Preaching from the book of James 2:1–5 during last Sunday’s mass, the priest addressed a tradition that is unfortunately common in many churches: honouring the rich and well-dressed while ignoring the poor. Often, the less fortunate are relegated to the back seats simply because they’re perceived as having “nothing” to offer.

In his defence of the poor — which, in truth, we all are in different ways — the priest emphasised that God has chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith. This is why we often witness how God takes people from obscurity and elevates them to positions of respect and influence in ways that surprise us.

He also reminded us that the challenges we face are often opportunities for God to showcase His power. Drawing from the story of Pharaoh and the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, he illustrated how God knew Pharaoh’s heart would harden. He knew the Israelites would despair and long to return to Egypt when faced with increased suffering. But He also knew that it was in their deepest hardship that they would most fervently desire the freedom He had promised them.

That sermon has stayed with me, offering more hope than anything else recently about the future of Nigeria.

I am fully aware of the hardship and discomfort we are enduring, much of which is self-inflicted. We’ve allowed religion, tribalism, money, and even food — especially rice — to be the deciding factors in electing leaders, often to our detriment.

For perhaps the first time in a long while, Nigerians across every region have a unified understanding of poverty. It’s a hardship that touches us all. But I hope that when the next election comes around, we will choose leaders not because of personal connections or familiarity, but because we believe they are truly capable of serving Nigeria as they should.

Sometimes, when tough times seem endless, the need to survive forces us to invent new ways to build a better future.

Until that time comes, I urge you: be your brother’s keeper. We need each other now more than ever. Lend a helping hand where you can, and keep the people of Maiduguri in your prayers.

Shalom.

My friend Mark, a talented guitarist, works mostly in the evenings because he plays jazz music with his band almost every night at the Transcorp Hilton.

On the days he performs, he often leaves home as early as 5am to drop off his equipment. This early start is due to his fear of harassment from a group known as the AMAC boys.

This morning, while on his way to drop off his equipment, Mark was stopped by policemen in their patrol truck. They were out maintaining order following the recent protests.

After interrogating him and confirming he was legitimate, some policemen asked him for a bribe (Nigerians will understand). Since he had nothing to give, a few suggested taking him to the station, accusing him of transporting music equipment to support the protests.

Since Mark had nothing to offer, he agreed to go with them. However, one policeman among them intervened, appealing to his colleagues to let the young man hustling for a living go on his way. They eventually agreed.

When Mark shared his experience, the only thought that came to my mind was the importance of having a good man in a team. Sometimes, that is all it takes to make a difference.

In our current world, we often see good men who remain silent, fearing judgement or ridicule for expressing their opinions.

May good men not be silent in the face of wrong, for their silence is tacit support for any injustice that prevails in society.

Be that good man or woman.

Shalom.

I finished reading the Bible in April by using the Bible in 1 Year Plan on the YouVersion app.

I had always preferred books like Daniel and all of Saint Paul’s letters, but this time, the book of Nehemiah caught my attention.

The book began by telling us Nehemiah held a prominent position in the Persian kingdom as Cup Bearer to the King. However, when he heard about the situation and conditions in Jerusalem, he became sad and broken. He cried, mourned, fasted, and prayed but did not let the deep sadness frustrate him or make him feel hopeless.

Noticing his grief for Jerusalem, the King did not hesitate a moment to grant him permission and support with the resources needed to embark on the journey of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. As highlighted in one of the discourses I read recently, “It is not enough to pity bad situations people experience; ACTIONS must be taken to salvage those situations.”

There are many good Christians, Muslims, and people from other religions who believe in the fundamentals of humanity and understand the current deplorable state of Nigeria but have decided to stay aloof, merely shaking their heads in pity for the Nigerian state and perhaps just praying that God will help us.

I am not God, but I know He has heard those prayers. However, they do not seem to manifest because good men and women have not moved their muscles to possess the answers to those prayers.

We have been blessed to bless; we have been created to bear one another’s burdens. If Nigeria is sweet today, it will not be for just one tribe, religion, or class of people — it will be good for everyone.

With all our faith and brilliance, what do you think we should do next?

Think about these things as you have a great week at work.

Shalom.

In the good old days, Sundays were family time for most homes. By 6 pm, children and adults alike had their eyes glued to the television to watch “Tales by Moonlight,” a programme that aired sweet stories imparting moral lessons to everyone watching. By 9 pm, everyone eagerly anticipated the news anchored by Frank Olize, who often began by asking parents about the whereabouts of their children.

While we didn’t stay up to watch the programme, my dad and mum would, at that time, call all our names to ensure everyone was in the house and in bed, as there would be school the next day.

This weekend brought back memories of those days when parents had more time for their children because I watched a very touching movie on Netflix titled “Colours of Evil Red.”

