Well, truth be known. I've been spying on my sister's blog.
She recently posted a link to the appended blog posting: http://andymoore.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/singles-church/
Good God...
Good God.... just when you thought it was safe to come out and play (edited following Madame Abidemi's comment!)
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Keeping Hope Alive
It was 5am in the morning and my phone rang. “Yes we caaaaaaaaan. Yeeeaaaaah,” the voice on the other side yelled. “Yeeeaaaaah! Wake up! Wake up! Put on the TV. Put on the TV.”
The voice was from Dubai and one of my closest friend in the whole wide world was jubilant. As I heard her husband’s jubilant screams in the background, I knew that change had come to America.
What a day. 4 November 2008.
Even as I did put on my television and I watched thousands of America in Chicago dance for joy as they waited for President-elect Obama to mount the stage to give his victory speech, even I, far away in Lagos, Nigeria, shed tears of immense joy. Tears of rekindled hope and tears of gratitude. Gratitude that we could indeed realise a day such as this. A day when at last the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than the colour of his skin. A day when the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than his religion, and a day when the fullness of the character and tenacity of a person triumphantly saw the realisation of a vision. These are the best of days.
And even better days await us.
As I watched Oprah Winfrey and Jesse Jackson stand in the crowd, awaiting their President-elect, joyous and in tears, I felt that their tears spoke to the hope that they and many other Americans have held on to for many decades. The hope that they feared may never come to pass, but the hope that they nevertheless against all hope dared to hold on to.
And I was reminded of each and everyone of our own personal hope.
Yes, we can
President-elect Obama did more than win the US election the early hours of this morning. He also rekindled the personal hope of many the world over. Yes, we can. Yes, you can. Yes, I can. It's no coincidence that Barack means 'blessed' in Hebrew.
Then my mind and thoughts began to be filled with thoughts of the finest and lead person in my personal hall of fame. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Then I thought of the establishment, the Sadducees and the Pharisees who scorned Him, His Message and His methods. But when He resurrected, they were the one who realised that they had rejected Hope. Luddites that they were, they had demonstrated their weakness in wanting to maintain the status quo and reject hope, even as the evidence of the status quo clearly did not respond to their very needs.
The greatest, most humbling, and most comforting thing about President-elect Obama’s speech was its tempo and content. Temperate and measured, he spoke to America and the world all over about the importance of the values of democracy in this very twenty first century, about service to and for all, and the need to work together for the good of all. He gave thanks to his supporters for their contributions in kind and in currency, and demonstrated that he understood that they had supported his campaign not for him per se, but in a cry out for change.
Change that the world might be a better place again with America’s changed leadership. Change that the ideals which the American founding fathers fought for would once again stand true in America’s government of their nation and leadership of the world; and change that once more America and Americans might gain acceptance in this global village that we all live in.
The Appointed Time
And at quiet time this morning I must say I said a prayer for President-elect Obama. For his family and for his government. That our Father and our Lord would give him and his government wisdom to govern. Wisdom to govern well and to govern right. Wisdom to govern for the people and for the world. Wisdom to serve and wisdom heal the wounds from the past eight years.
Rev Martin Luther King Jnr warned that he may not get to the promised land with us, but he had a dream that we would get there. Whoa. What a day.
There is a time for everything. A season for everything under the sun. The Appointed Time. An appointed time comes to all of us. A season of change. And better grab that for the rekindling and manifestation of your own personal hope - and coming glory. Oh, yes. In Christ Jesus.
God bless America.
The voice was from Dubai and one of my closest friend in the whole wide world was jubilant. As I heard her husband’s jubilant screams in the background, I knew that change had come to America.
What a day. 4 November 2008.
Even as I did put on my television and I watched thousands of America in Chicago dance for joy as they waited for President-elect Obama to mount the stage to give his victory speech, even I, far away in Lagos, Nigeria, shed tears of immense joy. Tears of rekindled hope and tears of gratitude. Gratitude that we could indeed realise a day such as this. A day when at last the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than the colour of his skin. A day when the fullness of the character of a person spoke louder than his religion, and a day when the fullness of the character and tenacity of a person triumphantly saw the realisation of a vision. These are the best of days.
And even better days await us.
