THE MANNERS OF LOVE

Behold what manner of love …1john 3:1

As I set off to work early in the morning my ears drums are inundated with love songs after love songs being churned out by the local radio station another obvious reminder that today is St Valentine’s day; a special day when we are meant to demonstrate love. At first my intention was to write and compile a series of love poems- I mean the type we usually have between a man and woman, when they consumed by an inexplicable attraction to each other. But really what’s all the fuss associated with Valentine’s or lover days. Why should there be just one day set aside to celebrate love; when we choose to send messages or in our own peculiar way show love to our loved ones or to the disadvantaged. Why don’t we just make everyday a Valentine’s Day of some sort, the world would be a much saner place to live.

In our age and time the predominant way and manner it is celebrated vividly reflects what we and society conceive Love to be and what it means to us. From my schooling days till now the course of a typical valentine’s day is so predictable. Starts with the guy wowing the lady with lavish gifts, usually a teddy bear and chocolates are included in the package and maybe an outing somewhere to complement it, and at times it usually climaxes with some brief intimate exchange (to the guy at this point he has scored a winning, for the lady with the cake, other gifts and stories of a splendid outings she becomes the envy of her peers) but really nothing has changed since then has it. I am not really too conversant with the Saint Valentine person, but there is nothing really saintly about it is celebrated today

But really is there more to it, is it enduring and perfect as we make to be, can it be said to be forever. The philos love; refers to love based on friendship, There is the eros love; the type displayed between a man and woman, completely swayed by some kind of drawing and longing for each other, which is over glamorized in most books, magazines and movies we come in contact with. There is the filial love; this is the type of love is based on family affiliation. But are these dimensions of love perfect and forever. Guess not or else we wouldn’t be having stuff like break-ups, heartbreaks, divorce, sibling rivalry, bosom friends turning to enemies.

Some of my favourite references to love are found in the Holy Writ, especially in I Cor 13, it describes the character and colour of love it speaks of a pure unfeigned love that reassures, that has a divine essence to it, a humbling love that is unconditional, meaning that it does not look for suitable conditions but displays it light with the same fervour, irrespective of circumstance, favourable or favourable, returned or not. G.K Chesterton once said ‘love means to love that which is unlovable; or it is no virtue at all’. It does not offer from leftovers, but delves into it very best (God gave his own son) and it is best displayed through actions. it ends in the most profound way by placing three very desirable virtues ( faith, hope, love) side by side and reaches the unanimous conclusion that Love is the greatest- Agape Love. Truly as John said ‘What manner of love is this…

I really do not have an appropriate ending, but in this season and spirit of today it is important to remember what really love at its best is all about and can be like; not a day but an everyday, not just emotions but actions, not just a fleeting thought or state but an attitude

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
Ayo Akinwale

WHISPERS IN THE WIND

whispers of the wind...
in the dark starry night
my lover beckons me
with lips that dripped desire
I close my eyes to beholda portrait of love, like a dream so real
lost listlessly in the ambience of your embrace
why wait forever?
why die with the thought that i would neverhold you in my arms
the fortune-tellers say we re not to be
my heart says otherwise
could there be a better soothsayer than this love I feel

in whose arms my heart was nestled
this love that enchanted my heart
this love that intoxicated my senses
now i am like a blind man
wandering by the sea
a heavy wind is blowing my way
does it portend well
or does it gust with gloom
The trees bows ominously welcoming it arrival
The leaves shudder with apprehension
The moon stares; an unwilling audience
Tell me what you bring from my beloved?

Echoes of a love once lost
The rhythm in my broken heart
Just like this angry sea
All tales of our love gone sour
Or so it seems
my heart gently whispers in the madding turmoil
even the raging seas must calm
my precious love once gone can be found
And lost rhythms regained
Time mends the most broken places
Therefore I will wait

By Ayo Akinwale and Toyin Odewunmi

Strange words

Strange words I hear
I hear from her lips
Where were those eternal moments
Eternal moments I held your hands and you never wanted me to let go
When I spoke you said my words were like fire
Like fire ravaging and stirring your deepest places
Times spent together seeming timeless
Timeless strolls, wild laughter, songs shared
When I looked into your eyes I saw a light that glowed
Glowed for me or was it
Sitting in the sunset golden fields, silently basking
Basking in the knowing thought that u will always be there
Now you speak such strange words
Strange words like “I don’t love you anymore”
Strange Words!!!!!!!
( to be Contd)
Written by Ayo Akinwale

