All In God's Timing (Part 3)

***

Prince Osa couldn't focus on the business proposal on his desk. Frustrated with the fact that he's been skimming through the document since 10am that morning, he turns his executive leather chair toward the window on his right. He sat there totally in awe of nature. With such beauty spread out before him there has to be some validity to the theory of a Creator. All this magnificent beauty couldn't just have popped out of nowhere. The Big Bang as some call it. He let the picture in front of him wash over his frustration and he let out a sigh of relief. He may not fully understand the concept of God from the Roman Catholic worldview that he grew up with, neither can he say he is an atheist, but one thing is for sure, there is something bigger than him out there. Such beauty. Speaking of beauty, his good friend Toke had mentioned she had a friend who she described as "a sight to behold." A small grin sneaked up on his face. The truth is that he's always had a thing for Toke, but she's always insisted that there could never be more between them than friendship. Osa didnt' think she really believed that. In his opinion, Toke only said that to keep her freedom to date whomever she wanted without feeling rushed to the altar. She knew that with him, marriage would be inevitable. His father is pushing 80 years old, and his health is not exactly great. The chiefs have already given him the mandate to find his queen before he can ascend the throne of his father. If Toke prefers her freedom to a lifetime with him then he just may find his queen in her friend. With that he made up his mind. He would call Toke's beautiful friend later tonight. Now back to work.


It was Wednesdat night, and Labake just didn't feel like driving all the way to church for the midweek Bible study. Instead, she ordered some Lo Mein and some beef with broccoli from a Chinese carry-out nearby and then stopped at the local grocery store for a tub of ice cream. When she got home she turned on her tv and browsed through the On Demand menu of her cable provider. She found the perfect chick flick for a night like this: "A Walk To Remember." As the movie started she put her things away, changed into a pair of sweatpants and t-shirt; she needed to be as comfortable as she could get. She loved nights like this, snuggled up under the throw on her couch watching one of her favorite movies. She was beginning to start on her dessert when she heard her cell phone ringing in her purse across the room. She thought for a quick second. Should she answer it? Nah. This is her night, whatever it was would just have to wait. A few seconds later, she heard her voicemail alert. Good, the person had the good sense to leave a message.

She was already in her bed, under her down comforter when she remembered the voicemail message. It might have been important, she has to at least listen to it. She groaned as she climbed out of bed and walked to the armchair next to her dresser. She picked up her purse and dug inside for her cell phone. Why was there so much junk in this purse anyway? Finally, she found her phone and called her voicemail box. The voice over for her voicemail announced to her "You have one new voice message!" After which she heard a deep male voice saying, "Hello, my name is Prince Osa, a friend of Toke's. She gave me your number at a conference. I thought I'd give you a call and well hopefully start from there. Please give me a call when you get this message. My number is 617-455-5589. Have a lovely night." Her heart began to skip around. Should she call him right away? No.... that would be too easy. She would give it a day. This night was definitely her night, everything had turned out right.

All In God's Time (Part 2)

...



"I said, I gave him your number...look anyway babes I have to run! My lunch break is over! He might call you soon so please answer your phone." And with that Toke hung up. Baffled, all Labake could do was to hold her phone in mid-air and wonder at her friend. Only Toke could do such a thing and still order her to talk to a complete stranger. She made a mental note to call her friend after work to sort it out to her. Toke needs to understand that she can't just give her phone number to random strangers. With that she looked to her cold meal and continued eating as she day dreamed about her beau and how he will come sweeping her off her feet. Before she knew it, her one hour lunch break was over and she had another 3 hours of work ahead of her.

***

Toke couldn't just contain her excitement. She kept wondering when Prince Osa will call her friend. She's known Labake all her life, they practically grew up together. Both their mums were really close friends. She remembered when they were both 7 years old and they would go out the back door of Labake's family's duplex in Ikeja, Lagos to the large backyard. There they would play hide and seek. Yes, through the years they had bumps along the way but they got over them and here they today. She's really the sister Toke never had, being the only girl in a family of 4 children. And although she loves her friend dearly, one thing she couldn't quite wrap her mind around was her friend's determination to wait for God's timing to bring her Mr. Right to her. After all they say Heaven helps those who help themselves. Honestly she thinks Labake should get out more... Go to parties, meet new people, really meet more guys. She needs to stop locking herself in on Friday and Saturday nights like an old lady. After all, there's nothing wrong in living your life when you're young. God understands. Right God? Just as she was thinking, she glances at the clock on her computer's monitor. Five o'clock. Time to meet up with Dotun for their coffee date. Whether they will be drinking coffe is another topic she's not going to dwell on.

