Two things you should never discuss, right? Well, this is Ghana and the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament is ongoing.
I never realized I had a hint of patriotism nor any affection for the game in me until I began to notice that every other car that drove past me in this city had a Ghanaian flag clipped on to its window.
Driven by this passion for football and country, I bought my own Nigerian flag and clipped it to my car window. Each time I saw another car in town with a Nigerian flag on it, I hooted, and hooted and hooted them down. It got even better.
I bought one of the Nigerian football jerseys (No. 10 – Mikel Obi – not that I knew who he was, mind…) to wear for the Nigeria matches, and also bought a funky, funky, cute little girly top with ‘Nigeria Rocks’ written all over it in green and white, for the Friday and Saturday nights out.
Patriotism or madness? Call it what you like.
Then Nigeria team qualified for the quarter finals – only to meet Ghana.
Aware of the risk of being deported if I cheered Nigeria on too much, I thought: ‘you know what? This babe is proudly Nigerian,’ and support Nigeria I did.
In the midst of the one thousand and one Ghana t-shirts and fans, I went to the Fan Park today for the quarter finals match with Ghana - wearing my No. 10 Nigerian jersey.
Well, the game is up now and our national football team lost. But I remain proudly Nigerian. - not least for watching our team cuddled together, praying, during half time.
Know yea all men that the Super Eagles will yet rise. And they will fly. Very high!
God is still Nigeria’s God.
Roll on South Africa 2010. Go Nigeria!
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
The Race and Gender to the White House
I am currently reading through Speeches That Changed the World (compiled by Simon Sebag Montefiore). This morning I read speeches from four and five decades ago by Dr Martin Luther, President J F Kennedy, and Shirley Chisholm (all Americans from ages past). And I am thinking today America is at yet another crossroad.
As we watch the drama unfold in the primaries and the race to the White House, I realize that much of what these two men and this woman stood for in the 1960's are still being tested in today’s America and I wonder how America will decide.
Many have predicted that the Democratic Party has planned to lose this year’s Presidential elections because they are principally fielding a white woman and a black man. Their prediction is based on the premise that traditional America is not ready for a female President and neither is she ready for a black President. We live to learn.
Starting with Shirley Chisholm
In an address to the House of Representatives in May 1969, Shirley Chisholm, the first black Congress woman, highlighted and spoke impassionedly on the necessity of improving the lot of the socially disadvantaged, including women. “It is obvious that discrimination exists,’’ she said. “Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system, who try to break with the accepted patterns, are stigmatized as ‘odd’ and ‘unfeminine’. The fact is that a woman who aspires to be chairman of the board, or a Member of the House, does so for exactly the same reason as any man. Basically, these are that she thinks she can do the job and she wants to try.”
Shirley Chisholm sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equal rights for all regardless of colour or gender, through Congress. She also competed for the nomination as the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972. She was unsuccessful. Her race and her gender no doubt played a role.
Ironically Mrs Clinton’s bid to the White House perhaps is enabled by the Equal Rights Amendment. Who knows if the prejudices of the human mind and mindset, which any statute cannot conquer, will stop her from reaching the White House – simply because of her gender.
I have a dream
And then I read that most famous speech. That great and mighty civil rights crusader, Dr Martin Luther King, said in August 1963, “ I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”.
Dr King went on in the same speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today…..this is our hope”
This could yet be America’s greatest test. Barack Obama’s finest hour - buttressing his audacity of hope.
A new generation of Americans
At his inaugural address in 1961, JFK said: “Let word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans – born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage – and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.”
He closed his inaugural speech with these words:
“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
History the final judge of our deeds.
JFK led America on the ticket of hope and change. Both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton ride on the winds that cry out for change.
America is indeed at a crossroads. And the legacy, the ideals and the struggles of JFK, Shirley Chisholm and Dr Martin Luther King stand yet still to be tested.
And yet all men are created equal.
As we watch the drama unfold in the primaries and the race to the White House, I realize that much of what these two men and this woman stood for in the 1960's are still being tested in today’s America and I wonder how America will decide.
Many have predicted that the Democratic Party has planned to lose this year’s Presidential elections because they are principally fielding a white woman and a black man. Their prediction is based on the premise that traditional America is not ready for a female President and neither is she ready for a black President. We live to learn.
