He screamed with every nerve left in his body, “somebody help me”. Time was running out and the branch he held on to was guaranteed to give way soon.
The face of death stared him from the cliff where he hung and he silently prayed that someone, anyone at all would come his way.
Suddenly, a man, dark skinned and properly built ran with fierce determination on his face, held out a rope and said “hold this, i’m here for you”.
The man hanging on the cliff refused to hold the rope.
It started raining, the branch shook feebly, yet this man refused to hold the rope. The trees stood still, the wind held it’s breath, even his back seemed to plead, this man refused to hold the rope.
“Haba, why do you even want to lie to me, nothing good can ever come out of this rope. It is nothing to write home about”, he said.
“Come and See”, the man with the rope said.
This moment held generations in one breath.
Questions flooded his mind.
“Should I reach out to his rope and see with my eyes, or stick with this tree branch I’ve come to be familiar with?
Should i tilt my head upward to search his face for signs that he indeed can save, or write him off like every other person that comes from his place?”
“Come and see” the man said again.
Finally, he stretched forth his hand to hold the rope. It didn’t take long before he shouted, “thank you for saving me”
Think on this.
How many times have you passed on an opportunity to learn from someone because it was simply unbelievable to think that such a person could hold the key to your next level.
How many times have you looked and closed the chapter before you even heard him speak because he is Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, Bini etc.
How many times have you stubbornly held on to a feeble tree branch with the name “stereotypes” even when there appeared a rope that had the potential of salvation?
Did you know that Nathaniel could have missed the opportunity of a lifetime to meet face to face with Christ because he thought “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
But thank God, that he let go of the weak branch and went to see with his eyes, that although good things had not come out of Nazareth in the past, the best thing was now here to stay.
Would you also let go of that tree branch and be willing to give every person a chance before closing their chapter?
For this is the love that we have been called to express to one another.
Happy Independence day Nigeria from VEEKHYTHINKS.
Cheers to one Nigeria!
