fact that the earth is anything but flat. Whether it was popular or not, the truth stayed the same. Truth does not transform with popularity or likability  But humans and human sentiments do. No matter how popular or likable an idea is, the real truth - the hard facts of the matter - remains the same.

-When I was a child, I had some wonderful ideals of what was real and true. As I grew older, I realized that I was wrong on some counts. Now, the real things of life didn't change because I was older; it was my knowledge, perception and understanding of those things that changed. Yes, the truth doesn't change because we are older; but we change in line with the truth as we grow older.
Truth does not evolve or revolve around us. Rather, we evolve and revolve around the truth. We grow into the reality of what is true. Simply put, the truth doesn't change simply because we are older. It's our understanding of the truth that changes. So no matter how old or experienced or educated you are, the truth did not change, you did. The bare truth remains the same.

 -The truth consoles and brings closure.
At the end of the Apartheid era in South Africa, a commission was set up to help people deal with the horrors of Apartheid. The commission provided a forum through which the perpetrators of the injustices under the Apartheid regime and the victims of such injustices could come out publicly and talk about what really happened. The objective of the commission was not to punish the offenders but to find out the truth about what happened in the dark years of South Africa's history. It was thought that the truth will help to console and bring some closure to the hearts and minds of those affected and also bring about reconciliation between opposing parties. It was called the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) headed by Desmond Tutu. The TRC may not have achieved all its aims but the reality is that knowing the truth about what happened to loved ones in times of crisis goes a long way to bring comfort and closure to those involved.

There are people who are still looking for answers as to what exactly happened to their loved ones in World War 1&11, Rwandan Genocide, Screbrenica Massacre, etc. While the truth can bring about justice, it also provides closure. No matter how bitter the truth is, not knowing what actually happened to one's loved ones is far more painful on the long run.

There are so many individuals today who are looking for a lost parent, a lost child or a lost loved one: Are they dead or alive? What happened to them? Some who were adopted or separated from their parents at a tender age want to know the truth about their biological parents: Who are they? Where did they come from? These individuals will give anything in exchange for the truth. 

No sweat lies can compare with the relief, satisfaction and closure that verifiable truth brings. The truth may be bitter but it has more healing and enduring power than a pack of sugar-coated lies.

A word a day…. 02-01-13

It’s easy when we want others to understand and acknowledge what we feel, what we think and what we believe. ‘Why can’t you understand me?’ is an easy question. What is more difficult is for us to understand and acknowledge the feelings, thoughts and beliefs of others! ‘I don’t understand why he acts that way? Why can’t he do the things I do in the same way I do them.’ Very often, we want others to understand us and accept us for who we are, is it not fair to show that attitude towards others as well?

A Joke a day keeps the doctor away! (02-01-13)

A new restaurant opened somewhere in Nigeria. In order to attract customers, the management of the restaurant put out a notice: the first 20 customers to come to the restaurant on a particular day will receive free service. One mad man who lives on the street heard that announcement. He decided to dress up for the occasion so as not to be noticed or driven out of the ‘show.’ On the said day, he got up early, prepared and went to the restaurant. He got there by 6am expecting to be the first person there since the restaurant opens by 9am. To his surprise, more than 20 people were already queuing up in front of the restaurant. He then jumped the queue thinking no one will notice. Not so fast!

‘Hey, come back. Come back!’

The mad man kept quiet.

‘Hey you, we are talking to you. Go to the back. You just came!’

Mad man: ‘Me, nooooo! I’ve been here. In short, I slept here overnight.’

Reply: ‘That’s a lie. We all slept here overnight. Nobody saw you.’

Mad man: ‘Wow. I did not know I was dealing with homeless people here. Sorry.’

Another guy approached the mad man and said quietly, ‘Guy, maintain (cool down), are you not the mad man that stays close to that garbage dump? If you love yourself, go to the back of the line.’

Mad man: ‘OK! Cool down, na we we na. We are together. No yanwa (trouble).’

A word a day…(01-01-13)!

I’m not better than others in anything I do. I’m only uniquely different just like every other human being on earth.

A Joke a Day Keep the Doctor away (01-01-13)!

One Professor of Botany loved teaching about the forest. He told his students that he loves the forest because when he’s in the forest surrounded by beautiful trees, he’s one with nature. Unfortunately, Prof was kidnapped by unknown assailants and he was kept in a thick forest for some days before he was released. When he got back to school, he related his ordeal to his students. At the end of the lecture, a student asked him,

‘Sir, when you were in that forest surrounded by beautiful trees, were you at one with nature?’

Prof replied,

‘What’s your name? Are you stupid? What kind of question is that? I’ll make sure you carry this course over?’