Women and their burdens

Women are a most fascinating set among God’s wonders; they have been called many things and mean many things to different people; eve, necessary evils, helpmate, love, soul mate, missing rib it is difficult to imagine what this world would be like without them. They add a colour, liveliness, a heightened excitement to the burden of living. They possess a quality that naturally makes us men incomplete and attracts us to them, which goes beyond their anatomy or physical configuration
But really at times I cannot but look at them with amazement. Lately I have come to look at them as kind of naturally attuned to the task bearing burdens. This has become apparent to me in many ways

First I want to talk about the concept of “I want to make my hair “. Depending on the complexity of the style; some exquisite, others outlandish, some intricate others simple, some worth every time spent making it, others a work of art gone bad. They do not just spend a lot to get their hair done, they sit for endless hours. While having their neck being turned and twisted in different directions, in order to, accomplish the final work of art. But, surprisingly, even before the end of the week the first in a series of complaints begin to come in, about being tired of the hair that is despite the many man hours spent putting it together, but as a guy with your sparse change you could have your haircut done in a couple of minutes, yet still I can take a dip in the pool without taking the necessary precaution with my hair. Another marvel is when there is there is a slight whiff of heat; they way some ladies bang or scratch their hair like they were in some sort of deliverance session.

On their necks they arm themselves with all sorts of accessories and clamp their ears with earrings of varying weights and worth. Normally I would have said men wouldn’t exchange their liberties for such burden, but I am aware of the new fad or concept of the metro man, (David Beckam one of their proponent) who make their hair and load themselves with all sorts of jewellery.

The next thing is the handbag, without doubt women have always carried bags, but maybe why this is more apparent is that presently the dictates of fashion requires them to carry extremely big bags. Pray to God that you do not have to look for something in it, chances are that you might get frustrated and not be able to find your way out. More often than not they carry a whole lot of (u) necessary stuff that they might not need. As a man I would never want to give up the liberty of being able to swing my arms wildly and freely in any direction hallelujah!!

It is also lovely to watch a woman evolving through the various stages of conception. Really I don’t know why some men say that they are put off by their wives during this period. The grace with which they carry themselves is interesting to behold. I times when I think about this, I cannot but acknowledge the effort it normally takes to carry oneself at times, now adding the burden of another, yet still they go about their daily activities to a considerable extent, can you imagine not being able to put down the baggage once in a while during the 9 month period (wow!) that must take a lot

To crown this whole lot they have to deal with, you would think that they would choose the most convenient thing to rest these on, but no way!, they still went ahead to invent the high heels. Really, you would think if any one was to wear such complicated things it would be men. The last time I tried to put my feet in one was in my childhood years, when I put my feet in my mum’s, shoes I almost broke my ankles. Since then I have held on tenaciously to the notion that it takes a special skill and well practiced balancing act to wear such things

Truly I have nothing against this special breed, and as a matter of fact I intend to spend the rest of my life with one. These are just playful musing from my manly bias and highly subjective perspective


Babatunde Ayorinde Akinwale

BROKEN WINGS

BROKEN WINGS

I want to fly
Soar to the highest heavens
Touch the limits of the horizons
Mingle with the pristine beauty of the skies
Dine with the creature of the heights

But my wings are broken
Unyielding to my heart’s cry
Unmoved by my desperation
Impassive to my inner needs
Content in its inactivity

With a heavy heart I watch my dreams from afar off
With anguish I see others chart new heights
Enjoying the trill only the skies can bring
Away from the rot of the mire and the secured even of the earth
Allowing their minds to push them to new horizons; fulfilling purpose

I squirm; all to no avail
I cry; all to no avail
I wail; all to no avail
I fight; all to no avail
Just more pain

From my heart I say a quiet prayer; yet desperate
I stretch my wings to him in faith
The potter hears my cry
He heeds to my call
He reaches to me, lifting me into his healing hands

He mends my broken places
He heals my wounded spirits
Soothing my every ache
He girds me with strength
And helping me up

Beauty for ashes
The oil of joy for mourning
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness
That I might be called planting
A work of his delight

As I gracefully stretch my wings
I feel his strength propel me to higher heights
To the place I belong
With an overwhelming joy and a certain peace
I venture into the soaring climes of the highest heavens



Babatunde Ayorinde Akinwale

WHO ARE SOCIETIES HEROES?

