God please! ...You’re overwhelming me!

A good friend of mine Lydia, once told me about a series of encounters she had that made her go: “God please you’re overwhelming me.” And even though she couldn’t really describe her feelings at that point, or what made her so overwhelmed, I immediately understood what she was saying.

You see, being overwhelmed by God can be… well, very overwhelming and there isn’t any better way to explain this, so I’ll just give personal examples and hope that you somehow catch on.

For those who say love isn't worth it ...

I have often heard this notion about how love is really a weakness, how it causes you to relinquish your senses, self-respect, identity, dignity and all what not. How it makes you needy, desperate, fearful and anxious. Permit me to tell you that it’s all lies; all of it.

Love is NOT any of these things.

Now I’m not going to be one of those pink-cotton-candy people who believe that love consists of white-picket fences and deliriously happy endings; that in itself would be a lie. But I’m also not going to be one of those hard-core cynics who have forced themselves to believe (perhaps out of bad experiences) that love doesn’t exist.

Love exists, in it’s beauty, honesty and splendor. I believe in God, so best believe, I believe in love.

Going through changes...

I think it was India Arie who said "change comes slowly or not at all" in one of her songs, not sure what song that is now, but I digress.

For us humans, change is the most frequent and common thing that happens to us, but it is also the hardest. Why? Because we never get used to it, we never want it to happen; especially if its change that overturns the cart and disrupts the delicate balance of our oh-so-tidy lives.

This morning as I lay on my bed, just taking in the sweetness of dawn, somethings occurred to me about change:

The thing about God's Grace...

So I went to Laterna Ventures sometime in December  and stumbled upon this book ‘Romancing the Divine: a a story about True Love’ by Don Nori. Being the sucker for love and romance that I am, I immediately picked it up. Of course I knew it wouldn’t be in the same category as a Nora Roberts or Julie Garwood novel; after all this was a Christian book.

A Certain woman with the Public ‘Issue’ – A story of Love and Restoration

I was reading the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark’s Gospel when a couple of things (make that a lot of things lol) jumped out at me.

For those who don’t know the story, let me give you a brief synopsis. Here was a woman who had blood gushing out of her for 12 long years. The Bible says that this woman ‘Had suffered many things from many physicians’, and that ‘She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.’ Now picture this woman broke, busted and disgusted and STILL not well! Jeez!! That ought to have hurt her a whole lot yea?

Anyway so this woman heard that Jesus was in town; had probably heard that He healed all sorts of people, kicked out all sorts of demons and probably figured that she’d just try Him out and see. After all, she’d lost ‘everything’ she had on ‘trying’ to get better so technically she had nothing to lose. To cut a long story short, this woman (who remained nameless to the very end), received her healing from Jesus by touching the hem of His garment.

Eulogy to my Dead Sister!

So today marks the 4th year anniversary of Ogor’s death and predictably I am sad – very sad! I was afraid for a minute yesterday; I thought that I had forgotten to remember the day that she was lowered, lifeless and still into the gaping hole buried in the bowels of mother earth. I thought I had ceased to remember her, I thought that I had become too pre-occupied with living that I had forgotten to remember someone who was once (and always will be) so precious to me.

But now I realize that even though I may forget the exact day that she died; I will never forget that she is no longer here. I remember all our plans (how silly they seem now lol); of finishing university at 20 and getting married at 23. I remember us baking cake for hours on end in that hot! Hot! Kitchen on Yala Close in Apapa. I remember the mid afternoon journeys to Waterside, and then Balogun, I remember us laughing to death at Chinedu, I remember us during Food and Nutrition practicals. I remember that overly sensitive place on your neck that I used to love poking; I remember the gap where one of upper canine teeth was supposed to be… I remember the rugrats being exactly that! I remember the strong, almost over powering fragrance of your Perry Ellis 360 degrees perfume.

DA GRIN: Tribute to Nigeria’s one and only Chief Executive Omoita – 1987 - 2010

Death is something that happens to even the best of us. It is never wanted, never expected, never welcomed, but it always happens. Someone once told me that ‘The Good Die Young’- I agree wholeheartedly. How can one explain the sudden and brutal demise of Dapo Olaitan Olaonikpekun aka Da Grin aka Fimile jooor aka CEO? It’s a sad and totally unwelcome development; but God knows best and death will come when it will, so we’ll take solace in that.

I first heard Da Grin’s widely popular song ‘Kondo’ at a party, and I was like ‘Who be this dude?’ His lyricism, fantastic fusion of English and Yoruba, and earthiness literally blew me away and I rushed to buy his album. I wasn’t disappointed; in fact tracks like Ghetto Dream, Pon Pon Pon, and Gboro became everyday listens on my BB. Finally here was a guy I could relate to on some levels. His realness, street credibility, and humility shone through his music like a 100 watt bulb.

I’ll never forget chuckling to myself when I heard him say in Pon Pon Pon ‘Omo naija ni mi, mo ma’n fi eyin mi si Pepsi (I’m a Nigerian, I use my teeth to open Pepsi) – Deep? Maybe not, Real? Absolutely! That was Da Grin for you. His whole sophomore album chronicled his rags to riches story, his days without food, the pain of trying to cut a record deal, and finally the joy and success that came with being recognized. And inspite of his fame and recognition, Da Grin remained a cool and humble dude. ‘I knew him and he was one of the nicest, most humble persons ever’ says Ajibola Ayana Olubiyi of Swe Bar Lagos

I’m not going into the details of the accident that finally claimed his life. He’s dead and that’s all that matters right now. For someone who was set to stride across the Nigerian music scene like a colossus in 2010, Da Grin’s death is a huge blow to everyone. My heart goes out most especially to his family; I pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the monumental loss.

Da Grin is gone at only 23 years of age; but he lives on forever in my heart. Rest In Peace Da Grin. Sun re o Dapo! Rest easy from all your struggles; you’re in heaven now drinking heavenly champagne.