My people, did the Professor answer the question? Nature ko, nature ni… Prof was at one with fire….

Thank You! I’m Grateful! I Love You! I care about your well-being!

It's a virtue to honestly and sincerely express our feelings of love and gratitude to those we care about and to those with whom we interact on a daily basis. It’s loving to let others know that you do appreciate their kindness, their friendship and love, their gifts, their talents and their humanity. If you like what you see, hear or read about your friends and loved ones, tell them. Even seemingly little things matters. For example, ‘I love your hair!’ ‘Your pictures are cute!’ ‘That's a lovely thought!’ ‘You look beautiful or handsome!’ ‘Congratulations on your new achievement!’ Never assume they know that already; tell them.

God already knows what’s on our minds and hearts even before we speak, but He says in His word that we should open our mouth and tell Him in prayers. In the same vein, what ever goodwill you have for your friends and loved ones, please tell them. Never assume they know. Do it now while you can because no one knows tomorrow.

Think of those little kids who died in last Friday’s deadly shooting in the US. The morning before she left for school, 6-year-old Emilie Parker, one of the victims, told her father in Portuguese (the new language she was learning from her father) that she loves him. Jessica Rekos, 6 years of age, another victim, wrote on her journal some time before that fateful day, ‘I love you so much momma, love Jessica.’ Just think about that: What if they had waited? What if they felt their parents already knew they loved them? What if? What if? Let it not be, ‘Had I known…!’ More importantly, they learnt how to say these things from their parents. They heard it all the time. (I sourced the victims’ accounts from ABCNews.com)

It feels good to be modestly appreciated. Every human being, young and old, wants and needs sincere and heartwarming appraisal, done without flattery. Even a baby in the womb can sense appreciation. Wikipedia.org states: ‘Numerous studies have found evidence indicating a fetus's ability to respond to auditory stimuli. Research at Zhejiang University, China indicates that fetuses at term cannot only hear, but also distinguish their mother's voice from others.’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonatal_perception) So, you can talk and sing to your unborn child. Tell them how much you love them right from the womb and also from the moment they come into this world. How do we welcome a loving guest to our home? Is it not with loving expressions and gratitude?The babies can’t respond in kind but they hear us! A well trained animal pet like a dog knows when he’s been appreciated. They can feel the love. How much more a human being!

Let me use this opportunity to say this: Thank you, my friends! In case I haven't said it before, hear it now: Thanks for been a friend and I love you and you and you. I’m grateful for the privilege of being your friend. I’m grateful for everything you've done for me and with me. Words would fail me to recount them all. Your names, too numerous to mention; your kind acts, too many to enumerate. I’m not the perfect friend, but you stuck with me any way. I may have let you down on countless occasions but you kept the faith in our friendship.Thank you for the things for which i'm grateful and thank you for the things for which i'm thoughtful! May God keep us and protect us. May we live long in loving friendships and may we cherish and use every single opportunity to say: Thank you. I love you. Yes, you dear friends of mine!!!

- Dr. Eugene Akponojivi Ojirigho.

To a Land of Promise!

‘Promise Land, how does one get there?’ You may wonder.

Some got there by crossing the Niger;

Some others came from across the border;

From afar, some saw the land from yonder.

A land that offers hope and order;

A land of milk and honey-filled sweetener!

A place of commerce and legal tender!

Some came to bid, others came for the plunder.

Everyone came: from an officeholder to a shareholder;

From a plumber to a builder;

From a pay loader driver to a freeloader!

Will this land live up to the hype or will it be a bummer?

A man came to this land as a settler;

He was willing to work his way to be a stakeholder

In order to live his dreams and prosper.

There was no disappointment or blunder;

The land lived up to its name and founder.

Before long, he became a jobholder.

Thereafter, he became a cardholder and a landholder.

At the turn of the years, he was a key holder

To many properties and interests; indeed, a sure leader!

The story soon had its ups and downs like a changing weather.

The fairy tale was shattered by the sound of thunder.

The air was thick with smoke and smell of gunpowder.

The settlers shuddered in disbelief and anger

The whispers of fear and dread grew louder.

‘What’s happening in Promise Land?’ They ponder.

As time passed by, many gave way to pity and surrender

For they soon realized that they had no defender.

The struggles of men and their hopes were put asunder.

“This is the final bus-stop. Wake up from your slumber.”

He was awoken by the bus conductor in a bad manner.

“It was just a nightmare,” He thought in relief and good cheer.

To his surprise, he heard the familiar voice of an elder:

“Hello, Son! How was the Promised Land?” This voice was tender.

But to him that question was no appetizer.

Promise!