Following the death of her daughter in the movie, Helena had this to say about her daughter:

“When Monika was 14, she went to a camp and was different when she came back. She wouldn’t talk about it. She went into some kind of depression but managed to pull herself together. After some time, she started dressing differently and partying a lot. Her grades were good, so I didn’t worry about it. Now I can’t help but feel I missed something, that someone might have sexually abused her at the camp.”

Perhaps this message has no business here, but I understand how tough life is currently in Nigeria and the urge to focus on earning a living. While we do that, may we not forget to keep an eye on our children, knowing that whatever we have made may not make much sense if we lose them.

Blessed week, everyone. Try and watch the movie.

Shalom

I have often wondered what life would have been like if God wasn’t so loving and instantly punished us for everything wrong we did.

I also wonder what my life would have been like if my mother didn’t love me.

Let me tell you a short story.

I had good parents. My dad didn’t say much beyond, “Go and read your book,” and some pieces of advice from time to time. I can only remember him flogging me once, perhaps when my vices had become too much.

I was sure of a few things, though: when I did really bad things, my dad blamed my mum for them (Mothers should fix conduct I guess) and told her to do something about it. In my early years in primary school, I was a fantastic student, never letting the 1st to 3rd prize slip away from our house. I can’t tell what happened when I got into secondary school in the boarding house, but I was not doing well academically, though perhaps morally to some extent.

That flogging I mentioned from my dad happened when my Junior WAEC result was released. Oh, my loving dad beat me like I was his mate.

Not long after, my mum wrote me a letter I cannot forget to date. The most resonating content in that letter was: “There are a lot of things your dad has said to me because of your behaviour at school. I know who I raised, and you are a brilliant child. I have cried and cried until every teardrop in my eyes was gone, and now I just see black stuff coming out. I have pasted it on the page of this letter to let you know that my tears are all gone. You can do me a favour and fix your performance at school because I will always love you.”

I am not sure about the number of times I read that letter, but I had it with me and probably lost it when I got to university. But you know what? I never came first in my secondary school, but I always did better than the previous term. And in university, I was called only one thing: BRILLIANT.

I am sure of a few things, though. My mum’s prayer was there, my parents’ love was strong, and I know love changes everything.

Many people around me complain about their children. I am not trying to call you out and will never betray confidence, but if you have children not behaving in patterns you expect, please TELL GOD THE NEGATIVE IN PRAYER AND TELL YOUR CHILD THE POSITIVE. There is a way you will dwell so much punishing them for the things they do not do well and you will lose them forever.

I hope we listen.

Shalom.

Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, Executive Secretary and CEO of Caritas Nigeria, during his valedictory speech at the end of a training we facilitated, asked the staff, “How will the facilities we support know that Caritas is on the ground? What would be the difference?”

This profound question at the beginning of his speech made me reflect on my own life and contributions in the places where I have the opportunity to serve.

During his speech, he highlighted the work of previous organisations that managed the health facilities where Caritas Nigeria now serves. Many of those NGOs were secular organisations with similar humanitarian visions. While these organisations may have performed their duties admirably, he reminded us that Caritas Nigeria, as a Christian organisation, has a higher calling. Our vision is to contribute to a harmonious society where everyone enjoys the fullness of life.

Fr. Uche emphasised that because we are Christians, our service should be exemplary, making people grateful that Caritas Nigeria is involved. Anything less than excellence in service provision, he declared, is unacceptable.

His speech reminded me of Nehemiah 5, when Nehemiah was appointed governor in Judah. Nehemiah said, “Governors before me placed a heavy burden on the people and took money from them in addition to food and wine, but out of reverence for God, we will not act like that.” Nehemiah’s primary concern was to lighten the people’s burdens, in stark contrast to many contemporary leaders who often add to them.

Many of us profess to be Christians, Muslims, or followers of other religions with excellent principles, yet these principles are not always reflected in the quality of our work.

Since hearing Fr. Uche’s speech and deeply understanding Nehemiah 5, I often ask myself, “How will they know that Chuka is here?” You should also ask yourself, “How will they know I work in this organisation? How will they know I live in this estate?”

Selah.

Google defines greed as the desire to have more of something, such as food or money, than is necessary or fair.

It’s a simple definition, but if your 6-year-old child asks you, would you share the definition above? I believe you could do that if you want them to memorise the definition rather than understand it.

While driving my kids to school yesterday, my 5-year-old boss said, ‘Daddy, someone called my friend Akut greedy yesterday, what does it mean’?

I liked that question, and fortunately, I had a storybook with me that clearly illustrates what it means to be greedy. All I did was read the story about the Greedy Dog, as summarised below.

Once upon a time in the village of Komu, there lived a dog named Chui, known for his insatiable greed. Every time the other dogs went hunting, or the villagers passed by with some delicious meat, Chui would pounce, attempting to snatch the food for himself.

