The DASH —
Two weeks ago, I was out on the field for work, and I came across a tombstone that had me thinking…
The tombstone was of a man who died on the 22nd of September 1998. The very day I was born. Throughout that day, I reflected on life and what it is worth. And the lyrics of the song Dash off Crowder’s Latest Album featuring TobyMac replayed in my mind.
There’s a day we’re born
Day we pass
In between there’s just a dash
What on earth am I doing
On Baba’s tombstone were written the words, “In memory of our beloved Father”. It made me think, “What else was baba remembered as?”. Was he a faithful Discipler, leader, government official or worker? Was he accommodating and a pillar to more than his children? What was his report card from his church? Did they have testimonies or was his funeral one of those they forced good stories for?
Did he make it to heaven? If yes, what was his welcome in heaven? Was it, “Well done good and faithful servant, come into my rest” or a simple pass, ‘Sanu da zuwa’
It was a long day on the field and these questions keep re-echoing.
As the year ends and we gear for 2025 — the new year, I invite you to ponder this with me. As you prepare your 2025 bucket list and prayer list to submit at the altar, what are the things you are asking for?
Are you asking the question, “God what would you have me do?” and including “Your will be done” in your prayers or are they just in the words of Nigeria’s (non) favourite ‘Reformer’ pastor, “Gimme this. Give me that. Did by fire?”
One of my favourite lessons from the Christmas story is surrender. Was Mary simply jobless and so submitted to God or did she have plans? The musical journey to Bethlehem painted her as a girl with dreams. But her response was basically, “Here I am send me send me”. At the original Christmas, God rewrote a lot of stories.
Mary went from being a plain girl to being so famous she became a subject of controversy. From the so-called Christmas song, “Mary Did You Know” to religious denominations who are accused of worshipping her.
Bethlehem went from being a small insignificant town to being a global tourist destination. Last month I ran into a tweet of a Nigerian who lived in Israel talking about her wildest Christmas experience. Her dad took them impromptu to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and you guessed it — there was no room.
Ordinary shepherds became the first heralders of good news and it didn’t stop there.
Nazareth became a famous town because of Jesus. It went from “Can anything good come out of Nazareth” to the phrase, “Of Nazareth” following Jesus’ name.
Ordinary uneducated fishermen became fiery evangelists. Throughout history, God has transformed men too. The mother Theresas’, Martin Luther King Jrs’, Karl Kulms’, George Mullers’ and the saints through the ages were also ordinary men who surrendered their script to God’s script.
Folks we have a choice as a new year unfolds. Do you want to just live, be a nominal Christian and be remembered very flimsily when you are gone? Or do you want to be remembered for doing wonders?
Most importantly (because your commendation on this earth doesn’t matter the most), What will your welcome in heaven be? Would it be “Well done Good and faithful servant? Enter your rest and your reward?” Or would it be a mere “Sanu da zuwa”.
Pinned to my Facebook and Twitter (X) walls are these two sentences. I hope they inspire your prayers too;
When it’s all said and done. And I reach the end of my journey. I want it to be said and written of me — that he died at his post
Prioritize rightly. Shalom Shalom. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.