Lately, my desire for food has been substituted with a craving for success, money and power. It has become so bad that I can go for almost two days without eating. I am still up at 2 am wondering what exactly I can do to break through the glass ceiling and get the recognition needed for my craft in order to succeed. As I scroll through my twitter page, my thumb freezes above a post by Urban Capitalist which states in block letters BE SOMEONE WORTH KNOWING. It hits me harder than a sledgehammer, and then comes the big question- What do I need to do to be someone worth knowing? My mind flashes back to two different events. Last Sunday’s sermon when the minister said the key to being successful is to sow continuously into the kingdom of God with one’s time, finances and talent; and last Friday’s hangout with my girls, Chichi and Blessing when they both emphasized the importance of going out often to the “right places” and interacting with the “right people” until a “breakthrough” happens.
“Baby girl, stay away from the unfortunate and unlucky” Blessing encouraged, with a pat on my back.
“Gbam!” Chichi concluded, with her usual dramatic expression.
The good Lord knows I have tried to be useful in His house and my beloved extravagant girls know I don’t have loose cash to spend in exploring their expensive idea. This sad realization finally drives me into a restless slumber.
I wake with a jolt and dash into the bathroom to carry out my daily cleansing ritual. The rhythmic movement of my toothbrush drives me into an absent-minded state as I drift back in time to the Nigerian presidential election held a few weeks ago…
After standing in a long queue for about five hours because the voter’s card reader stopped working, an influential family is ushered to the polling booth by an official to cast their vote. This, of course, leaves the throng of us bitter and angry at the system and the world for such unfair occurrences.
“Can this country ever change?” the woman behind me laments.
All of a sudden I am consumed with a sudden craving for power, completely forgetting the need to nourish my tired and exhausted body with food after standing under the sun for so long; my craving for power suddenly serving as new fuel for my sustenance.
I am choked back to the present by my toothbrush and I hurriedly complete what’s left of my toilette.
“All done and running late!” I scold myself as I dash out of the house and make a run for the bus stop.
On my arrival, I spot a public cab referred to as along by most pedestrians in Abuja approaching. It looks rickety but I flag it down with little or no choice and squeeze in with three people in the back seat. I check my watch and realize I am already 5 minutes late and the cab driver suddenly parks to make a phone call. Is he really doing this? “Mtchew!”
“Madam, wetin happen?” The driver asks as he suddenly ends his call.
“Oga, you have no reason to keep passengers waiting while you make a call. It is very wrong” I respond self righteously.
“See as she be, if you want make person treat you like queen go chatter private cab. You see any other passenger complain for here? If you know say you no fit chatter private cab abeg close mouth. See her mouth like catapult; if you no get money abeg hide your face. Nonsense!”
The passengers stare apologetically at me and implore me with their eyes to ignore him instead of engaging him in a battle of words. I settle for the former instead of the latter and stare blindly out of the window until we arrive at my destination. I let out a sigh of relief as I step out of the along and begin a short trek to my office building. I walk through my office gate and suddenly realize that I passed the snack vendor I patronize every morning without catching a whiff the delicious aroma of his confectionary treats and coffee. Indeed my sense of smell and appetite for food has been replaced yet again with an unexplainable hunger for wealth.
“For this life I go make money and I no go hide my face” I declare painfully, without a care in the world for whoever might be within earshot.
The usual workflow takes its toll on me but the embarrassing event of this morning lingers on in my mind. I don’t even realize it is close of business until I absently look up at the clock. I clear my desk, gather my things and walk towards the exit. As I step out of my office building, I am welcomed by the cool evening breeze. I look up at the blue sky and envy the birds of the air for dwelling above mankind and flying ever so freely. Suddenly the words of a wise king who once reigned upon the earth settles in my mind.
“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” Ecclesiastes 2:24
“For everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under the heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1
In these words, I suddenly find peace and the feeling of gratitude toward my creator emanates from my soul. I immediately change my route to a famous local food joint close to my office. On getting there, I dash for the food counter.
“Good evening ma. Abeg give me four wraps of Amala with Ewedu, Gbegiri and Cow leg” I order rather excitedly, drawing an amused smile from the older woman on the other side of the counter.
“Abeg give me one bottle of orobo Coke too” I add.
“No wahala my dear, you dey chop for federal oh!” She teases in a friendly tone.
I laugh and carry my meal to the nearest vacant spot and as I settle into my seat. I cannot help but grin from ear to ear as I devour my meal. When I’m done, I wash it down with my bottle of coke and let out a belch for the first time in a long time.
Rest assured, life and its unfortunate circumstances will not happen to me. I will not be a nameless face in an ever-growing crowd. I will keep the fire of my faith burning and work harder with each passing day. Oh yes indeed! Good food makes life feel and look beautiful and above all, keeps the body and soul nourished.
Read Where’s the Mass for Christ? – An Article by Edith Adhiambo Osiro, Kenya