As I watched Oprah Winfrey and Jesse Jackson stand in the crowd, awaiting their President-elect, joyous and in tears, I felt that their tears spoke to the hope that they and many other Americans have held on to for many decades. The hope that they feared may never come to pass, but the hope that they nevertheless against all hope dared to hold on to.
And I was reminded of each and everyone of our own personal hope.
Yes, we can
President-elect Obama did more than win the US election the early hours of this morning. He also rekindled the personal hope of many the world over. Yes, we can. Yes, you can. Yes, I can. It's no coincidence that Barack means 'blessed' in Hebrew.
Then my mind and thoughts began to be filled with thoughts of the finest and lead person in my personal hall of fame. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Then I thought of the establishment, the Sadducees and the Pharisees who scorned Him, His Message and His methods. But when He resurrected, they were the one who realised that they had rejected Hope. Luddites that they were, they had demonstrated their weakness in wanting to maintain the status quo and reject hope, even as the evidence of the status quo clearly did not respond to their very needs.
The greatest, most humbling, and most comforting thing about President-elect Obama’s speech was its tempo and content. Temperate and measured, he spoke to America and the world all over about the importance of the values of democracy in this very twenty first century, about service to and for all, and the need to work together for the good of all. He gave thanks to his supporters for their contributions in kind and in currency, and demonstrated that he understood that they had supported his campaign not for him per se, but in a cry out for change.
Change that the world might be a better place again with America’s changed leadership. Change that the ideals which the American founding fathers fought for would once again stand true in America’s government of their nation and leadership of the world; and change that once more America and Americans might gain acceptance in this global village that we all live in.
The Appointed Time
And at quiet time this morning I must say I said a prayer for President-elect Obama. For his family and for his government. That our Father and our Lord would give him and his government wisdom to govern. Wisdom to govern well and to govern right. Wisdom to govern for the people and for the world. Wisdom to serve and wisdom heal the wounds from the past eight years.
Rev Martin Luther King Jnr warned that he may not get to the promised land with us, but he had a dream that we would get there. Whoa. What a day.
There is a time for everything. A season for everything under the sun. The Appointed Time. An appointed time comes to all of us. A season of change. And better grab that for the rekindling and manifestation of your own personal hope - and coming glory. Oh, yes. In Christ Jesus.
God bless America.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Celebrating The Moment
Thanksgiving
Fifteen years and fourteen African countries later, and I am still thankful, still happily and readily learning, and yet still aspiring, longing in fact, for more.
It’s almost fifteen years to the day since I started working and when I think about the journey to the destination of that first paid employment, the remembrance comes with warm yet defiant memories. That first paid employment.
After completing post-graduate studies it was of course time to realise the benefits of all those many years of studying and learning. So, the work hunt, the job hunt began. The journey lasted almost a year.
Yes. Almost twelve whole months.
I was determined to seek and find employment within my field of study and interest, that is, international development, public sector reform, with reference to Africa. Applications were completed day in, day out. Some were completed for posts in the UK, others for posts in Nairobi, Abidjan, Washington or wherever and with whoever else I felt I could work with to pursue that area of professional and personal interest.
Believe me, although I was not counting, I must have completed a thousand odd application forms and/or CVs during that time. The expectation, the wait, the agony, the pain. When? Will I? Could I?
Our greatest fear
These were questions I asked myself day in, day out. Will I? Could I? When will I get that job? Will I, could I even, get that job?
After some two months or so of agonising anxiety and wondering if I really ought not to have completed a degree in Law or Accountancy, I decided to do something useful /add value to my job search by engaging in voluntary work with organisations that work in the sector that I desired to be employed in.
Two offered me positions – oh yes, competition for voluntary work with many organisations is thick and fast.
I found myself engaged in voluntary work twice a week for Oxfam Campaigns, and three times a week for the Institute for African Alternatives, a development policy research institute. I doubled up that three to four times a week by working in the evenings in paid employment as a market researcher. And there were mornings when I hopped on the wrong London Underground train, not quite sure which of my three work stations I was headed for.
Days were good and days were bad. And I kept asking: ‘When?’ And also asking ‘Will I?’
Advice and Counsel
As if the agony of all of that was not enough, some ‘friends’ thought to periodically ‘advise’ me. Scorn at me. Pity party here…!
In not so many words what they were saying was that I may not be quite as intelligent as all those many university degrees that I held suggested. Otherwise, why would one graduate from two of the UK’s top universities and then embark on voluntary work?
