Why did the cow cross the road?

I was driving from Kano to Takai yesterday when I was stopped in my tracks by a trio of cows crossing the road. They seemed unperturbed as they lumbered across the road. They had no regard for this contraption of metal and rubber hurtling toward them at 100kph. They just cast me a disdainful glance and continued their leisurely stroll across as if they had not a care in the world! What interested me more was that they crossed diagonally, taking the longer route across.

Why do they always do that? Why don't they care? Is it because they're stupid? Yes, I think so. They're just plain stupid. But then, why? As I thought about it a bit more I came to understand that they're stupid to me because they think differently from they way I would think. To them my car is nothing more than something to look at. The road is nothing more than something to walk on. Their paradigm consists in grass and more grass and if there's more to be had across the road, well that's where they're heading. Quite simply, they have a different way of looking at things.

It reminds me of the scripture that says "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). The pattern of this world has to do with the world's way of looking at things. God calls us to a paradigm shift - to look at things differently.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus says of children, "the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these"? I guess it's because they do not think as adults do. They trust implicitly regardless of all apparent evidence to the contrary. They view things differently. Jesus said, "unless you become like little children, you cannot inherit the kingdom of God."

The way of thinking that we're called to as Christians is to think Christ, Christ and more Christ. So we can be forgiven if our concept of pleasure lies not in immorality but in worship. If we're successful not in terms of wealth but in terms of souls. If we're great only when we serve. It's a whole new system of thinking; a new perspective on life.

No wonder they call us stupid. That's what you called the cow.

Love you all.

Doosuur

Of silk robes and gold bracelets

It started with a trivial discussion about the war in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah but soon turned into something else. My (sort of) Christian roommate was gisting (more like arguing) with my Muslim colleague when I came into the room last night. I came late to the exchange but what I caught at that time went something like this:

colleague: Muslims are not supposed to wear silk

roommate: why not?

colleague: because that's what we'll wear in paradise. and Muslim men are not supposed to wear gold bracelets either.

It was all I could do to hide the smirk on my face. I had to leave the room then - to have myself a good laugh at the absurdity of it! "Silk in paradise", yeah right. But then I caught myself. It was hardly a joke. My Muslim friend is misguided through what may be little fault of his. He's been raised up to believe what he believes and he's going full speed in the wrong direction.

Later on, after I had joined in their conversation, several other things became apparent. I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of this young man's mouth.

"Bin Laden's a hero"

"America's the enemy"

"I'd rather live in Afghanistan under the Taliban than in present day Nigeria"

my roommate challenged him with the question, "would you give your money to fund Al Qaeda?"

"Of course" was his reply. "Al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah are resistance movements and not terrorist organizations like the West chooses to call them."

Well, as you can imagine, the debate went on and on.

Really the details are not necessary. It was just such an eye opener for me. There really is an evil called Islam and it's right next to you (don't look now). There is so much deception in the form of this religion in particular that it's hard to believe.

Should our response to them be one of contempt? I think not. Look at what Jesus said: "Father, forgive them. They do not know what they're doing." Reminds me of that verse: "The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers..." Jesus' response to such people around him would have been one of accommodation more than just tolerance, of caring rather than indifference.

I think the onus is on us to reach out positively to those around us who are being deceived with love and care. And words.

Our debate yesterday reminded me of "Springboards" that we had learnt about in discipleship class several years back. Do you remember Nguavese? Grace? Springboards are those parts of conversations we have with non-believers that provide opportunity to redirect thought and share the Gospel. There are a plethora of springboards we come across in everyday conversation.

Like silk robes and gold bracelets.

Love you all.

Doosuur

Reflections on Sickness

"No way, it's my turn to get sick". That was my response to one of my two close friends here in Takai, Kano state when he told me he wasn't feeling too well. You see, the both of them have been sick so often since we got here that I've lost count. Well I needed a little pampering too.

"The day you get sick ehn..." he retorted.

Then I touched the ground with the tip of my finger, touched it to my tongue and lifted it to high heaven in an "I swear" gesture. "Until January when we leave here, I swear I will never be sick". It was a foolish gesture I remembered from primary/secondary school days but I quickly followed it up with a prayer in my heart, "Lord, protect me from illness. Let me not be sick till NYSC is over."

That was last night.

At about 2 a.m. this morning, barely six hours after we had our little conversation, I woke up for what I thought was a routine nighttime sleep break (if you get what I mean) but as I got back into bed I noticed that I was feeling more than a little cold (that's saying a lot for Kano). My joints were aching a bit and I didn't feel altogether. I began tossing and turning and it was all I could do to get back to sleep. By morning my temperature was up and my abdomen was churning, threatening to expel it's contents the wrong way and I had one bout of ... (think I should stop there). I tiptoed out of the room, not wanting my roommate to realize that I was indeed sick, and went to get some Fansidar. And guess what. Yup. I puked! Yuk!! Okay Doosuur, believe it or not, you just asked God not to get sick and see what you get in return.

Needless to say, my friends had a good laugh.

Well, I still don't understand it. Part of me suggests that when I swore not to get sick, I was being proud and seeking my own honor as an "insider" in God's affairs, rather than His own honor. Another part of me says I should not have made that swearing gesture. Yet another voice in my head says it's God's way of poking fun at me: "so you think you can push me around huh?"

Well, I don't know. This email is more about questions than answers. At the end of the day though, my lessons are:

Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

It's God's body and God's show and He can do pretty much what He pleases

And yes, I'm getting better, Glory to God.

Love you all.

Doosuur