By OMONIYI IBIETAN
King Solomon, who reigned c. 970–931 BCE, is believed to be the author of the Biblical Book of Ecclesiastes, otherwise called The Preacher. Solomon reportedly wrote the book in his twilight when he’s seen it all.
The Book of Ecclesiastes states tellingly in Chapter 2: 2-3, that “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” Interpretively, Solomon stated, apparently after an unproductive, pointless search for meaning to life, that life is meaningless, worthless and futile, except perhaps the life lived in the service of our Maker and fellow humans.
Here’s Bill Gates waiting to collect his order of meals at a burger sales point in Seattle. Gates is one of the richest persons in the world. This year (2024), he’s reportedly worth $131.9 billion. He, and his ex-wife own one of the world’s largest charities, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, worth at least $69 billion.
In the final analyses, we don’t really need much. So, we should just take the portion ‘alloted’ to us by the owner of all things, do our best, earnestly and sincerely to the glory of our Maker and to the joy of other humans.
Some of us have been looking for money so desperately and inordinately, sometimes killing fellow humans in the wake of it. But here’s Gates, a man who’s worth so much, standing in a queue to collect his food, produced by a business outlet he could buy up.
In the final analyses, we don’t really need much. So, we should just take the portion ‘allotted’ to us by the owner of all things, do our best, earnestly and sincerely to the glory of our Maker and to the joy of other humans.
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Talking of ‘allotments’, recently I was having a recollection with a friend who knew me when I was a smoker. My friend still smokes, with the same religiosity and tempo he used to. So, he asked why I stopped smoking cigarettes. I told him I have had my fair share (allotment) and possibly more. I smoked for 15 years and there were times I did a packet in a day. A packet of cigarettes is typical 20 sticks, save for the Consolate brand which came in 10 sticks per pack. My interlocutor asked me when I stopped smoking. I told him I took my last stick of cigarette on April 18th 2009, the eve of my birthday. ‘Neyo! How?’ He asked. I gave him my methods. First, I threw away a fanciful lighter I was using. A palm-fitting, gold-plated device I bought at the heart of England for £40 in 2006. Then, I told my friend that as I planned to stop the habit, especially in the last two weeks, I stopped smoking after meals, when I woke up, and at bedtime. He was surprised. He never thought of it. Indeed, anyone who smokes and able to resist the temptation after meals, in the morning and at bedtime, can stop the habit. The other strong factor to stop the habit, like a central idea in all successes, is determination. I lived so dangerously and took so much risks, particularly in social activism. It’s a miracle I am still alive.
Conclusively, to one our noblest, Onyeka Onwenu, who lived well, thank you for enriching our civilisation. I am particularly saddened. I wish I never met her in person. I met her in 2006, and twice thereafter. I have fond memories of her because while the latter meetings were quite brief, she left a pleasant, unvarnished impression during our first meeting which lasted about minutes, right in my office at Radio House when I was Special Media Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Information and Communication.
May Madam Onwenu’s journey back to her Maker be smooth. May God show her mercy. May her soul rest in peace.