Starting with Shirley Chisholm
In an address to the House of Representatives in May 1969, Shirley Chisholm, the first black Congress woman, highlighted and spoke impassionedly on the necessity of improving the lot of the socially disadvantaged, including women. “It is obvious that discrimination exists,’’ she said. “Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system, who try to break with the accepted patterns, are stigmatized as ‘odd’ and ‘unfeminine’. The fact is that a woman who aspires to be chairman of the board, or a Member of the House, does so for exactly the same reason as any man. Basically, these are that she thinks she can do the job and she wants to try.”
Shirley Chisholm sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equal rights for all regardless of colour or gender, through Congress. She also competed for the nomination as the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972. She was unsuccessful. Her race and her gender no doubt played a role.
Ironically Mrs Clinton’s bid to the White House perhaps is enabled by the Equal Rights Amendment. Who knows if the prejudices of the human mind and mindset, which any statute cannot conquer, will stop her from reaching the White House – simply because of her gender.
I have a dream
And then I read that most famous speech. That great and mighty civil rights crusader, Dr Martin Luther King, said in August 1963, “ I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”.
Dr King went on in the same speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today…..this is our hope”
This could yet be America’s greatest test. Barack Obama’s finest hour - buttressing his audacity of hope.
A new generation of Americans
At his inaugural address in 1961, JFK said: “Let word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans – born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage – and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.”
He closed his inaugural speech with these words:
“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
History the final judge of our deeds.
JFK led America on the ticket of hope and change. Both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton ride on the winds that cry out for change.
America is indeed at a crossroads. And the legacy, the ideals and the struggles of JFK, Shirley Chisholm and Dr Martin Luther King stand yet still to be tested.
And yet all men are created equal.
Monday, 14 January 2008
The Whole Nine Yards
I’ve been teasing a friend of mine of late. Charming individual that he is, I’ve told him several times that were he still single, I’d literally order my younger sister to pack up and relocate here in Ghana. We had recently caught up quite by chance after some five years of absence. So thrilled have I been about his level of insight, joie de vivre, ambition and level of spirituality, that I even telephoned my younger sister in London to tell her about him.
We had a conversation of late that really got me reflecting on the G-factor (that is, the God factor) in each of our every day lives.
A number of exciting, lucrative business and career opportunities are on his plate, and, the great thing about them is, they have literally come to his plate effortlessly. And the key word there is effortlessly.
We discussed the greatness of the absolute mercy of God, and how when He decides it’s your turn for a blessing, well, it your turn o, as we say here in Ghana.
Suddenly you make contact with people who you know you were just fated to meet; you have a business meeting with a financier which leaves you with goose pimples, you are awarded a significant contract which you know you did not give your utmost attention to... the list goes on.
I had one such similar experience late last year. Like joke, like joke (I’m going local today with all my west African clichés...) I thought to make a particular investment and, like joke like joke all things worked out seamlessly, effortlessly and all so very easily. Note - I had been seeking to make the same investment for the past three years and on each and every occasion, it fell through, and I lost a whole lot of cash.
As I talked to my friend, the word from Jeremiah 17 verse 7 kept ringing in my head: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord, whose hope The Lord is.
We settled on the merits of staying with Him now and forever more, for He is the whole nine yards.
We had a conversation of late that really got me reflecting on the G-factor (that is, the God factor) in each of our every day lives.
A number of exciting, lucrative business and career opportunities are on his plate, and, the great thing about them is, they have literally come to his plate effortlessly. And the key word there is effortlessly.
We discussed the greatness of the absolute mercy of God, and how when He decides it’s your turn for a blessing, well, it your turn o, as we say here in Ghana.
Suddenly you make contact with people who you know you were just fated to meet; you have a business meeting with a financier which leaves you with goose pimples, you are awarded a significant contract which you know you did not give your utmost attention to... the list goes on.
I had one such similar experience late last year. Like joke, like joke (I’m going local today with all my west African clichés...) I thought to make a particular investment and, like joke like joke all things worked out seamlessly, effortlessly and all so very easily. Note - I had been seeking to make the same investment for the past three years and on each and every occasion, it fell through, and I lost a whole lot of cash.
As I talked to my friend, the word from Jeremiah 17 verse 7 kept ringing in my head: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord, whose hope The Lord is.
We settled on the merits of staying with Him now and forever more, for He is the whole nine yards.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Starting Over
2008 arrived with a bang for Miss TheArtofLiving. At half past midnight on 31 December she was out of church and straight into that party that I wrote about a few weeks back. And what a party it was. After all the praying and praising, it was time to shake everything my mother (actually The Lord) gave me and celebrate the entrance of a new year and new, better, beginnings.
