NYSC: Journey to an unknown TERRITORY

You may find so many errors as you read through. But I beg you to please pardon my mistakes. I wrote this piece in a rush and Just don’t have the time to start editing.

Its 1am in the morning and am still awake thinking about the next phase of my life and the many uncertainties that comes with it. It is frightening I must admit, but somehow, I am hopeful that my future, although unknown, is bright.

I had traveled down to Yola for 3 primary reasons: To pick up my NYSC call up letter, reunite with friends once again, and finally, to attend the homecoming event that was organized for alumni. Taking friends by surprise, I appeared from nowhere like a superman. At the sight of me, they jumped on me, hugged me, screaming out loud in excitement for others to know the controversial huntly is the building…. *winks* 

The past week for me has been an awesome experience as I dazzled both friends and enemies by appearing on the red and green carpet events of both the AUN concert and the Mr. and Mrs. AUN Pageant, looking dapper as always. Wearing a blue long sleeve shirt and black pants on the MR and Mrs AUN Pageant, camera men present were all over me, taking pictures of me ranging in their thousands. I’m pretty sure I gave Jim Iyke a run for his money. I hear someone say: “Abeg make I hear word.”  Lol…… #NotInterestedFace.  

To cut the long story short, I had mad fun. It was a beautiful experience. It was now time for business. And NYSC was about to give some of us the greatest shock of our lives. With the recent bombings and killings of innocent lives by BokoHaram, people fear being posted to northern states, hence they influence their posting. For me, I decided I was just going to allow life take where it pleases. I made up my mind not to influence my posting even though I was being pressured by mum to.  Part of my philosophy is life becomes boring when you know the next step.  Don’t you think?

While many others were posted places like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Calabar, guess where I was posted to? Keep guessing…. 

This is perhaps one of the most challenging times in my life as I am left with the option of putting my fears behind me, and venturing into the unknown or heeding to my mum’s advice of me staying back and waiting for the next batch. Apparently, she has been in tears and great fear since she was informed of my posting. 

I believe that character is developed in the most uncomfortable of places. I can’t question God’s decisions neither can I change them. It is with this intent I venture into the unknown, trusting that God’s plan and ultimate purpose for my life will be revealed during my NYSC year.

Often times, faith develops in the dark! Have you ever thought about the process that is involved in photography? From the point that you get your family posed with smiles on their faces to the final framed photo, you have to go through a number of steps.  When you take a photo, you expose the film in your camera to light by opening the shutter. The light reacts with something called silver-halide particles in the film. These sensitive particles react to the light, producing the invisible reaction. The film must be developed in order for the reaction to be made visible. To keep getting the film from getting overexposed, the film is developed in the dark, cool room using several chemicals. The skill of the photographer comes into play, because he must know how long to keep the film in each chemical. An error in the process of and the photo could come out too dark, too light, streaked, or stained. But it is only after each step is performed for the right duration of time that you end up with a perfect picture.

The development of our faith is similar to that of film development. We are exposed to the light of life, but the image of the dark of the master is not seen until we endure the process of life. Often times, it is in the dark and the most uncomfortable of places that our lives are dipped into the developers that expose who and what we are. 

God knows how long to keep us in each chemical bath; He knows how much we can handle, and He leaves us in the bath only until we develop into the desired image. He moves us from one experience to another, and although we do not see the full, final image until the process is complete, we can trust that the process that takes place in the dark will eventually produce a clear image. It is with this in my mind that I trust that God wants to teach me how to trust him even in the desert place. He wants to teach me identify and extract finished product from raw materials. He wants to teach how to appreciate what doesn’t appeal to the eyes. 

I know it’s going to be a tough one, but I am prepared to face it. NYSC has got nothing on me. I will survive.

For those who are curious about my posting, you will know shortly. My flight has been scheduled for 8:50am this morning and I am not even prepared half way.  Please allow me to go take my bath, have breakfast and head to the airport. I must be in SOKOTO before anyone gets there.  The Governor of SOKOTO awaits my arrival.

I need you prayers and best wishes please. Leave a comment.

To my fellow otondo's, i wish you well

See you all again in three weeks times. Until then, your boy remains loyal.

Gracias

Is it really worth it?

I recall as a kid of a man who became popular for engaging in money rituals just to buy the 90’s edition of the Honda Prelude.  It is possible you wouldn't buy that car for 50k today.

I also remember as a kid when my whole street converged to watch a truck deliver a very large satellite dish to my neighbor's house. Today a dish one- tenth that size delivers 5 times the value.

What about the Volkswagen Santana, Mercedes Benz V booth, 505 cocaine, all overtaken by Camry, Honda discussions and Infinity? .... Vanity.

A friend declared drinks for the boys because he just launched the Nokia Communicator for over a hundred grand in 2002. Today, a Nokia Communicator is nowhere compared to phones like iPhone 5, HTC sensation, Samsung x3, and Motorola.

What about the MTN SIM card that was sold for N30, 000 (thirty thousand Naira) back in 2003? Even at that price, you see people doing anything just to associate themselves with the brand. Having an MTN line then was a big deal. Today, what was sold for N30, 000 is now being sold for N200. And you see people still complaining that the N200 they pay is too much for just a SIM. How time changes things.

Now here is the catch; People are still making the most amazing sacrifices over the 'vainest' of things. They make enemies over worthless things. Some stab friends, leaving scars in their hearts over things that don’t really matter.

What more can I Say? Look back at that one thing you want to kill or die for today and see what becomes of it tomorrow, and ask yourself just this question: is it really worth it?  Is it really worth sacrificing that relationship because of the challenges I am being confronted with on a daily basis? How about that dream? Are you about to bury it just because you feel you may never be able to achieve it? Remember, what you give up today may be all will need tomorrow.

Slow down with the sense of attachment and blind pursuit of things, for today's 'gold' may be tomorrow's 'copper'. Life is Short, Fear God, Love your Family, Cherish your Friends, have a goal in life, Take Life Easy and Live Your Dream. 

Seize the moment to be the best today, and live life from the inside out. Look beyond the present and gaze into the future. Allow your imagination soar such that you begin to see finished products in raw materials. Often times, treasure boxes don’t announce their contents.

Gracias