Measuring by the "mudu"

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1

I was on the Takai-to-Kano commute a few days back in a ten-seater bus with 11 people, and as we went along, the conductor kept shouting, "Kano, Kano, Kano, Kano…" for whomever might want to join us. A group of three waved the bus down, and as they entered the conductor warned them "manaji ne" indicating that they would "manage" by sitting on the little projection at the back of the front seat that I believe the manufacturers intended for hand luggage. This sort of thing is not uncommon, particularly here in Kano state and, indeed, throughout the country. It reminded me of a trip I took a while back in Borno state where I was seated in a rickety old station wagon with seventeen, yes one-seven, other people. We were crammed in there like a can of sardines and no-one seemed to mind.

I sometimes wonder if Jesus would have used our crammed transportation as fodder for one of his parables if he had lived in our situation. Perhaps it would have helped in Luke 6 where he said, "Give, and it will be given to you." But the picture he uses reminds me of a Yoruba woman, a half-wrapper around the waist and headdress askew, measuring out rice in the market: "A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap." What a way to describe the return on your investment in the kingdom.

A good measure. First of all, God is fair. He has always been and will always be. You can be sure He will always repay more than you've given. His mudu is larger than yours. God pays.

Pressed down, shaken together. What happens when you shake grains of rice together? They align themselves such that there's no space for space; no allowance for emptiness. Imagine that - a life chock-full of blessings so that there's no space for nothingness. I think that's a pretty good deal.

Running over. God gives enough for you to share with those around. His blessings are best enjoyed in the company of others.

But the underlying principle is this: "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you." And therein lies the principle of investment. What you get in return is always dependent on what you put in. That's why Jesus starts his promise with the simple condition, "Give." I doubt you'll find a better deal anywhere else where the risk is zero, the capital is abundant and the reward is guaranteed. The promise is for thirty-, sixty- and a hundredfold. It's a steal, so why not go ahead and give - your time, your money, your self.

With love, Doosuur.

A Gift for Sallah?

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you…

Luke 11:9

"Dr. Malu! Dr. Malu!" the kids screamed as they ran towards me this evening for their daily play-around. I dutifully complied by throwing them in the air and spinning them round and round.

Then one of them spoke to me. "Dr. Malu, where's our Sallah money?" Her face was a sight to behold. It was lit up with expectancy, split in two by a wide grin.

"Your Sallah money?" I asked in mock disbelief. "Yes," she replied, "see what Aunty Shola gave us." "Or don't you have any money?" she volunteered. I couldn't help laughing out loud. It really was a joy to behold her hope and expectation for a gift at this time of the year. It really didn't matter so much what I gave them for Sallah as that I gave them something at all. I was glad for their innocence and the blissful gift of ignorance that kids are privy to. For them, 20 Naira is just as good as 200 Naira. Money is money, fullstop. Just give me something.

What stood out for me there was that the little lady asked at all. And secondly that she was ready to excuse me.

I learned sometime ago that one of the worst cancers that eats away at human relationships is unfulfilled expectations. One party wants something that the other party for one reason or the other fails to provide. And so, while one of them feels wronged, the other asks, "what did I do?" One is called insensitive, the other, unreasonable. It goes round and round in a self-perpetuating cycle that leaves both parties worn out and frustrated. Sound familiar? I think it's all too common around us.

Ask any counselor and he'll tell you that perhaps the single most important ingredient for a successful relationship is communication. Let the other person know what you're thinking and feeling from one moment to the next. Tell him and save yourselves the trouble of second-guessing. Ask for what you want. When we do this, there's no doubt in our mind that the next person knows exactly what we expect and has the option of at least discussing it, if not doing it outright.

Another thing I've learned through life, which some of you may not agree with, (please go ahead and say so) is that we must often be ready to excuse our friend/partner. Whether it's a marriage relationship or a peer friendship I believe this principle can often be helpful. Until there is incontrovertible reason to assume that the other person will not fulfill your expectations because of his insensitivity or otherwise, be willing to assume the best in their behalf.

I was really glad that my little friend spoke up and that she was not just willing to excuse my oversight, but even volunteered reasons why I had so wronged her. I didn't take the easy way out, but I was glad all the same. Very sensitive of her.

With love, Doosuur.

A Cold Shower

Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word. Put GOD in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.

Proverbs 16:1,3

Happy New Year everybody.

I always like having a nice hot bath whenever I get the opportunity, particularly when it's as cold as it is right now in Jos. Where I serve in Kano state there's hardly, make that never, electricity, and because I wake up late and lazy I hardly have time enough to heat water on the stove, so I often have to use cold water. But having a cold shower is quite an ordeal for someone who's not particularly used to it. I could stand in the bathroom for minutes on end, bowl of water in my hand, thinking about everything under the sun aside from having my bath. But what I've discovered is that starting to bath is the hardest part. So I gather as much courage as I can and then dump a full bowl on my head. After that, my best option is to get it over with as soon as I can, no more dallying. So, what's most important is starting.

So here we are, New Year. I'm sure we all think there's something or other we can do better this year than last year. Some of us may even have serious resolutions, things we've determined to do this year. What's it for you? A book you want to read? A new exercise regime? A friendship you want to develop? What's it going to be? Whatever the case, I'm sure it's very honorable. But I'll tell you, the best thing you can do for yourself is to start. Begin now. Don't wait for next month or next week, or even tomorrow. Get it on the road. Buy that journal. Make that call. Draw up that prayer list. Once you've done that, it'll be that much harder to stop and you're less likely to pass through yet another year with a string of unfulfilled plans.

You know the saying, "the first establishes the rest". That's too true. What you do at the beginning of this year will, to a large extent, determine the tone and tempo of the rest of the year. Are you going to sputter through, barely surviving another year or will you cruise through on a high?

I wish you all a great year.

With love, Doosuur.