Baba opened his door and shut his eyes when he saw his visitor. The tears threatened to spill.
“Thank you, Father.” He whispered as he opened his door again, to the young lady standing on the other side. “Ifeoma, good morning to you.”
“Good morning, Baba. I hope it’s not too early to visit?”
“If it were, would it stop you?” He asked with a smile as he turned back into the house.
Not sure whether to follow, she waited for him to come out. He did, with the chair she sat on the day before.
“Sit. How may I be of service?”
She sat, thinking, while he took his seat and watched her, his eyes narrowing as he prayed.
“My mother believed God is real, but until now, there has been nothing to show it. Yesterday, you reminded me of her life and how she sought to worship this God, but for what? I don’t understand what it’s all about. He neither speaks nor hears, nor is He interested in my life.”
“And yet, here you are.” He said, smiling.
“I am here to understand what you see, what mommy saw and believed. That is all.”
Baba looked down and thought and thought. Ifeoma almost felt sorry for him but figured that since he had decided to mess with her, it was his duty to answer the hard questions that plagued her for so long.
“Are you here to get me to prove to you that God exists?” He asked, looking up at her.
“Well, can you?”
“Why would I, when the truth about God’s existence is everywhere? You are breathing His air, standing on His earth, questioning His existence with the mind He created in you. Need I say more?”
“Even if He created everyone, why leave us to the mercy of the accursed earth, with no help, no support? He could have just left us on train tracks to be run over. How can people still equate Him with love?”
Baba looked up and greeted a passing neighbor who held his wife’s hand as they hurried to work. He looked on till they disappeared, a side of his face lifting in a smile, as he turned to her.
“I was married for 40 years to my life partner. Love didn’t come immediately, the real one, of course, not the nonsense people live out now. Over time, we trusted ourselves more, became more comfortable with each other, and complimented one another. We were in sync most of the time, as you young people like to say.” He said as he smiled.
“One day, she was there, the next, she was gone. Forever. I saw her everywhere. I continued speaking to her as I tried to go about my daily activities, but one day, it dawned on me that she wasn’t coming back. She would not walk through the door again, with her smile meant for me alone. She would never make my favorite meals or do all in her power to help me relax at the end of a hard day.
I believed God, but it was difficult.” He said, shaking his head as he looked up and away. “Her illness had been short and swift, leaving a gaping hole in my life. When the immensity of my loss hit, I bowed under the pain and cried to God for help, for anything that would enable me to lift my head again to see the rising sun.
One morning, I realized that though we had loved and worshipped God as sovereign, my wife had been my world. Not that you can’t love people, but she was my sun; a position only God should have.
I sat up and repented before the King of kings. I started to talk to Him about my pain. I spoke to Him as I took a bath, as I made myself breakfast, as I washed up, and as I got ready for work. I spoke to Him about everything, because I know He is. I continued by faith, believing He heard and would soothe my hurt and use it for His glory.”
Ifeoma couldn’t take her eyes off the man. She didn’t know about his wife, nor her death.
“God started to confirm things in my mind. I would take action and realize that God had spoken it and I had acted in obedience. I started to listen more and to obey.” Baba said as he laughed. “Oh, but I made mistakes. Sometimes, I would act out as I desired, believing God was with me, only to discover I was doing what I wanted and not what He wanted. Over time, I came to know and follow Him, and my tears turned to joy.
You see, Ifeoma, it is true that God owns everything on the earth. The land, the people, animals, trees, all that is for His glory. He chose a new family for me, of which you and your mother were part, and you are still family to me. The more I grew to trust and spend time with Him, the more His Spirit taught me, and my eyes were opened to a higher reality. Let me stop there, but do you see we have things in common? Man wasn’t dropped into the world by a cruel monster-creator to suffer and die. We are here to achieve God’s purpose. Your mother understood this and lived her life in the hope that her days were in and for Him.”
“Why doesn’t He talk to me? Why didn’t He comfort me when mommy passed, or even try to show He cared? There was nothing from Him.”
“I suppose it would not help to tell you He was right there with you, every moment. However, you should know your mother didn’t bring you here to listen to our stories, or to continue a custom of fellowship. She hoped that you would understand that God exists and that He can be sought and found. My advice, dear child, is seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else shall be added.”
A frown marred her forehead with lines as she raised an eyebrow. “And what does that mean?”
He smiled. “Look for God with all your heart. Allow His rule over your life, and He will provide all you need to live out the purpose for which you were created. Believe me, you are chosen. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”
Ifeoma spread her hands wide, even as her eyes widened. “But how do I find Him?”
Baba laughed as he stood, looking at her. “Ask Him every day to teach you to know Him. Ask by faith and believe that He will instruct you in the right way. Can you do that?”
“Is that all? Don’t I need to read the bible, go to church, etc.?”
“Well, the God I know will lead you on the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.” He said and laughed when she rolled her eyes. “That means He will show you the next thing, when you need to do it and how. The most important requirement when following the Shepherd is to believe and to wait on Him.”
Ifeoma left Baba’s house that day tasking herself with communicating with God. Would He speak to her? Would He even want to? How? Thinking on these things, she said a simple prayer in her heart and hoped that the Heavenly Father, who stood close, heard.
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The first part of this story was published on the 9th of December, 2020. Please read and be blessed.
Till next time, be transformed!!
Transformation Place 