Well, foolish as I may have seemed, the strategy was that since I was determined to work in my sector of interest and yet paid employment was not yet forthcoming, rather than either
(i) sit at home and be depressed whilst I complete five job application forms a day, or
(ii) take up paid employment in a sector not of primary interest but which would give me an income
I chose to offer my knowledge and skills as a volunteer worker in the hope that the experience gained would eventually propel me to attaining employment in that sector of preference.
And that is exactly what happened.
Fifteen years later
I have worked with three major global organisations, enjoying a satisfying career, and have made some lifelong friendships on the circuit. In addition, my remuneration has increased over that time by some 900%, inflation adjusted and all.
Now, tell me, should I not be celebrating the moment?
So in celebrating I pray:
(i) May the work of our hands always be blessed: Deuteronomy 33v9
(ii) May The Lord teach us to profit and lead us in the way that we should go.
(iii) May the plans that The Lord has for us, good plans and plans that are not of evil, plans to give us a hope and a blessed outcome, come to pass in each of our lives
(iv) May The Lord continue to turn around our captivity, as He did that of Zion. So that we would be like those who dreamed. Then our mouths would fill with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then we would say among the nations, ‘the Lord has done great things for us.’ The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad. Psalm 126 v 1-4
(v) In the midst of difficult times may we be able to be still and know that He is Lord. May we be able to stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord, which He will accomplish for us today, for the Egyptians we see today, we shall indeed see them no more! Exodus 1 v 13
Fifteen years and fourteen African countries later, and I am still thankful, still happily and readily learning, and yet still aspiring, longing in fact, for more.
It’s almost fifteen years to the day since I started working and when I think about the journey to the destination of that first paid employment, the remembrance comes with warm yet defiant memories. That first paid employment.
After completing post-graduate studies it was of course time to realise the benefits of all those many years of studying and learning. So, the work hunt, the job hunt began. The journey lasted almost a year.
Yes. Almost twelve whole months.
I was determined to seek and find employment within my field of study and interest, that is, international development, public sector reform, with reference to Africa. Applications were completed day in, day out. Some were completed for posts in the UK, others for posts in Nairobi, Abidjan, Washington or wherever and with whoever else I felt I could work with to pursue that area of professional and personal interest.
Believe me, although I was not counting, I must have completed a thousand odd application forms and/or CVs during that time. The expectation, the wait, the agony, the pain. When? Will I? Could I?
Our greatest fear
These were questions I asked myself day in, day out. Will I? Could I? When will I get that job? Will I, could I even, get that job?
After some two months or so of agonising anxiety and wondering if I really ought not to have completed a degree in Law or Accountancy, I decided to do something useful /add value to my job search by engaging in voluntary work with organisations that work in the sector that I desired to be employed in.
Two offered me positions – oh yes, competition for voluntary work with many organisations is thick and fast.
I found myself engaged in voluntary work twice a week for Oxfam Campaigns, and three times a week for the Institute for African Alternatives, a development policy research institute. I doubled up that three to four times a week by working in the evenings in paid employment as a market researcher. And there were mornings when I hopped on the wrong London Underground train, not quite sure which of my three work stations I was headed for.
Days were good and days were bad. And I kept asking: ‘When?’ And also asking ‘Will I?’
Advice and Counsel
As if the agony of all of that was not enough, some ‘friends’ thought to periodically ‘advise’ me. Scorn at me. Pity party here…!
In not so many words what they were saying was that I may not be quite as intelligent as all those many university degrees that I held suggested. Otherwise, why would one graduate from two of the UK’s top universities and then embark on voluntary work?
Well, foolish as I may have seemed, the strategy was that since I was determined to work in my sector of interest and yet paid employment was not yet forthcoming, rather than either
(i) sit at home and be depressed whilst I complete five job application forms a day, or
(ii) take up paid employment in a sector not of primary interest but which would give me an income
I chose to offer my knowledge and skills as a volunteer worker in the hope that the experience gained would eventually propel me to attaining employment in that sector of preference.
And that is exactly what happened.
Fifteen years later
I have worked with three major global organisations, enjoying a satisfying career, and have made some lifelong friendships on the circuit. In addition, my remuneration has increased over that time by some 900%, inflation adjusted and all.