As Labake pulled into her driveway she felt her phone vibrate on her lap. Her mind raced to her conversation with Toke earlier that day. Could it be Prince Osa calling her so soon? If it was what would she say? Should she entertain him or just shut him down before he even opens his mouth. As odd as it sounds, she wasn't in the mood to talk to this particular guy. She wants a man but really this guy? But a conversation couldn't hurt... Just before the last vibration, she pressed the answer button without looking at the caller ID window.

"Hello?"

"Hello Labake?" Disappointment and relief flooded her heart. It was her mom.

"Mom! Isn't it late for you to be up? I hope everything is ok."

"Everything is ok my dear. I just wanted to tell you that I'll be coming to the US this Saturday. I need to come in for my annual check-up and well, use that to see my baby."

"Oh ok... I'll prepare your room. It'll be nice to have you around mom. It's so lonely here sometimes." Excitement began to build quietly in her. Having her mom around wouldn't be so bad. They could go shopping together and do girly things. Oh the comfort of a mother!

"Well ok my dear. I'm going to bed now... I just wanted to let you know of my plans... Save the gists o!"

Labake giggled. "Ok mom. Sleep tight! Tell dad I send my love! I love you!"

"I love you too dear. Good night!"

Calls like this makes Labake miss her family so much. She's so ready to see her mom. Now she has to get her house ready for her mother.

All In God's Time

"When will my Prince Charming come?" "When will someone come and sweep me off my feet?" "Will I have to grow old living with my parents, while aunties pity my lot?" Labake asked herself while she combed her hair that morning as she got dressed for work. Just as the thoughts settled in her mind she made a conscious decision to shove them into the dark places of her heart that no one else saw. Not even her. What would happen if she opened the door to the overstuffed closet that contains all her regrets and fears? No, she would not go there. Instead she would soak in the beautiful morning around her; the birds chirping outside her window, and the sounds of school busses and moms saying goodbye to their little ones.

Really she had nothing to be concerned about. She was quite successful at her young age of 26 years. She had been awarded a first class degree in Computer Engineering from Hull University in England before she moved to the States. She had a great job, one that had afforded her the privilege to be a homeowner in the nice suburban town of Topeka, Kansas. To top it all, she had the best friends and family anyone could possibly ask for. Anyone would look at her life and call her blessed.

As Labake pulled her hair back in a ponytail, her mind raced back to a family retreat 2 years ago in her Western Nigeria village of Ora. It was late evening, and her parents were entertaining aunties and uncles who were also around for the annual Christmas family retreat. They had set up some chairs around a small fire pit to keep warm during the harmattan season. She pulled up a small stool and sat next to her mum in order to be able to listen to what the older adults were talking about. Not long after she had joined the group, her aunty Bola looked at her and said, "ah Labake, it's soo good to have you around this year. Last year your mum told us you couldn't take time off work since you just started working." To which Labake replied, "Awww aunty! It feels so good to be home." "Yes my dear, there's no place like home," aunty Bola replied and continued, "ehen I've been meaning to ask you something." Then as if she wanted to get permission before proceeding, she looked at Labake's parents and then said, "when are you going to settle down? Don't you know you're no longer getting younger? Just last year we had the mo mi mo e (Yoruba introduction ceremony) of your cousin Bimpe." At this point Labake looked at her mum then her dad, smiled, and answered, "aunty all in God's time." And ever since that conversation that is what she's been saying whenever that question comes up.

Now fully dressed, she takes one final look at herself in her tall mirror and snatches her purse off her desk and runs out of her room, down the stairs, out of the house and into her car. Getting into the car she chides herself for getting carried away in her thoughts when she has a report to give that morning for which she needs her mind clear. Thoughts about Mr Right are just going to have to wait till lunch time.

