"One Sunday Morning" [Writer's contest 3]

I woke up this morning with my soul continually singing. A particular encounter I had many years ago came flashback through my mind I could hear the song that was sung on that particular day, a song that ministered to me and it registered in my heart and life forever . It was during my Undergraduate days at the best University of Technology in West Africa, these were torrid times in my life , sad song sailed my sombre soul, whirlwind blew like “Euroclydon” and almost blew the helmet of my salvation away. I was no longer in tune with my emotions anymore; I was battered and bruised from all sides.

It was the days I believed that "God was a villain who wasn't faithful to His promises any more. I was stuck between the Red Sea and Pharaohs army, where would my consolation come from? I cried endlessly, though God and i knew that I was and still am - a sincere seeker but event in my life negates every promise God made in the Holy Bible, for once in my life, I behaved like Gideon in Judges Chapter 6 verse 8 to query God, His powers, His wonders and the infallibility of His word. Life was like, being behind the clouds at night and waiting every morning for cock crow at dawn. Every issue was mind bending and I was continually on the edge.

It was like a script I never read, yet I had been given a major role alas Heaven made me the lead actor. One consolation I had was that the "lead actor no dey die for film” and it was indeed a deep seated consolation in the film my life was playing out. Another thing that kept me going was that I had a very strong personality as well as had a lot of friends in the Lord that really cared for me, especially those to whom I gave listening hears to, in their own hour of need. They did console and encourage It worked but the onus was still on me to keep on believing that I will triumph. The lines of a great song " Never be sad or desponding....... sing when your trials are greatest, trust in the Lord and take heart "" perpetually rang in my ears…..Eno easy to sing when your trials are greatest..

On one fateful Saturday I decided to visit one of our churches in town instead of attending the campus fellowship. So on a windy and unusually dusty morning I dragged myself to the church in the town got to the church by 7am and as usual it was always packed at this time because the Pastor-in-charge exhibited some gracious spiritual gifts and people in their numbers come to worship on Sunday and early Sunday morning prayer was a norm.... .

After going through the order of service, we sang an hymn then sat down, waiting patiently for the choristers’ to come up stage to minister, after which the man of God will come and "unleash “God’s mind and miracles on his people. I looked up and saw my colleague on campus i know she stays in town so she normally goes home every weekend .Though have known her for some years now but this day she looked a quite different. She usually carried her frail frame with great grace and elegance ... "Solo ni wòn fe ko leni ni" I queried in my mother tongue (i couldn’t understand why the whole choristers’  sat and only one sister stood to sing...’solo’) but the query was a quick jaw-jaw session between my heart and mind. Solo ke? Anyway it’s not my call, listen and shut up my heart raced to silence my WEARY mind. Then she adjusted and re-adjusted her paper and began to sing, for once my ears that were heavy and dull of hearing suddenly came to life ...I looked up once and again to be sure the song was coming from the pulpit and not that some heavenly host had suddenly taken over the choristers’ responsibilities.....

...Wao..... As a great lover of songs and glorious hymns, this was my first time of hearing/listening to this particular song ...wao.........after the rendition it took the pastor another 20-25minutes before he could start the message. Why!? The whole church simultaneously went into series of personal prayer before the soloist finished her rendition. I prayed that morning and God knew it was straight from my heart of heart ......God was merciful ....a new ray of hope and believe enveloped my soul, God proved himself strong and mighty, reassured me that he will never abdicate, He is not a villain that isn't faithful to PROMISES... He is always faithful. The pastor later climbed the stage gave his message short and redirected I believe to align with the song ....I was blessed......

NAME:  BOLAJI 'TOSIN OLOMO