The past three weeks have been enormously fun and love-filled. Plenty of resting, socialising, partying and some 'me time'. It’s funny how, in every day living, we don’t realise how much we omit to give of ourselves to ourselves. Life had been filled with so much doing, doing, and yet more doing. I learnt to relax again, learnt to unwind again, and I even discovered the joy of early morning running in the mountains.
So Miss TheArtofLiving starts 2008 thanking God for Him, and celebrating all things bright and beautiful – family, friends, and the gift of life. She also enters into 2008 exuberantly expectant for fresh, happy, brighter beginnings for 2008.
2008 arrived with a bang for Miss TheArtofLiving. At half past midnight on 31 December she was out of church and straight into that party that I wrote about a few weeks back. And what a party it was. After all the praying and praising, it was time to shake everything my mother (actually The Lord) gave me and celebrate the entrance of a new year and new, better, beginnings.
The past three weeks have been enormously fun and love-filled. Plenty of resting, socialising, partying and some 'me time'. It’s funny how, in every day living, we don’t realise how much we omit to give of ourselves to ourselves. Life had been filled with so much doing, doing, and yet more doing. I learnt to relax again, learnt to unwind again, and I even discovered the joy of early morning running in the mountains.
So Miss TheArtofLiving starts 2008 thanking God for Him, and celebrating all things bright and beautiful – family, friends, and the gift of life. She also enters into 2008 exuberantly expectant for fresh, happy, brighter beginnings for 2008.
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Prayerfully Preparing for 2008
Praying The Scriptures
I went to The Scriptures this morning to literally pray some Scriptures. I always love to go through the book of Isaiah, and to receive instruction therein. The book is full of so many promises. Since this is a Word based blog, you’ll permit me to document one or two of those promises.
Chapter 51 verse 3
For The Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places: and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of The Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
On every occasion that I read and pray this promise, I replace Zion with my own name.
Chapter 41 verse 10
Fear not, for I am with you: be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
Chapter 44 verse 3
I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My spirit upon the dry ground: I will pour My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thy offspring
In praying this scripture, my utterance is that God Himself would fulfill every thirsting, and pour floods of blessings and remembrance on all and every present scarcity.
Chapter 43 verse 18 and 19
Forget about what has happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I am about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I am making a road through the desert, rivers in the deserts
And as I completed quiet time, one other scripture shouted at me: chapter 55 verse 12: for you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace…
In 2008 I choose to continue to believe Him for yet more of the evidence of His promises.
Won't you?
I went to The Scriptures this morning to literally pray some Scriptures. I always love to go through the book of Isaiah, and to receive instruction therein. The book is full of so many promises. Since this is a Word based blog, you’ll permit me to document one or two of those promises.
Chapter 51 verse 3
For The Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places: and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of The Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
On every occasion that I read and pray this promise, I replace Zion with my own name.
Chapter 41 verse 10
Fear not, for I am with you: be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
Chapter 44 verse 3
I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My spirit upon the dry ground: I will pour My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thy offspring
In praying this scripture, my utterance is that God Himself would fulfill every thirsting, and pour floods of blessings and remembrance on all and every present scarcity.
Chapter 43 verse 18 and 19
Forget about what has happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I am about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I am making a road through the desert, rivers in the deserts
And as I completed quiet time, one other scripture shouted at me: chapter 55 verse 12: for you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace…
In 2008 I choose to continue to believe Him for yet more of the evidence of His promises.
Won't you?
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Celebrating Christ-mass
I am persuaded without a shadow of doubt that my Christmas is better celebrated in these parts, without the turkey and the stuffing, the shopping and the Christmas credit card debts.
I remember my first Christmas in Ghana in 2003. Christmas Eve was enjoyed at a BBQ at a friend's house. I returned home at 4am. Jumped out of bed at 8am to go to the Christmas day service in church. Came back from church and slept.
Ruka woke up again at around 3pm, and went for Christmas lunch (Motherland style with plenty of local delicacies, full roasted lamb, and well, let’s just say plenty of vin rouge and vin blanc). She returned home at 11pm.
Then I thought: yes – that’s the way to do it.
Christmas 2007
Christmas 2007 is going to be massive fun. What am I saying, it is already proving to be massive fun.
I am taking time out of work (yes, you read right), and I can’t wait for the full party season to set in. In fact the party, enjoyment and relaxation season has actually already started. We do a lot of BBQ’s here, and I went to one on Saturday evening. What fun that was.
So, there’s going to be a bit of golfing, some Anomabo Beach Resort time, yet more BBQ’s, and some me time.
New Year's Eve?
As for the 31st night, it’s going to be a ball – there’s only one party to be at in Accra on that night, and guess who has an invite?
