Recently, I met a guy in a bank and couple of weeks later he told me “God said…” In the space of the few minutes he spent explaining, I asked myself: ‘did God really say? How can “God said” and I didn’t know it?” The guy had an answer for my questions: “maybe you’ve not been listening…” I laughed out loud as his statement took me back in the days…
BJ girl should remember this story… you too ISE… I had met this guy during Thursday service; guess I sat beside him. We exchanged contacts after service; it was those fellowship days when you’re asked to meet with the person on side and follow them up. We followed up alright; he would come around. Oops I’ve forgotten his name. So let’s called him Bro F. He would come around every once a while… That was V10 Moza (that I remember.) He wasn’t stalking but it could be choking. However, I grew fond of him. That comes easy with me; everyone becomes my friend, brother, sister or cousin… (I even had my twin, once a sister, another time a brother.)
Yeah, let’s talk about everyone being family. I visited a friend once in block 1 Faj hall. I easily became friends with the roommates. Mr E. one of the roommates started visiting me, but had issues I didn’t seem to see the basis. He is a lot better now, but just as crazy as ever, so when you see him don’t say I talked him bad. While I was one person that loved bringing people into my spotlight, he didn’t like sharing his. So he would come visit me and we would talk about him, his life, his issues blah blah blah… It was getting boriiiiiiiiiiing. Did we argue or what? We would argue his opinion of himself, mine of him and my remedies were not go area for him. Why then did he stick around? It beats me o! I learnt arguing under his tutelage J But my heart did go out to him, because I understood how real some of his issues were; some serious than he put them. So I would pray for God to reach him and heal his heart.
About his spotlight issues; he sure noticed too quickly how I said “hi” to everyone, called most “sweetie,” pecked a few and hugged most. In his view, I was the one person that hugged the most (that he ever knew.) And oh… I never used to hug him. I’m sorry, but I didn’t have anything againt him, he just hadn’t become “family” yet. He didn’t know that then, so he was more of a grouch around me. He started complaining about how I knew too many and hug way too many people. It was after like the hundredth argument on this same issue, that I realized I hadn’t even hugged him once. Oops… I said “Mr E., is it because I’ve not been hugging you? I will start hugging you from now on.” He said he didn’t wanat my hugs, since they meant nothing to me… Beat that! He did become “family” some two years later; he was such a life saver. (Mr E. if you are reading this; thanks. You’re a godsend)
Away from Mr. E. now, Bro F. came around one day and told me about how they would usually have morning devotions at home. He had been away for about two weeks… While at home, he received a revelation from God during one of their daily devotion times, and “God said…” They prayed about it and his mom asked him to go ahead and speak to the girl in question (that would be me o! Imagine that! J) I was a bit confused, (not a bit, a whole lot confused.) “How would God say, when my heart says something else? How come God said and He did tell me first? Abi, I was not listening ni?” I spent time listening… to what? It was hard to listen because there was somebody else, somewhere else whom I was… (blush… the thought still brings blush to my cheeks…) But…
Time to talk about the object of my thoughts (still can’t stop blushing, really J) He was about my closest pal back then, we would read together, talk for hours after leaving class. And he would see me off to the entrance of my hostel; there we would be still it dawns into a new beautiful day. I’m sure I never used to have nightmares. You would hope that people would just walk by and do as if they didn’t notice anything. NO! They would show it to your face; someone might ask “Seyi, where is M. (assume that’s his name?) I haven’t seen him in class tonight. Is he going to come?” They nearly drove me crazy when he traveled. (I can’t suffer like that again…) Once while the school was closed, I went to spent Xmas with my close friend, even her sister teased me about the fact that the guy visited only because I was in town, that since they had known each other, M. had never visited them even though they lived in the same town. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the attention, but it would have been more fun if there was really something. Though, at a point in time or another he crept his way into my heart. I’m not sure I can use the ‘L’ word but I did enjoy his company and of course his attention; I remember the day he noticed I tinted my hair oxblood J. Not saying it could have; I’m sure I’m wishing it is, but I don’t think I want to stop the spark. However, I wonder if I shouldn’t keep the fire burning. I hope I don’t get burnt o!) If you know the story, don’t tell it until we know where it ends. (Songs of Solomon 8:4 my paraphrase)
Back to my confusion “How could God have said… to him, when this spark inside of me has grown to become a little fire.” All I needed was more oxygen. Anyways, it was a couple of days to Val… He promised to come around Val’s day, so I waited… I visited with my girls as it was the custom (I've never been able to resist cakes or chocolates.) So, I would usually go around visiting my girlfriends, sampling cakes, chocolates and having gist about everything or anyone that the season featured (boyfriends; present, future and past, gifts.) When I was done with cake and chocolate sampling, I waited a while and didn’t see him, so I went to visit my peeps 2 rooms away; my V8 crew. While Ise, BJ and I went on with gist, I mention that I was meant to have a date (oh, it was a Saturday!) We got talking about who the guy was, and by the time I was done describing him, BJ knew him. Guess what! He had told her “God said…” about a year before; same lyrics, maybe with a different melody line though… Few minutes later, we saw him on his way out of the hostel and that was the last time I heard “God said…” from him. Now I remember what added to my confusion, I’ve never liked fair guys for more than friends, I sure can count how many of those I have as friends.
Oh I didn’t forget the young man from the recent past; called Mr. B. Couldn’t stop laughing that wicked knowing laugh of someone who’s grown wiser, having been scammed once, twice or thrice by the same old trick… (The kind you laugh when you are about to burst somebody’s bubble.) I once heard a story of a guy that had approached every lady in our circle with the same “God said…” I wasn’t in town then, maybe he would have tried it on me too. Laughable thing was the fact that he tried it on one of the married women among us. He didn’t know she was married with 2 kids and pregnant with the third (lovely kids they are.)
Oh, “God said…” has resulted in lots of marriages that have now become detrimental to the faith of the few young ladies out there who are "waiting" on the Lord. Some of the questions that ran through my mind after Mr. B. left were “what if?” “What if he was right; I was not listening?” “What if God really said?” “Did he really say “God said…” or was I the one hearing things?” This time I was not confused, I told him “God wouldn't say such a thing without telling me first.” Then he said that I wasn’t listening. He even ventured saying I probably don’t know what God was saying since I didn’t know how to listen to God. My eyes turned red (oju mi pakonakona) and I said “how dare you?” walked him out of my presence. Am I really hearing? From whom? Have you ever checked who this God is? Is He my Almighty God or some “g-o-d” that is a fragment of what some pastor had painted into their… (oh it’s Wale… I have to go for now. I have to help him with his Portfolio. I would be back.)
Oh, thank God, Wale is off my case. (He kept me from doing anything else but his portfolio; I couldn’t even think of anything else. He has his way of getting into your thoughts…) Now that I am done, let’s go back to my story. Where was I? …ok …head. (Sigh) I wonder what it will be like to follow every “God said…” without having a checker on the inside of you. Imagine having to fall for that of Bro. F. (sigh.) I would be devastated to find out that “God said…” to other girls in the same hostel as me. By the way, my Val’s day was beautiful, Sunday was the Val’s Ball Service in Church and I had a wonderful date… (Don’t ask me who that was! Inbox me if you know)
Where my girls at! Next time some guy says “God said…” (you know that line,) ask him “which GOD?” He doesn’t “said” to other people what he hadn’t “said” to you.
From my diary… 07:16-210311