Now, tell me, should I not be celebrating the moment?
So in celebrating I pray:
(i) May the work of our hands always be blessed: Deuteronomy 33v9
(ii) May The Lord teach us to profit and lead us in the way that we should go.
(iii) May the plans that The Lord has for us, good plans and plans that are not of evil, plans to give us a hope and a blessed outcome, come to pass in each of our lives
(iv) May The Lord continue to turn around our captivity, as He did that of Zion. So that we would be like those who dreamed. Then our mouths would fill with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then we would say among the nations, ‘the Lord has done great things for us.’ The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad. Psalm 126 v 1-4
(v) In the midst of difficult times may we be able to be still and know that He is Lord. May we be able to stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord, which He will accomplish for us today, for the Egyptians we see today, we shall indeed see them no more! Exodus 1 v 13
Monday, 22 September 2008
Promotion
“So, did you plan for this promotion then? You know, late nights, corporate socialising and so on?”
“No, actually, I did nothing of the sort.”
After yelling in celebratory excitement at the news of a friend’s recent promotion the other day (and very senior level promotion, I might add), I settled down, comforted that it is indeed well.
You know that verse that says that he that is diligent with his work will sit before kings? In the book of Proverbs, I think. Talk about it. I was reminded that my quiet time should be more affectionate and less of a religious requirement.
Imagine walking into your office one day and being asked by senior management if you wanted the senior most position in your department? Imagine being told that senior management believed that you had the very capability to excel in the position, but are willing to give you some time to try out the position and if you didn’t like it, if you felt that it was too demanding, you could go back to your old position in a few months? Imagine.
Well, that’s exactly what happened. The position had unexpectedly become vacant and immediately my friend came into remembrance. of those in her workplace who could change he story there for good. Hmm. May we all come into the remembrance of those who can change our stories for good.
The most curious and amusing part of this for me was the reaction of another who was relayed this good news. Their innocent and blameless question was as I quoted at the top the page:
“So, did you plan for this promotion then? You know, late nights, corporate socialising and so on?”
My friend’s response was simply that The Lord has ordered her steps. No, don’t scorn. Hear me out.
Imagine working well and working late. Working diligently. Determined to conscientiously work well. Imagine wondering why your senior had that position and not you, given that you so obviously are performing better in the position than they are. Imagine asking your Creator, The Creator of the universe when your lot is going to change, over and over again.
Imagine just from nowhere, you also start to progessively change your corporate wardrobe. Less smart casual. More corporate, business wear. Imagine, unbeknown to you, beginning to look the part, even if you did not know what the part was.
So when the corporate lawyer asked my friend how she has planned the promotion, the only answer she could give was that The Lord had ordered her steps. Being in the fierce corporate legal world, he was used to hostile takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, boardroom dramas. To him, you get by in life only through skilful cerebral, intellectual strategy. Imagine his shock to hear that none such deliberate strategy had been planned.
Fear not my child, I am with you always
“No, actually, I did nothing of the sort.”
After yelling in celebratory excitement at the news of a friend’s recent promotion the other day (and very senior level promotion, I might add), I settled down, comforted that it is indeed well.
You know that verse that says that he that is diligent with his work will sit before kings? In the book of Proverbs, I think. Talk about it. I was reminded that my quiet time should be more affectionate and less of a religious requirement.
Imagine walking into your office one day and being asked by senior management if you wanted the senior most position in your department? Imagine being told that senior management believed that you had the very capability to excel in the position, but are willing to give you some time to try out the position and if you didn’t like it, if you felt that it was too demanding, you could go back to your old position in a few months? Imagine.
Well, that’s exactly what happened. The position had unexpectedly become vacant and immediately my friend came into remembrance. of those in her workplace who could change he story there for good. Hmm. May we all come into the remembrance of those who can change our stories for good.
The most curious and amusing part of this for me was the reaction of another who was relayed this good news. Their innocent and blameless question was as I quoted at the top the page:
“So, did you plan for this promotion then? You know, late nights, corporate socialising and so on?”
My friend’s response was simply that The Lord has ordered her steps. No, don’t scorn. Hear me out.
Imagine working well and working late. Working diligently. Determined to conscientiously work well. Imagine wondering why your senior had that position and not you, given that you so obviously are performing better in the position than they are. Imagine asking your Creator, The Creator of the universe when your lot is going to change, over and over again.