Heroes are those who are bold enough to choose to meet the demand of their times. They usually come in various shapes, shades and sizes; some from extremely challenging backgrounds and others had regular live; rich and poor; tall and short; some physically challenged while others were not, some celebrated and recognised others relatively unknown and unsung. Also, the issues for which they stood varied widely and the circumstances that forge them into heroes equally diverse.

Regardless of these differences one thing that unites them, is the fire of conviction that drives them to do what they do and stand for what they believe;
Martin Luther king Jr dreamt of an equal society in United States of America, where the blacks had the same rights and privileges as whites, though he died fighting for his cause what he lived for has become a reality; Mary Slessor fought against the killing of twins in a society where it was regarded as a norm, she ultimately defeated this evil; the disciples of Christ who carried his message of hope and salvation, counting not suffering, humiliation and even death as worthy hindrances. To the Wright brothers who showed the world how to fly in an era where it was thought that the skies were the absolute preserve of birds; closer to home, the founding fathers of the Nigeria who wrestled Nigeria out of foreign domination, to Awolowo who sought to liberate the minds of the Yoruba's from the shackles of ignorance by making education available to all, some relatively unknown and unsung, like the man, a couple of years back at the ogba -ojodu junction who made it his preoccupation to conduct the traffic on that junction making life easier for the motorists, without being told to or receiving pay for it.

A closer look at these heroes, one realizes that having convictions is not enough or villains like Adolph Hitler would be worthy of such appellations, considering the zeal and sense of mission with which he prosecuted his anti-Semitic campaign against the Jews, It remains unequaled in the annals of history and the fact that he almost conquered Europe, if not for the courage of men like Churchill and Roosevelt, the course of history would have been changed forever.

What then defines heroes are that the noble and lofty ideals for which they stand for leads to the improvement of the general condition of humanity and progress of mankind and invariably making the lives of those around them better. What they stand for is in no way injurious to the sanctity rights and lives of their fellow men but rather promotes them. They are not afraid to go against conventions and challenge the status quo they hold conscience as their higher law.It is said that we are the sum total of the choices we make and the decisions we take. Likewise heroes are created by their own bold choices and noble decisions and like it or not the world and Nigeria is also in need of them because they are never enough.
More importantly every one of us is a potential hero irrespective if our field, background, status or whatever self imposed yardstick we may use to categorise ourselves. when we start to choose to stand for what is right, to give our best act in conscience, correct ills by demanding high standards from ourselves, with the intent of bettering the lot of mankind and our immediate society than we making ourselves into heroes. it may be as little as refusing a bribe, that is something in a country stepped in corruption like ours.

There is more to say but i would love to stop with the beautiful words of Teddy Roosevelt “It is not the critic who counts nor the man who points were the strong man stumbled or the doer of the deed could have done it better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena whose face is marred by dust, sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, and who comes up short again and again, who knows the enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause. The man who at best knows the triumph of high achievements and who at worst, if he fails, fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who never knew victory or defeat". It takes courage to be a hero.

Babatunde Akinwale

MORE THAN JUST A BOXING BOUT

Some days back, while working at the office I was intermittently watching a muted version of the live boxing bout between a Nigerian in Blue overalls and an opponent in red overalls, whom I initially supposed was Cuban. During what I dare not call a fight- rather a beating. The Nigerian was soundly trashed. 3 times he hit the canvas. A fine and painful education, I must say, for the Nigerian boxer in the art of pugilism. Mercifully the referee prematurely ended the match before it got worse.

With a sense of resignation, I excused this ominous defeat with the thinking that this is just the beginning of the games, there is still much to look forward to, and secondly we lost to a Cuban and it is an acknowledged fact of the Cubans pedigree in Olympic boxing

So you can imagine my slight annoyance, while flipping through the dailies the next day I learnt the Nigerian boxer’s opponent was actually a Ghanaian not a Cuban, the thoughts I had a few days back came like a deluge.

If I might be excused at this point I do not have an inferior opinion of our Ghanaian brothers. I am sure most of us would generally agree they are generally a peace loving, simpleminded and admirable set of people. Rather, for me this is just a mirror reflection of just how far conditions in Nigeria have degenerated.