But of course I must start the evening of new year's eve in church praising and praying - forgeting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to take hold of what is before me, even as I press for the higher calling that's called up for me in Jesus Christ.
So you see, I have determined to celebrate Christ-mass, enjoying the abundance of the friendships, love and family that He has surrounded me with in Ghana.
How are you celebrating Christmas?
I remember my first Christmas in Ghana in 2003. Christmas Eve was enjoyed at a BBQ at a friend's house. I returned home at 4am. Jumped out of bed at 8am to go to the Christmas day service in church. Came back from church and slept.
Ruka woke up again at around 3pm, and went for Christmas lunch (Motherland style with plenty of local delicacies, full roasted lamb, and well, let’s just say plenty of vin rouge and vin blanc). She returned home at 11pm.
Then I thought: yes – that’s the way to do it.
Christmas 2007
Christmas 2007 is going to be massive fun. What am I saying, it is already proving to be massive fun.
I am taking time out of work (yes, you read right), and I can’t wait for the full party season to set in. In fact the party, enjoyment and relaxation season has actually already started. We do a lot of BBQ’s here, and I went to one on Saturday evening. What fun that was.
So, there’s going to be a bit of golfing, some Anomabo Beach Resort time, yet more BBQ’s, and some me time.
New Year's Eve?
As for the 31st night, it’s going to be a ball – there’s only one party to be at in Accra on that night, and guess who has an invite?
But of course I must start the evening of new year's eve in church praising and praying - forgeting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to take hold of what is before me, even as I press for the higher calling that's called up for me in Jesus Christ.
So you see, I have determined to celebrate Christ-mass, enjoying the abundance of the friendships, love and family that He has surrounded me with in Ghana.
How are you celebrating Christmas?
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Grace
Reflecting on 2007
It is 4.20am in the morning, I am in Nairobi Kenya, and I am reflecting.
I am reflecting on the year that is 2007. I am remembering the triumphs during the year, and I am praying that the sorrows of the year that is will not rise a second time, for the Bible says in the book of Nahum: affliction shall not rise again a second time.
I am remembering that somewhere in the Bible it says that: "I have been young and now I am old. I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.”
I am remembering my late father. I am remembering his small beginnings and I remembering his astonishing end, and even as I do that I reflect how true the verse in The Bible is that reads something like: though your beginning may be small your end will be very great.
I am reflecting that when the year started and I had just embarked on my MBA course I honestly never dared to believe or anticipate that I would be awarded the distinctions and merits I have hitherto been awarded on the course modules I have taken thus far. And I am remembering that all things work together for the good of them that are called according to His Name.
I am wallowing in the Grace that has brought me to where I am today. Even as I write I lay in bed in a luxury hotel surrounded by all things opulent and comforting, and I am thinking my parents would be very proud.
I am remembering one of the prayers that my pastor often prays which says: you will go to great places, you will do great exploits.
I am remembering the Grace that saw me through many travels in safety during the year; the same Grace that introduced me to new friendships, deepened some existing ones, and yet still sifted some others.
And I am acknowledging the wisdom and necessity of the verse in the Bible which says in all things we should give thanks.
Thank You.
It is 4.20am in the morning, I am in Nairobi Kenya, and I am reflecting.
I am reflecting on the year that is 2007. I am remembering the triumphs during the year, and I am praying that the sorrows of the year that is will not rise a second time, for the Bible says in the book of Nahum: affliction shall not rise again a second time.
I am remembering that somewhere in the Bible it says that: "I have been young and now I am old. I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.”
I am remembering my late father. I am remembering his small beginnings and I remembering his astonishing end, and even as I do that I reflect how true the verse in The Bible is that reads something like: though your beginning may be small your end will be very great.
I am reflecting that when the year started and I had just embarked on my MBA course I honestly never dared to believe or anticipate that I would be awarded the distinctions and merits I have hitherto been awarded on the course modules I have taken thus far. And I am remembering that all things work together for the good of them that are called according to His Name.
I am wallowing in the Grace that has brought me to where I am today. Even as I write I lay in bed in a luxury hotel surrounded by all things opulent and comforting, and I am thinking my parents would be very proud.
I am remembering one of the prayers that my pastor often prays which says: you will go to great places, you will do great exploits.
I am remembering the Grace that saw me through many travels in safety during the year; the same Grace that introduced me to new friendships, deepened some existing ones, and yet still sifted some others.
And I am acknowledging the wisdom and necessity of the verse in the Bible which says in all things we should give thanks.
Thank You.
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