Imagine just from nowhere, you also start to progessively change your corporate wardrobe. Less smart casual. More corporate, business wear. Imagine, unbeknown to you, beginning to look the part, even if you did not know what the part was.
So when the corporate lawyer asked my friend how she has planned the promotion, the only answer she could give was that The Lord had ordered her steps. Being in the fierce corporate legal world, he was used to hostile takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, boardroom dramas. To him, you get by in life only through skilful cerebral, intellectual strategy. Imagine his shock to hear that none such deliberate strategy had been planned.
Fear not my child, I am with you always
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Girl, Look at You!
Celebrating Gender Female
This one is particularly for my lady subscribers: this landed on my inbox this morning - I just had to share it.
Girl, just look at you, with your pretty self. You are so beautiful! Not only are you beautiful, but you have the nerve to be talented and gifted by God. Hold your head up Girl and know that you are loved and appreciated. Don't give the enemy any place to cause you to have low self-esteem or doubt. You are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. This is your year to decree it and speak it!
This is the year of new beginnings. So get your step on Girl, because God is faithful to perform all that He has promised to you! Be confident in Him and His word. The words you speak from your mouth determine your outcome. Why not speak good and positive things over your life Girl? You are not defeated but rather you are more than a conqueror. You have been through a lot in your life and look at you now, just as pretty and as strong as ever!
Oh, how blessed you are. Look what God has done and look where He has brought you from. Begin to bless God and praise Him for all that He has done, and for making you so beautiful! He had you in His precious hands all the time. Your life is orchestrated by Him. He knows you and what is best for you. Believe that He has even greater things in store for you and your family. Girl, get over the silly stuff and grab hold of faith. Seek God as never before. Sure, times are hard, but God is Good! Learn to love who He has made you to be. There is no one like YOU. -Author Unknown
Celebrating the love of Christ, The King
This one is particularly for my lady subscribers: this landed on my inbox this morning - I just had to share it.
Girl, just look at you, with your pretty self. You are so beautiful! Not only are you beautiful, but you have the nerve to be talented and gifted by God. Hold your head up Girl and know that you are loved and appreciated. Don't give the enemy any place to cause you to have low self-esteem or doubt. You are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. This is your year to decree it and speak it!
This is the year of new beginnings. So get your step on Girl, because God is faithful to perform all that He has promised to you! Be confident in Him and His word. The words you speak from your mouth determine your outcome. Why not speak good and positive things over your life Girl? You are not defeated but rather you are more than a conqueror. You have been through a lot in your life and look at you now, just as pretty and as strong as ever!
Oh, how blessed you are. Look what God has done and look where He has brought you from. Begin to bless God and praise Him for all that He has done, and for making you so beautiful! He had you in His precious hands all the time. Your life is orchestrated by Him. He knows you and what is best for you. Believe that He has even greater things in store for you and your family. Girl, get over the silly stuff and grab hold of faith. Seek God as never before. Sure, times are hard, but God is Good! Learn to love who He has made you to be. There is no one like YOU. -Author Unknown
Celebrating the love of Christ, The King
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Whose hope The Lord is
And life continues to be eventful even as it is exciting.
I am consistently fascinated by the richness and diversity of the people that I come into contact with day in, day out; and as I reflected on this feature this morning and I thought to myself: what a wonderful world.
I remain exuberantly expectant.
Exuberantly expectant of friendships yet to be made; the business networks yet to be built; and the concomitant great and wonderful experiences to be enjoyed in concert. The knowledge to be shared, the knowledge to be developed. I am grateful for these times.
Leadership, teamwork and excellence happen to be our organisational values. I put it to you that leadership and excellence is remote without teamwork, and I suppose even as I go on about this wonderful world what I am actually celebrating is the value of teamwork, the value of the coming together of people, the coming together of ideas, of experience – and then the makings of creativity, innovation and prosperity.
Moses couldn’t go it alone. His father-in-law advised him to nominate helpers. Jesus, with all His infinite wisdom and omniscience chose not to go it alone and nominated His own fishers of men. God Himself said that it is not good for man to be alone – that he needed a helpmate. He also said that two cannot walk together unless they agree.
