My body was weak after hectic days and sleepless nights – working, and at the same time, studying to earn a professional certificate. As I picked the car key, I had a feeling that I should rest, or on a second thought, drop the car key and join commercial vehicles. I chose to drive. I was then participating in a 100-day fasting and prayer called by the church that I attend. I was exhausted. On getting to a point, not too far from home, I still had the strong feeling that I should pack the car somewhere and join commercial vehicles, but I refused.
I drove to UNILAG, carried out my activities and when I was driving back to the office in the afternoon, I slept off, holding the steering. The saving grace was that I was not on high speed. The car crash was horrible. My face was disfigured. Blood flowed freely. The crash finished the car. A sympathetic family brought me out of the wrecked car and rushed me to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). Whenever you see the mark on my nose and mouth, they are the marks left there to remind me about the need to understand how far your body can carry you.
In recent time, a lot of people had dropped dead, and are still dropping dead. There are car crashes sending healthy people to their untimely graves and destroying homes. A survey recently showed that millions of Lagosians are hypertensive. They are also diabetic because they do not eat properly – They depend on junks and roughages.
Unfortunately, many people still believe that all the misfortunes are caused by witches or wizards, especially, the poor old woman in their neighbourhood.
Yes, things are hard and there is the need to struggle to make ends meet. But what is the usefulness of the money that you cannot live to enjoy.
There is the need to pay attention to our bodies, and when it complains, take deserved rest.
After working for six days, God rested on the seventh day.
Take quality time to rest. Sleep and enjoy a good time with your family. Eat well and at the appropriate time, watch films and laugh your heart out. Stay at home. It is not compulsory to attend every family gathering or occasion. Do exercises and stop living sedentary lifestyle. Do not carry that problem on your head. If you make any mistake, shake it off, learn from it and let go instead of ruminating on it. Do medical check-up when necessary and pay attention to your health.
A pastor whose health was deteriorating said he went to the presence of the Lord to ask if it was time to go, or if the Lord was calling him to heaven. He said the Lord replied, “I am not the one calling you, you are the one calling yourself.”
Daddy G.O., Pastor Adejare Adeboye told us in one of the ministers’ meetings that some months after taking over as the leader of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, his head was full of grey hairs, especially due to the challenges of running the affairs of the church then. He went to the Lord in prayer to ask why. According to him, the Lord told him that it was because he was carrying his own load and not that of God. Then, he had to take things easy. Today, RCCG is in so many countries in different parts of the world.
A lot of pastors are battling depression and anxiety or dying because of the affairs of the church. Believe me, if you die, the church will move on without you and some of the members will migrate to another place.
As a pastor, utilize the online opportunities and church leaders should stop calling unnecessary meetings. Encourage your members to have time for their families. Don’t kill your members with ‘fasting’ declarations.
I used to board the same aircraft with streams of worshipers coming from East Africa to Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). When the Synagogue leader died, the disciples who were always putting on ‘Emmanuel vest’ while on the aircraft changed their route and sought for another ‘saviour’.
So, don’t kill yourself, not even for your family. If you die for your wife or husband, another lover will take your place and your children will move on. They will only be lighting candles and taking flowers to your grave.
Understand this, and take caution whenever your body complains.
Ale is a minister of the gospel and legal practitioner
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