End Village Thinking
My upbringing afforded me the opportunity to appropriate the use of soliloquy in my solitude. These reflections enable me confront my own soul enough to see the world from different perspectives.
A story was once told of the Scorpion and the Frog, where the former pleaded with the Frog to assist it in crossing the river. The Frog in his wisdom responded that it would be foolish of him not to acknowledge the Scorpion’s sting and the potential danger that awaits him, should he succumb to the request to assist logistically.
But the Scorpion made a remarkable cum credible case, citing different situations within the food chain where similar handshakes and gestures have redefined engagements and the Frog eventually acquiesced.
Right before they got to the other side of the river the Frog felt the Scorpion’s deadly sting on its back and in horrific shock he muttered in his dying breathe “But why would you do this after all said and done…?” The Scorpion shrugged and responded “It’s in my Nature, I just can’t help myself.”
My late mum of blessed m memory often use the Yoruba apothegm “Àtò öró, nï a fï bí Ęsïn” (loosely translated as “the venom is contained in the sperm that produced the Horse”). This also confirms the biblical saying that from the day when men began to multiply on the face of the earth…God Almighty observed that the wickedness of man (flesh) was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (see Gen 6:1–5)
Suffice to say that it is in man’s nature to wage war against the Almighty God in defiance by battling anyone or cause that promises a Godly heritage enough to convict people to confront their own soul. So the battle usually is never with the people being stigmatized unjustly, maligned, impugned or vilified for taking a stand with the Hope of Glory and must be viewed from the prism of the battle of ages won by Christ already two thousand years ago on the Cross of Calvary.
For years now my wife suggested that we show benevolence to the people on our street by sharing food stuffs with them during festive seasons. This to me was a great and welcomed idea since it took nothing for us to share, while also bracing myself for the possible backlash since no good deed ever goes unpunished in a dying society like ours.
For the first few years it went well and was embraced by majority as they look forward to it annually. Years later, we started getting feedback that some were complaining more can be done (based on their perception of our abundance), while a few others who never missed their share started gossiping about the possibility of our spiritual exploitation of their Aísìkí (Star) to sustain our ‘fortunes.’
When I heard this, I only smiled and repeated to myself “No good deed ever goes unpunished” and consoled myself with “It is in man’s Nature to be evil.” It doesn’t even matter how impoverished people are, they will ensnare anyone that tries to assist them in their predicament. The invalid in any dying society usually hardly give up what makes them sick. This is the only way people can understand why man is the architect of his own predicament. We are the ones standing in our own way and no one else.
Without a change of mindset to deliberately and intentionally shun evil and like communications, we will continue to project our own internal and personal failings unto others to punish. You can imagine people touting an alleged exploitation of an Aisiki (Star) that doesn’t profit them… of what use would such be to an already prosperous and purposed people reflecting the Light of Christ?
An ungodly life is a life run by survival/animialistic instincts that make you see everyone around you as a prey. The element of surprise will never be your worry if you know people would be people regardless of what you do. The same mouth they used to sing Hosannah is the same one they will use to chant Crucify Him.
This stupidity didn’t stop us from being who we are for the sake of the vulnerable in our immediate society and nationwide with our advocacies and free interventions. This is why I have cintinuously maintained that we do what we do for God (Posterity) and not for the applause or criticism of any man born of a woman.
Village Thinking will forever be a refuge for the indolent and insolent exhibiting the reason why they are unfruitful, angered and resentful. If you are in their crosshairs, rejoice for the Kingdom of God is yours and the Battle is already won.
#EndVillageThinking 🛖