No man is an island, and we need relationships to strengthen us, challenge us, celebrate us, and connect us into His purpose. I am learning not to judge on face value but rather to continually commit my days into The Lord’s miracle working hands so that each day brings with it its own discoveries, the makings of fresh friendships and of bright business relationships of His making, even as I nurture those that have been established through His making in times past. And I repeat again, it’s a wonderful world.
One of my favourite passages in the Christian Scriptures is Jeremiah 17:7 which reads: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord – whose hope The Lord is.
For me these words stem goose-pimpling excitement. I am anticipating exhilarating times ahead. Strangely enough, I am also expecting that these times ahead might be demanding times – demanding of my intellect, my prayer life, my faith, my relationships.
But it’s all good, for that is the rhythm of life. I have learnt that all things work together for the good of them that love The Lord, for them who are called according to His purpose. Since all things will work together for our good, the hard drive of my mind is formatted to be convinced that it IS a wonderful world.
I am consistently fascinated by the richness and diversity of the people that I come into contact with day in, day out; and as I reflected on this feature this morning and I thought to myself: what a wonderful world.
I remain exuberantly expectant.
Exuberantly expectant of friendships yet to be made; the business networks yet to be built; and the concomitant great and wonderful experiences to be enjoyed in concert. The knowledge to be shared, the knowledge to be developed. I am grateful for these times.
Leadership, teamwork and excellence happen to be our organisational values. I put it to you that leadership and excellence is remote without teamwork, and I suppose even as I go on about this wonderful world what I am actually celebrating is the value of teamwork, the value of the coming together of people, the coming together of ideas, of experience – and then the makings of creativity, innovation and prosperity.
Moses couldn’t go it alone. His father-in-law advised him to nominate helpers. Jesus, with all His infinite wisdom and omniscience chose not to go it alone and nominated His own fishers of men. God Himself said that it is not good for man to be alone – that he needed a helpmate. He also said that two cannot walk together unless they agree.
No man is an island, and we need relationships to strengthen us, challenge us, celebrate us, and connect us into His purpose. I am learning not to judge on face value but rather to continually commit my days into The Lord’s miracle working hands so that each day brings with it its own discoveries, the makings of fresh friendships and of bright business relationships of His making, even as I nurture those that have been established through His making in times past. And I repeat again, it’s a wonderful world.
One of my favourite passages in the Christian Scriptures is Jeremiah 17:7 which reads: blessed is the man who trusts in The Lord – whose hope The Lord is.
For me these words stem goose-pimpling excitement. I am anticipating exhilarating times ahead. Strangely enough, I am also expecting that these times ahead might be demanding times – demanding of my intellect, my prayer life, my faith, my relationships.
But it’s all good, for that is the rhythm of life. I have learnt that all things work together for the good of them that love The Lord, for them who are called according to His purpose. Since all things will work together for our good, the hard drive of my mind is formatted to be convinced that it IS a wonderful world.
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Exercising my Christian Faith
Surrounded by the huge rocks and mountains which distinct the Abuja landscape as we travelled to Kaduna by road from Federal Capital Territory a few days ago, I remembered the Aburi mountains in Ghana. I remembered my early morning running expeditions to the Aburi mountains and for a moment and so very concurrently I missed Ghana and desired to reside in Abuja forever. The clean air; the calming and fascinating landscape; even the excitement of running to the peak of any one of these rocks and mountain.....
And I thought that the God who created me out of mud must Himself be a runner.
There is something absolutely and definitively exhilarating about running, or should I say, exercising per se. Physical exercise uplifts your mood, keeps you fit, makes you stronger physically, promotes mental agility, lowers your stress levels, and, quite frankly, makes you feel so, so, so very goooooooood. And then for a moment all I wanted to do was run.
Reducing stress levels with running focused retail therapy
And that is exactly what I did when I returned to base.
With my stress level threatening to reach boiling point as we worked on spreadsheets all day without our figures correlating , I out went in the late afternoon for a bit of retail therapy at the nearby Nike retail store.
Running shoes, running wear, even a mobile phone holder for my running gear so I could take those all important telephone calls even as I run to reach the peak of Abuja’s exhilarating mountain heights. Without so much as any form of food having passed through my mouth the whole day in the midst of work demands, when I returned to the office from my retail adventure, we somehow managed to reconcile our figures. I think it was the anticipation of the run that did it. I was ready for my run.