I remember back in those days when Ghanaians use to troop into Nigeria in their numbers in search of the Golden Fleece, back then we had a lot of them in our havens of learning. I remember some in my early school years; the aunty Margaret the dreaded French teacher, the gentle Mr.Kingsley, Mr. Mensah, the man who had a small frame, yet could unleash such ferocious strokes that would make one’s buttocks quiver and cause free flow of tears from the eyes, then my early secondary years the cold icy faced Mr Woglo, with a mean stare permanently plastered on his face. All with their lovely vein of accented English, especially when they pronounced the word ‘came’

But it now appears the tides have changed. I am constantly being hit with this reality. Now the rate at which Nigerians troop to Ghana either for business, relaxation or at it extremes to resettle is disconcerting. I know a lot of people who now go to Ghana to purchase and sell all sorts of goods in Nigeria. Recently a friend of mine went to Ghana to purchase items to sell in Nigeria, she brought back packs of chocolates some of which she gave me, I was impressed at the packaging and further impressed when I noted it was made in Ghana. Looking through the range of female footwear, they were also simple and nice, evidenced by the rate at which they were bought. Some days later someone brought some nice fabric to the office to sell. When I asked where they were made she replied Ghana! All these I was musing about playfully in my mind, until the Olympic boxing bout episode.

I think this is a poignant reflection of a gross and taken for granted reality of conditions in Nigeria. Once again the intention here is not to engender any xenophobic feeling towards our Ghanaian compatriot, rather to their credit, I think it is testament of a people who despite having less than we do are still able to create a haven for themselves and for others to bask in. it was Ghanaian president, Kwame Nkrumah at independence, speaking of the vision for Ghana, "We got to make our little country an example for the rest of Africa."
It is inexcusable! Considering the awesome and intimidating potential in terms of resources and manpower, Nigeria still rank as one of the poorest countries, with most citizens living below poverty line.
It is inexcusable! That despite of the fact that, billions are siphoned from government quarters, the government finds it difficult to raise the minimum wages of teachers and others, to reasonable standards.
It is inexcusable! In the face of the facts that Nigeria ranks as one of the leading oil producers, basic infrastructure that furthers all round societal development- power, water, road, water amongst others is still at a minimal level to put it mildly.
It is inexcusable! That despite the unprecedented and rare missionary sense with which Nuru Ribadu (former EFCC chairman) fought corruption; for his reward he was removed and demoted. While those who plundered the nation’s resources, walk free, heads held high, thriving in the corridors of power.
As my uncle says ‘it is only in Nigeria!’ We could go on, but I think the media is already doing a good job at that.
The lesson we can learn from this little country that has had upheavals of their own is this; with forthright, visionary and purposeful leadership and commitment on the path of the citizenry the possibilities for advancement are limitless

Akinwale Babatunde Ayorinde

IDEAS RULE THE WORLD

There is no truer statement than this. Ideas are powerful and potent forms especially in their kinetic states. Irrespective of how we qualify them and their conceivers; the ideas of idealist, vision of visionaries, thoughts of thinkers and dream of dreamers. History is replete with such people who dared and conquered with their ideas. At times such ideas become easily entrenched, but most often than not they are received with skepticism like the Joseph of biblical times “let us see what will become of the dreamer and his dreams” or even outright resistance.
The catalogue of every human accomplishment is a rich history of the triumph of ideas, ideas that oil the wheel that further society’s progress and advancement. In every field of human endeavour mankind’s transitions; from the Stone Age, to the Agrarian Age, the Industrial Revolution, and the present technology/hi tech era, is a mirror reflection of a transition and movement from ideas to ideas

Examples abound of great ideas. The Wright brothers who dared to conceive the possibility of man flying in an era many thought the skies were the absolute preserve of the birds. Men like Bill Gates who dreamed of a time when almost every home will have a computer. This was a period when computers were as large as building and only very few large corporations possessed it. Presently you can even put one in your pocket. Some ideas extremely morbid, like Adolf Hitler who fathomed a superior German race with the rest of Europe subjugated to it. Usually, the conceivers might be forgotten but their ideas outlive them


We live in more fluid times; now, more than ever before there exists a free flow of ideas and information. The boundaries created by distance and seas no longer exist. Our limitations now exist only in our mind. Winston Churchill once said in speaking of our times and beyond, with some keen prophetic insight. “The empires of the future are the empires of the mind” meaning that the conquerors of the future are not those that usurp large territories and colonies with brute and force, but those that use their minds and fruit of ideas that it produces to conquer and explore new worlds of possibilities, taking on the skies and even when that is exhausted reaching out for the moon and stars.

The greatest ignorance will be to say like the quote credited to Charles Duell one time Commissioner, US patent office in 1899 “everything that can be invented has been invented”. But like someone once said, “it is difficult to say what is impossible for the dreams of yesterday are the hopes of today and the realities of tomorrow “.

Akinwale Babatunde Ayorinde