I had a crazy day. You wouldn't believe what I went through today.

I got queried at work. My boss was really mad, seeing me waltz into work at midday, five hours late. The look on his face would haunt me for a long time. He sat, waiting at my desk for good three hours, waiting for me to join the meeting with the business partners from the UK. I guess he would eventually be relieved I didn't show up, with the way I was looking. My dear dairy, imagine how embarrassed he would have felt when his Head of Design showed up with a blood stained shirt. I would surely have been fired. Good Lord!

Dave was highly amused with the whole thing. He never really liked me. They always call me the Boss's favorite and though they laugh over it, I know they're partly jealous. Dave in particular had a field day watching me get scolded. All he needed was a box of popcorn and 3D glasses. He didn't even bother asking me what happened. Nobody asked why I came late, for the first time in three hundred and eighty seven days (yes, I counted). He just laughed, laughed and laughed. Well, I guess I got enemies. I'm kinda used to it now *sigh*.

Well Rita was concerned. Come on, you remember her; Rita the secretary. She's always liked me. I guess it started that day I took her out for lunch to celebrate her birthday. She never saw it coming. I liked...no loved the smile on her face. The feeling of being appreciated and celebrated I guess. She was so happy. Since then, she greets me with that same ear to ear, beaming smile on her face every morning. I guess when I was absent at 7:00 a.m., she knew something was up. I didn't bother explaining to her why I was stained with blood. I don't want her too concerned. You know ladies. Confide in them and they may end up falling in love with you.*wink*I'm kidding. Calm down.

Well, I did go home early for once today. I guess that's a plus, even though I now know how a car seat soaked with congealed blood smells. Not good, diary. Not good. Argh, imagine the anger I felt when I settled into my sofa, turned on my TV only to see Pastor Joe preaching. Pastor Joe, the Spiritual Fire Ministries guy. He was there you know. When I saw the man, lying in the corner, barely holding on for dear life. Pastor Joe was there, standing, looking. He and his entourage of hefty bodyguards left the man there. As if that was not enough, he ordered them to move him out of the way. Of course, he wouldn't want his cleanly polished shoe to be blood stained. His anointing is too strong for him to help. And now he is preaching about giving. Giving what??? To who??? God? The man couldn't even help the poor guy. SMH, diary. S M H!

My dear Kim wasn't too happy about the whole deal. I promised my fiancee a big fat teddy and I didn't get it today. You know diary, it isn't too romantic walking up to your future wife and telling her,"Hey babe, I didn't get your present because I saw a dying man on the street. Yes and he is our enemy". Who says that to their dream girl? Picking a Jew- a complete stranger-over the one you love. She called it pure stupidity, but I know I did the right thing. She'll come around. I guess I need to do a little feet-kissing to win her back.

And what about momma? She's really looking forward to a big wedding, the one that would be the talk of the whole town. We're talking flashing lights, a big traditional wedding where everyone's invited-big, small, tall, short, fat, slim; even Marcus the glutton. Oh sorry, Marcus my cousin. She has promised him a table to himself.

How do I explain that I no longer have money for a big wedding? I told the hospital I'll pay for everything needed to treat the dying guy. Imagine how explaining that will go. Imagine the look on her face, turning from sheer ecstasy when I mention the wedding, to confusion and then to disgust. All for a Jew. Last week, a band of irate Jews stoned my cousin and that left him in the hospital for two weeks. And now, I trade our posh wedding for a Jew! This must be foolishness. I remember the last time I did something similar. "You're not Jesus!"."Stop trying to save the world!", she shouted. "Apply wisdom. Be wise. Don't throw away your life. Consider your family. Consider your future. Be wise!!!" I can imagine how it'll all unfold. #fingerscrossed.

Like I said, this has to be foolishness, so God, please save me from it. If I am being punished for a wrong I did long ago, forgive me. Grant me the wisdom to stop helping people in need. Help me walk past when I see a dying man next time. After all, there are other people in this life. Let them help. The worst part is, I'm not even that spiritual. I'm not a prayer warrior or an anointed prophet. I'm just a regular guy, searching for the way forward. So, why do I need to stress myself? Why?

Now that the sweet feeling of helping is over, its time to face reality. I did the right thing, because my soul is giddy on the inside, my heart is at rest and I can almost feel heaven smiling down on me. I did the right thing, but will they see it that way?

So, that's how my day went. When all's said and done though, I somehow know that God is happy with me. I feel at peace and I know my conscience wouldn't have let me go. I did the right thing, and all I have to show for it is a little faith that God liked it. I guess that would have to do.

Guess what dairy? I'll do it all over again.

So, there's a riot going on. It's a rally and a lot of fighting is going on. The people are protesting against their government and the president is not happy. He orders the police out to quell the riot. Trust the police. They have their riot sheilds out. Fully kitted up, with the helmets and bulletproof vests to show they mean business. And the people are not happy.

CNN arrives the scene. There's a lot of anger. The people came prepared too. Its not the first riot they've been in. There are sticks and stones, and though they don't break bones, they crack helmets. The police aren't having a field day. Oh, its so on. The camera man just got hit. Is that a flare? Wow, that guy's just got burnt. Whoa. Now they're setting cars on fire. Great.

I just want to get home.