One of my colleagues suggested that we should get something to eat since we had not eaten all day. Not me, I said. I need my exercise elixir.
So go running I did. Did I sleep well that night or did I sleep well that night. And it did not stop there. I woke up the next morning all so very upbeat. Throughout the day Ms ArtofLiving was on high alert at the client site. The MBA assignment that I could not even bear to look at let alone attempt to start over the past few weeks began to see the light of day of my thought and consideration.
Oh, the joys of exercise
And then I thought, this thing must be genetic. When I was a child my mother often took me along with her for her sundown walks. One of my sisters, yes, the one I often write about, Ms Christian Writer UK, is a running freak….even worse than me, I think – she buys athlete magazines…!.
Well, genetic or not, I resolved that exercising my Christian faith requires me to exercise my physical body, my intellectual mind and my spiritual soul. Then I went to my road map, the Christian Scriptures, for answers.
Well, I did not find that the Holy Bible preaches directly that we exercise, but it definitely advises us that we stay healthy, and exercise is mentioned as one of those avenues for staying healthy. Try this:
Take good care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Ephesians 5:29 tells us, "After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it..."
And the first part of 1 Timothy 4:8 informs us, “For physical training is of some value…”
Even as I write, someone very close to me lies on a hospital bed suffering from a mild stroke, the outcome of diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle and inappropriate eating habits.
So I thought to myself: the Art of Living the Christian lifestyle– exercise your soul in worship of Christ our Saviour, exercise your mind through intellectual engagement [read, read and then after that read some more], and exercise your physical body even so that you can enjoy the fruit of the exercise of your soul and the exercise of your mind.
And I thought that the God who created me out of mud must Himself be a runner.
There is something absolutely and definitively exhilarating about running, or should I say, exercising per se. Physical exercise uplifts your mood, keeps you fit, makes you stronger physically, promotes mental agility, lowers your stress levels, and, quite frankly, makes you feel so, so, so very goooooooood. And then for a moment all I wanted to do was run.
Reducing stress levels with running focused retail therapy
And that is exactly what I did when I returned to base.
With my stress level threatening to reach boiling point as we worked on spreadsheets all day without our figures correlating , I out went in the late afternoon for a bit of retail therapy at the nearby Nike retail store.
Running shoes, running wear, even a mobile phone holder for my running gear so I could take those all important telephone calls even as I run to reach the peak of Abuja’s exhilarating mountain heights. Without so much as any form of food having passed through my mouth the whole day in the midst of work demands, when I returned to the office from my retail adventure, we somehow managed to reconcile our figures. I think it was the anticipation of the run that did it. I was ready for my run.
One of my colleagues suggested that we should get something to eat since we had not eaten all day. Not me, I said. I need my exercise elixir.
So go running I did. Did I sleep well that night or did I sleep well that night. And it did not stop there. I woke up the next morning all so very upbeat. Throughout the day Ms ArtofLiving was on high alert at the client site. The MBA assignment that I could not even bear to look at let alone attempt to start over the past few weeks began to see the light of day of my thought and consideration.
Oh, the joys of exercise
And then I thought, this thing must be genetic. When I was a child my mother often took me along with her for her sundown walks. One of my sisters, yes, the one I often write about, Ms Christian Writer UK, is a running freak….even worse than me, I think – she buys athlete magazines…!.
Well, genetic or not, I resolved that exercising my Christian faith requires me to exercise my physical body, my intellectual mind and my spiritual soul. Then I went to my road map, the Christian Scriptures, for answers.
Well, I did not find that the Holy Bible preaches directly that we exercise, but it definitely advises us that we stay healthy, and exercise is mentioned as one of those avenues for staying healthy. Try this:
Take good care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Ephesians 5:29 tells us, "After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it..."
And the first part of 1 Timothy 4:8 informs us, “For physical training is of some value…”
Even as I write, someone very close to me lies on a hospital bed suffering from a mild stroke, the outcome of diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle and inappropriate eating habits.
So I thought to myself: the Art of Living the Christian lifestyle– exercise your soul in worship of Christ our Saviour, exercise your mind through intellectual engagement [read, read and then after that read some more], and exercise your physical body even so that you can enjoy the fruit of the exercise of your soul and the exercise of your mind.
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