Friday, October 20, 2023
SUNSET IN MAGADA
In Magada's gentle embrace, we find,
A fusion of eras, both old and refined.
A suburban haven, in Ogun's embrace,
Where modernity meets tradition's grace.
As the sun dips low, in a fiery array,
Painting the sky in hues of gold and gray,
Magada awakens, a place to explore,
Where ancient tales and futures galore.
Amidst the sprawling bustling streets, people converge,
A mosaic of cultures, they do merge,
From past to present, hand in hand,
In Magada's heart, they understand.
The elders share stories of days long past,
While youth chase dreams, from first to last.
The echoes of history in every stone,
In Magada's soul, they're not alone.
The rhythms of life, a harmonious blend,
In this suburban haven, where hopes ascend.
Sunset in Magada, a sight to behold,
A testament to stories, both new and old.
© Emmanuel Obu
September 13, 2023
HE'S CALLING...HE'S BEEN WAITING
HE'S CALLING...HE'S BEEN WAITING
Tormented by your past, in shadows you reside,
Insecure about the future, lost within the tide.
Unable to forgive yourself for sins that won't rescind,
Thinking God won't pardon you, as darkness lurks within.
But His grace trumps guilt, like a beacon in the night,
His love defeats sin, and sets your soul aright.
In the darkest hour, when despair begins to brew,
Run to Him, embrace His light, for He's the Way, the Truth.
A shepherd for your wayward heart, a guide when you're astray,
Jesus is the path to peace, to lead you from dismay.
No matter what you've done, His mercy knows no end,
Reach out to Him, dear lost soul, on Him, you can depend.
With open arms, He waits for you, your Saviour and your Friend,
To wash away your burdens, and all your sins to mend.
In His embrace, you'll find the solace you've been searching for,
So run to Him, embrace His love, and fear and guilt no more.
© Emmanuel Obu
October 20, 2023
Friday, October 13, 2023
I CAN'T BREATHE...
I CAN'T BREATHE...
Grimy grips of wickedness
Accentuated by wry smiles of evil
Whoever made these restorers of breaches
And the upholder of moral justices
Taking the chokehold to new heights
Even with restraints and constraints
Ebbing the very life out of me
I can't breathe...
What crime have I committed
Could it be for my skin colour
Or your self delusion and insecurity
Could it be because I have an attitude
Or the craze for you to be heard
That you slammed me to the floor
Slapped my wrist with the lawbreaker's bangle
I can't breathe...
This dark cloud o'ercast the land
Modestly tangles with the anger in me
Of what use is the 1863 declaration
When some still feel superior to others
How much human can we be
If we are divided by creed or colour
And could proudly take another out
I can't breathe...
What really awaits you hereafter
If you think this will resolve self
And like it has always been, will go away
If you don't take a stand now
What would you ever stand for
What will posterity e'er judge you by
A valliant or a hero
I can't breathe...
In not many days hence
What looms will bring to its knees
The evil in the eyes of men
That looks at others as less and insufficient
It will surely send unrestricted messages
To their egoistic tendencies and folly
That all lives matter because
I can't breathe...
The world on her knees must know
Mankind on their knees must be aware
That no matter your skin colour
All race belong to the human race
We are united by the breath in us
Given by the Life Source
Now, I need to breathe.
© Emmanuel Obu
June 5, 2020
Emmanuel Obu, is a minister of the gospel and a brands and communications strategist. He works in Lagos, Nigeria where he lives with his lovely wife and children. He can be reached at me@emmanuelobu.org.
Monday, October 9, 2023
IS IT TRUE THAT WHAT COMES EASY DOES NOT LAST?
Taking a hard, definitive stance about issues sometimes might not really be wise - I have learnt that there are two sides to a coin. As a student of life quotes and philosophy, I can tell you for free that human philosophy is ambivalent and never fully balanced. Perspectives is usually the case with interpretation most times.
I recently felt very uneasy about a claim that alluded to the fact that whatever came easy won't last. Whilst I do not believe either that what comes hard will last. I had a very robust jaw-jaw with a younger friend in Canada who posited intelligently in agreement with that earlier assertion. Pastor Dennis Ogbebor, you have a very rich and brilliant mind.
Back to my proposition. Ease or simplicity in various aspects of life doesn't always equate to transience. Many easy or straightforward elements can contribute to lasting and meaningful outcomes, proving that not everything that is easy won't last.
Let me cite some examples:
1. Innovation and Technology: Many technological advancements and innovations make our lives easier, yet they have a long-lasting impact on society. Consider the internet, smartphones, or medical breakthroughs; they've simplified tasks and revolutionized entire industries while standing the test of time.
2. Efficiency Improvements: Streamlining processes and making them more efficient often leads to lasting benefits. Businesses, for example, constantly seek ways to simplify operations, which can result in increased longevity and competitiveness.
3. Healthy Lifestyle Changes: Some straightforward lifestyle changes, like drinking more water or getting enough sleep, are relatively easy to implement. However, they can have long-lasting positive effects on health and well-being.
4. Good Communication: Effective communication is key to building and maintaining relationships. While it may require effort to improve communication skills, once mastered, they contribute to lasting and meaningful connections with others.
5. Education: Acquiring foundational knowledge and skills may be considered "easy" when you have access to quality education. However, the education you receive can last a lifetime, opening up opportunities and shaping your future.
6. Supportive Relationships: Some friendships and relationships naturally develop with ease, yet they can become some of the most enduring and cherished bonds in your life.
7. Simple Pleasures: Enjoying simple pleasures, like a beautiful sunset or a warm cup of tea, can be easy and fleeting moments of happiness. However, these small joys can accumulate to create a lasting sense of contentment and well-being.
I have always liked a balanced view of issues. Taking extreme positions might be very costly sometimes, except if and only there is an affirmative instruction from God, the Supreme and infallible One, regarding such. Maintaining a balanced position is true wisdom. The best of human wisdom is subject to change.
© Emmanuel Obu
October 09, 2023
[Emmanuel Obu is a clergy and brands and communications strategist based in Lagos. He is the Chief Design Officer at Design Turf Limited - an innovative and ideas agency with a design thinking outlook]
Saturday, October 7, 2023
7 KEYS TO BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