Labake was glad to finally be heading towards the cafeteria of her company for her lunch break. As she set her tray down, her phone vibrated. It was her close friend Toke. She hesitated for a second before answering, this better be good she thought. "Hello... Toke what's up?" "'Bake! How are you? I think I just found your Mr. Right!" Before Ronke could finish the last word, Labake rolls her eyes as Toke always finds her "soul mates" Amazing how one person can have so many. "So what is this one's name this time o?" She asks, wanting to amuse her friend. "Ore, you won't believe it! He is the son of the Oba of Benin. I met him at a conference on African Development at Harvard this past weekend. Immediately I saw him I thought of you. You too have to talk. I hope you don't mind but I gave him your number." Labake almost choked listening to her friend, she had to cough to prevent from passing out. With a raspy voice she said, "You did what?!?"

Where is your compass pointing?

The other day, I was hanging out with a good friend of mine, and we were on our way to go pick up one of his friends for lunch. As we were driving, we missed our turn and next thing you know, we're in this neighborhood and we didn't know how to get out of there. So he looks at his map on his cell phone and he begins to map out our way back on track. Then I asked him how he could know where his east or west was. Then he explained the process to me. He explained to me that often times we determine the east or west from our perspective. So someone driving in a different direction from me is going to have a different east. However, he said there's something call true north which means there will be true east, west , and south. This means that no matter your perspective there is only one true north and when someone says to turn true north, that's the only direction you can turn.

This got me thinking. In the world today many people say that there are many paths to eternal life. According to them it is all a matter of perspectives. So in other words, my east is right because from where I'm at, it is east. While I agree that we all come different backgrounds and directions, I must say that in order to get to our desired destination, which is eternal life, we must turn True North. Jesus said, "I am THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is not a way, He is not just another perspective on how to get to heaven, He is the True Compass. So today no matter where your personal compass is pointing, would you turn True North?

Ramblings

So many thotughts.... where do I begin?

Have I told you that I love reading?
Yes I do! Since I was like 6 years old I have been an avid reader. I just enjoy diving into a story, getting to know the characters like they are friends and family. Reading opens up my mind and I can imagine and see the story coming to life. Now I must clarify that I only enjoy reading for leisure not for work or classes.
The latest book I'm reading is written by Karen Kingsbury and it is part of her Baxter Family drama series. I've really enjoyed reading this series so far and I will reccomend it to anyone who loves reading.
Karen Kingsbury is a Christian author, and as such her books can be categorized as Christian fiction. The only complaint I can think to make is that Karen loves to describe a lot. She spends a lot of time describing a setting, the way someone's face looked when he saw his wife, the way the children played with the fish in the pond. However, overall Kingsbury knows how to bring a story to life.

In case you're that curious, here's a list of some of my fav reads:
-The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis
-Redeeming Love -Francine Rivers
-The Pursuit of God -A.W. Tozer
-The Pursuit of Man -A.W. Tozer
-Blink -Ted Dekker
-Showdown -Ted Dekker
-Little Women -Louisa May Alcott

...And many more!

Passing Through Grace

I honestly believe that this year, I'm meant to really understand what it is we mean when we talk about the Grace of God. Through most of this year, I have fallen below the standards of God and the standards I set for myself. And each time this happens I find myself asking "why?" I find myself coming up with a plan to never be in that situation again. And each time I come up with a plan I find it difficult to uphold my standards. So it seems I'm faced with a dilemma. In my study of the Word I found these verses: Mark 8:14-21:

14The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15"Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."
16They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread."
17Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? 19When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" "Twelve," they replied.
20"And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" They answered, "Seven."
21He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

It took me a while to understand this scripture. At first I thought it must be that Jesus is saying to watch out that we don't become puffed up like the Pharisees and Herod. Then I read on, and He talks about the feeding of the 5,000 and of the 4,000 and how there were basketfuls leftover. So my eyes opened a bit and I said, "why would He connect the miracles to that statement?" Yesterday as I was at work I was listening to a message online and the pastor begins to talk about the verses above. The interesting thing was that, it wasn't even part of his message, just a side note. So he explains that what Jesus was trying to convey to the disciples was that they cannnot continue their walk in the Kingdom of God in their own flesh even though they were birthed into the Kingdom by the Grace of God. The Pharisees were more concerned about keeping with the laws of Moses, at least the exterior ones.