One serene afternoon, as Chui lay along a narrow path, he spotted another dog carrying a hare it had caught during a hunt. Without a second thought, Chui attacked, seizing the meat and strolling toward the river, eager to enjoy his ill-gotten gains.

Upon reaching the river, which appeared calm and reflective, Chui noticed his own image in the flowing water. Believing it to be another dog with yet another piece of meat, he hatched a plan to snatch that as well. In his haste to attack the imaginary rival, Chui leaped into the river, causing the hare in his mouth to tumble into the flowing water.

Realising his predicament, Chui scrambled to swim back to the riverbank. The consequences of his greed were evident, as the stolen hare was lost forever.

By the time I was done telling my story, my 5-year-old quickly said, ‘Daddy, Akut didn’t do anything wrong to Nathan yesterday. Nathan was wrong to call him greedy, and I am going to tell my teacher.’

Many adults are also guilty of wrong definitions, but stories help to aid the literal meaning we are unable to provide.

Make some time today to ask your kids if they know what it means to be greedy. If they don’t, read my abridged summary as a story to drive moral lessons but order the stories so you can have the full package 😉.

Lessons like that and many more are best communicated when we tell stories.

Order a book today to build the habits you want to see in your kids tomorrow.

I am the guy to chat with on 08033615992 if you are in Nigeria or just send a mail to jewelswriting@gmail.com.

By the way, research showed that The Greedy Dog was originally written by Alex Firth, but I am happy it has been adapted to suit the Nigerian sensibility. I hope the necessary permissions were given 😁.

Shalom

During my time at my former workplace, I often wondered why my boss frequently raised his voice and seemed in a perpetual bad mood. It was disheartening to witness. His shouting didn’t yield the desired productivity from most staff; instead, it seemed to take a toll on his health, with signs of high blood pressure and other related issues that I hoped would never materialise. It became evident that only a few truly cared.

Upon joining Rapid Express Logistics Limited and Jewel Publishers through an invitation from friends, I found myself slipping into the same pattern as my former boss. Shouting became almost a reflex, especially when productivity lagged. This approach nearly became my default until I stumbled upon Dale Carnegie’s book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

The first chapter of Carnegie’s book arrested me from diving into shouting matches, aiming to evade health issues. His words struck me profoundly: “People do not criticise themselves for anything, no matter how wrong it may be” and “As much as we thirst for approval, we dread condemnation.”

Carnegie specifically advised against yelling, emphasising that it didn’t prompt any positive change in attitude but rather left one feeling even more dissatisfied with the situation.

I ceased yelling upon realising that some staff didn’t care and never would. However, I still occasionally found myself complaining. These complaints were sometimes voiced during breaks in the presence of close friends. They weren’t intended to tarnish anyone’s reputation but rather to seek alternative perspectives to tackle our staffing issues.

One day, while having lunch with a friend setting up a small factory, he asked for a recommendation for someone with at least two years of experience to lead the supply chain unit in his company. Without hesitation, I suggested a colleague who had expressed interest in transitioning into supply chain management. I wasn’t attempting to rid myself of him, as he had been learning a lot from me. However, my friend declined, citing the complaints he had heard about the colleague’s work attitude. He straightforwardly expressed his reluctance to work with someone who required extensive supervision to perform adequately.

This incident highlighted that some individuals work solely to meet their daily needs without contributing to a business’s growth. They believe it’s solely the business owner’s responsibility to ensure success. The encounter with my friend was a wake-up call that our actions at different professional levels have significance, potentially shaping discussions wherever our names are mentioned.

Shalom.

At the end of his undergraduate studies, Kevin bagged a 1st class and was also awarded the best-graduating student in his class.

In line with the policy for rewarding excellence, he was offered employment to lecture at the university.

As a young, vibrant lecturer fresh out of college, he enjoyed his job and did well building the foundation of many 100-level students admitted to study computer science. For about four years, he was the darling of his department, perhaps basking in the accolades he received from the students he lectured.

A year later, he was reminded of the policy, which states that every lecturer in the department required a master’s degree in their course of study to continue as an academic staff in the institution.

Based on the excellence he displayed during his undergraduate studies, everyone expected this to be a small task for Kevin to accomplish, but they were wrong.

Despite the encouragement, warnings, and set deadlines all geared towards aiding Kevin to have his master’s degree, he failed to earn it until the school management decided to convert him to a non-academic staff, where he carried out limited administrative duties.

Some of us depend on the victories of our pasts to stay relevant in future. It will never work.

Our First class and Second class degrees may have earned us the employment we sought but only our continual optimal performance can guarantee our promotions and relevance in our chosen careers.

How are you ensuring progress in your career and life endeavours?

Remember! WHAT GOT YOU THERE WILL NOT KEEP YOU THERE