By ASAJU TUNDE
The first of January is always a moment of joy. Believers of all hue are grateful for passing over another 365/6 days of mixed blessings. They then go ahead to make plans they hope to achieve in the new year.
Over 25,000 citizens of #Turkey and beleaguered #Syria could not have been different. They had plans and looked ahead to prospects. It was going to be a happy new year because that is all we wish each other. Some planned to marry, others to divorce; some hoping to start a new job and others starting a business. Yet, others plan to relocate to where the grass is greener. It won’t be impossible that some were on transit to greener pastures.
However, less than 40 days into their happy new year, while most of them were in their elements shielding from the seasonal cold, the earth shook, opened up and swallowed them and their dreams leaving survivors asking whether they should mourn or be grateful. For the past week, we have been inundated with horrid stories of loss, hope, injuries and survival.
My heart goes to those struggling at this moment, may you find the strength to wade through your challenges with gratitude.
Apostle Paul, writing from present day Turkey to his colleague Peter wrote cryptically – “All men is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.” He could have written that on February 5, the night before the quake. Our dreams die at some point, sometimes just as it was about to come to fruition.
As they mourn and ask ‘why’ in Turkey and Syria, Ukraine’s Vlodomir Zelensky is waiting for more weapons to fight the Russians as his country is destroyed.
Many of you reading this are preoccupied about tomorrow, February 14, but only the heavens know who will make it. In Nigeria, we’re all making enemies for the politicians who won’t be moved by our demise.
May Allah be merciful to the victims of the quake and other disasters and help us temporary survivors know, we’ll leave all that behind and be eventually forgotten.
Makes me remember this first assignment given to us as students of law at Kwarapoly (I didn’t graduate eventually). It is Shakespeare’s words – As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport. Some force out there terminated the dreams, plans and aspirations of 25,000 people – men, women, children! Whatever you’re going through right now, let us hope and pray that you render gratitude to your chi or maker as you remember you are just target practice for death. You may be making plans right now, but remember that as man proposes, the gods dispose. May we live a life of gratitude.
My heart goes to those struggling at this moment, may you find the strength to wade through your challenges with gratitude. May Allah be merciful to the victims of the quake and other disasters and help us temporary survivors know, we’ll leave all that behind and be eventually forgotten.
Amen.