I believe Jesus was using the example of the feeding of the thousands to help them understand that He has the power to do anything, i.e. keep their souls. That got me thinking. If Jesus was the one that died on the cross for me and made it possible for me to die to my old ways that day I gave my life to Him. Is that Jesus still not in charge of my life as long as I surrender it to Him? So why the obsession with perfection that is only born out of my flesh? Jesus said that whosoever will save his life will lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for the sake of the Gospel will find it. Most of the time we're caught up trying to save our selves. We may not say it like that, but our actions show it. We live like now we got it together. Afterall we're blood washed, tongue speaking believers. When Christ is beckoning on us to be broken utterly, with a realisation that truely we are passing through Grace. By grace we have been saved and by grace must we walk.

P.S. This is not to say we should continue in sin so that grace may abound.

Indian Cuisine... Yum!

After being away for so long, I'm back with my account of what I did this past weekend.
Today is Labor Day, and holiday weekends being the way that they are, everybody wants to go out and do something fun. So on Saturday, some people went to the beach, some to a theme park, and well others to the circus. I was not among the early birds who hit the beach or theme park as soon as they could. I on the other hand had errands to run. The cable company was supposed to come set up my cable between the hours of 11am and 2pm, after which I was to go explore Washington D.C. with Mr. Or so I thought. The cable guy didn't get to my aprtment till about 2:45pm, and what should have taken him 1 hour to complete, ended up taking almost 3 hours. 'Why?' You ask. Because my cable company in their effort to save money, while at the same time rip people off,gives their technicians refurbished cable modems. Apparently, the cable modems the guy brought with him had not been checked so he ended up trying like 4 cable modems before the last one worked. Let me just say it was a long 3 hours waiting for everything to be fixed. Lesson learnt: patience.

Anyway, after the cable guy left, Mr. and I began to go over our options of what we could do next. We thought about going to D.C. but decided not to because it was already late to do most of the sight-seeing we wanted to do. Then he reminded me that we'd been planning to go to an Indian restaurant for some time now. So we figured we'd check one out. Okay quick bckground information: I love Indian cuisine... I eat it at least twice a month, Mr. on the other hand had never had Indian cuisine. I went online and found this restaurant called Memsahib. I clicked on their website and saw what they had to offer. It was the total Indian dining experience... Here it goes:

When we got there, we were welcomed into something right out of an Indian family room. Instead of tables and chairs like in a restaurant there were cushoined benches and pillows, with low round tables. The decor was very warm and inviting with orange/amber walls and dim lamps hanging from the ceiling. After we took our seats, one of the servers, (who I think is one of the sons of the family) came and asked for what we would like to drink. I ordered a mango lassi while Mr had orange juice. Then the guy returned to explain the menu to us, we were to have six courses that evening. First he started us out by washing our hands since we were to use our hands to eat. Then came the first course which was an assorted tray of cooked eggplant in tomato sauce, cucumbers and bell peppers in a cumin dressing, carrots in a coriander dressing and chicken kebab. Hmmmmm delicious! My favorites were the cucumbers and the chicken kebab. I wouldn't make your mouth water unnecessarily with the details of the menu, here's a link if you would like to check it out: http://www.memsahibrestaurant.com/rockville.php.

In addition to the wonderful meal, it felt like we were in an Indian home with Bollywood dance videos being played back to back on the flat screen tv and projector screen. Towards the end of our six course dinner, a bellydancer came out and thrilled the guests. The atmosphere changed and it felt like a party. Although what we were celebrating, I don't know. She invited almost all the guests to dance with her, and when she came to our table, Mr. kept looking away from her. He said jokingly, that his mother told him not to look. I guess he was not comfortable watching a woman wiggle her waist in front of him. All in all, the night went well and I'm sure Mr. left with a positive impression of Indian cuisine.