Now the tapes are out. Little thin red and white tapes across the street. Great. That's the only route I ply to get home. My car is useless now. Thank the good Lord there's a safe spot behind this shop. At least, I'll pick it up tomorrow. Now the police have a formation out. Nobody is passing this tonight. The rioters are retreating now. They're getting closer to me. People are getting arrested. What is wrong with these people? Don't they have families? Are they crazy? See who's talking. I'm here talking to myself. I guess I'm the crazy one.

Why is this officer looking at me like that? No sir. I'm not a rioter. No! Please don't arrest me. But, I didn't do anything na. Oh God. Today is Julie's birthday. My little girl is one. And I'll miss her birthday. Wait a minute! I remember this guy. Ah, yes. Now I'm in hot lava. He pulled out a parking ticket for me. I sped off. I resisted arrest. Now, karma's back to haunt me. Oh Lord. Please let this guy not remember me. I move to cover my face. Too late. He smiles cunningly as he reminds me of my wrongdoings. I guess I'm sleeping in jail tonight.

I just want to get home.


He throws me so harshly on the ground without an ounce of compassion. Come on, man! I'm a human being for crying out loud. Numbered with the rest of the rioters now all cuffed up awaiting the police van. I spot the commander coming towards us. Barrel-chested mean looking 6 footer, he walks up to us. It seems he noticed me being arrested. Heck, I think it was pretty obvious I didn't come to riot, with my three piece suit. Mr Grand Commander sternly looks at me and asks, "Why are you here?" I explain my predicament to him. I was only driving home, met a riot, some few seconds later, I'm cuffed up. I have a daughter at home, I don't support violence. I explain to him that I'm not a rioter.

I can see pity in his eyes. It seems he understands. "So, how would you get past these rioters and all my men, if I let you go?",he asks. Wow. I never really thought of that. My initial plan was to...no. I actually had no plan. He smiles again and whistles to the officer that arrested me. "Get me Charis!", he barks at him. Reluctantly, my thorn-in-uniform complies and before long he reemerges out of the barricade of officers, holding a bold white police horse by the bridle. The commander handed me Chairs. "Take her. Go home to your family. Your daughter is waiting", he bids me farewell.Phew.

I just want to get home.


Charis is strong. She could run over 50 rioters with just one gallop. The rioters are back now. Where on earth did they get tear gas from? Its confrontational now as the rioters clash with the police shields. Barely hanging on to Charis, I gasp as she bolts towards the fracas, rounding a rioter before gallantly leaping over the entire crowd, getting me over the muddled up scene. I continue my journey freely, as the road ahead of the police tape is free from traffic. The sun is just setting and the mix of blue, pink and orange in the skies makes a beautiful horizon. I mutter a prayer of thanks to God for bailing me out.

I hug my wife at the door and hold Julie in my arms, plant in a wet kiss on her forehead. She looks bewildered,"Who is that?", she sarcastically asks,pointing to the horse tied to my fence. "Oh, her?", I play along. "You wouldn't believe what happened to me today"." You wouldn't believe how I made it here".

I just wanted to get home. Grace got me home.

Charis. Grace.

Yes. Its a beautiful day. Yes it is. See, that's faith. Your day might be going terribly or not too nice, but just say to yourself, "Its a beautiful day". Then and only then would you see the light at the end  within the tunnel, because its been there all along.

So,let's get to today's discussion.  So many people surrender to Jesus but do not fan the flames. Its like getting ready for the journey, getting into the car, starting the car then not moving an inch. Why? Persecution.

We are all afraid of what our friends will say. Especially if you're just out of your teens or in your late teens, social acceptance is pretty important. So being a radical, all-about-Jesus, "Say No to Sin" person can be pretty difficult. And for a day old Christian, confessing his faith to his friends is almost impossible.

Its understandable you know. These are the guys/gals you've been rolling with all this while. You guys have had fun times, great memories and a whole host of awesome moments. Then you heard Jesus call your name. The message felt good. You were convicted. You realised that serious Christianity was the way forward. The problem now is how to blend your new found faith with your friends.

Friends. Let's analyze that word. You see, friends should care about you. Friends should want what's best for you. If your friends see you getting better, they should be happy for you. Friends shouldnt hate on your decisions unless they have negative consequences. Basically friends should be happy you got born-again.

So, if you gotta group of friends that are hating on you for becoming a Christian, they were never really your friends anyway. If they laugh at you ,mock you, say you wouldn't last long, tempt you to fall back, they never really cared about you. And if they are hating on you for your now guided decisions, newsflash: THEY'RE JEALOUS.

It takes boldness to follow Jesus. It takes a lot of guts to choose to follow the Saviour. Very few people have such guts. You are one of them. If you got guts, the rest will hate on you. The bunch of liverless folks would do everything to break you. Because they want what you have. They want it so bad. They don't have the guts to get it. So they keep hating.

You gotta keep a safe distance from the haters. You gotta surround yourself with people who actually want to see you grow. You got to get new friends who are guided in the same direction you are. If not, you'll sink back down into the pit you just crawled out from. Your friends are jealous of you. They wanna see you fall. Don't give them the treat.

Truth be told, that may be one of the reasons why you got saved. To be the light that guides them towards heaven. One day, hopefully soon, they'll see you, get inspired, and climb out too. Keep moving. Fear not. Jesus is carrying you on his shoulders.