A Divided House, A Lost Focus

I have been on a blogging break for reasons best know to the planners of some wells in the shores of Akwa-Ibom. They have made life near difficult for everyone involved in the realization of that project but as expected, it is always Christmas for somebody in Nigeria and Lagos especially. Somebody must make a profit from your misfortune.

Since my last post 3 weeks ago, I have pondered and wondered as i travel from home to my office through the Lagos markets and traffics with varying conditions that can not be described but better experienced.

The independence day came and i was indoors. There were few reasons to be excessively happy seeing the rot that have befallen my great Nigeria. Are we still great? or have our continuous divisions taking its toil on us such that the dream/reality of Nigeria looks like a fairy tale? At least the amount spent on the celebrations by the Federal Government this year is far less than previous governments. Make of it as you wish.

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand – Mark 3:24-25

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment – 1 Corinthians 1:10

Division was one of those arithmetic topics in elementary school. It was fun but always had a way of bringing down a big number but never increasing such number. As stated by Jesus in Mark, division takes you off your feet. Divisions goes for the weak point, strikes hard and brings down a great mountain, relegating it to a level land or even a depression.

The new senate house started with division in the ruling party. This was not surprising when you have various parties merged up into one party to usurp power. Sometimes i think of the 10 toes of the stature in Babylon made of mixed clay and iron. Such mixtures cannot stand, a mere issue will bring down every stature. Don’t be deceived, everyone has a weak point – ask Hercules.

Until a house understands and is fully committed to a given goal, that goal will not be achieved. Every member of a house or kingdom must be ready to put aside personal pride and where possible goals to achieve the collective goals of the house or kingdom. This kind of story shouldn’t even be heard among God’s people but unfortunately, it is becoming normal. There are factions in church groups and too many personal ambitions standing in the way of the Church. Well, God’s will will prevail irrespective of the obstacle before it.

Even in the popular sports of football, division is not unheard. The report in the media about Sunday Oliseh, coach of the Super Eagles and Vincent Enyeama is unbelievable and could have been avoided. Pride and Ego have a way of blinding and hurting oneself and others that have set their belief and trust in you. The Nigerian football populace is divided on two fronts with a good number backing Vincent Enyeama, maybe driven by pity for his late mum. Two wrongs make no right. Could this have been avoided? Yes. How? Humility and Patience. The effect of the Oliseh-Enyeama saga will be felt for a long time. It has taken the focus away from the pitch, little wonder the Super Eagles lost 2-0 to DRC Congo.

Even in money-laden Chelsea, the bench was divided in a game where the medic went to administer to a player on the pitch. The chief coach went haywire on the medic, accusing her of not knowing the game. She eventually left the club.

There is always an opportunity to create division but is it worth it? The bible frowns at anyone who goes about planting seeds of discord. Sometimes silence can prevent division and malice. Take a chill pill and you would see that it is not worth it. When you spend so much time trying to amend divisions, you lose focus of the ultimate goal. Think about the tower of Babel and how it was built.

Be United, Be Focused.