I was in attendance at
an inaugural lecture delivered by a friend and mentor, Prof. Ademola Ajuwon of
the University of Ibadan on the 27th of June, 2013 and the rope that
tied my zeal for success became loosed again. New inferno of success was
rekindled in me; I was consumed with the desire to work more. As the icon
unraveled his path from scratch to present, his contributions toward the health
of the world’s adolescents made me yarn for more achievements. I want to work
harder; I want to be seen at greater heights like my mentors and two lessons
struck my mind!
From his lecture, it
was clear and seen through that the professor was never a jack of all trades. I
saw the word focus in action. He was
a man who started with adolescents researches, exploring health issues related
to them, until he has made an indelible path in that direction.
Secondly, from his
admonition to us youths, I discovered he started like many people by placing
his leg on the lowest rung of the success ladder but unlike many, he accepted
all the jobs both odd and hard, learning to do things in a better and more
efficient way without complaints or resentment for any, he climbed the success
ladder by obeying his mentors. Unfortunately, as I made plans to work and learn
more, I discovered another lesson that is more important than the two lessons.
I
heard the calm, gentle voice saying working hard is never enough!
Working hard is not
working wise. If I rise early, do my biddings as required, if I pay my dues in
seasons, get educated as usual, follow the success principles the men of old
had written, if luck shines on me and I have what I desired, if I am famous for
my achievement like Louis XIV and popular for my physique like Denzel Washington,
if I sing with the voice of angels and people sob in passion like Michael, if I
make people laugh like Bill Cosby or if I am 94 years old and people prayed for
me to live long like Mandela Nelson then I would have worked hard, but is it
enough?
Therefore, I wondered
what it will take to work wise. As I pondered on this, the book of Isaiah 51
verse 5 and 6 came to my mind and what I saw in 6 captured by attention
lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the Earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner BUT my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
These four sentences
got stuck on my mind:
- The heaven will varnish
- The earth will grow old
- Those who dwell in it will die.
- BUT my salvation will be forever
One day, when the soul
is too heavy to be clothed by the body, when the conflict between the soul and
the body can no longer be resolved, when the madness of Omoyeni can no longer
be hidden, the heavens will varnish, my expertise will no longer be available
if needed, my voice will no longer be heard even if it made people cry, my
popularity will dwindle, and I will be alone.
Alone with the creator,
alone with my works, alone where no lawyers answers for me, where no defence attorneys
can speak for me but that blood, that salvation, that righteousness.
No matter the
achievement, you will leave them all one day, and something else will speak for
you. That is definitely not your friends, neither is your popularity but the
blood of the lamb. Consider these things! They are what matters most! Tell
Jesus you are sorry, tell him to save your future, tell Him to wash you anew
and you can talk about securing the future and working hard and wise. A word
they said….
