Happy Anniversary, Christopher, the Donkey.

My Dear Christopher the Donkey,

Today marks the first anniversary of our friendship and I am grateful to God for bringing you into my life. It has been a year of faithful friendship and I cannot but savour the sweet memory of the time we have been together spiced up with few bitter experiences. I remember the joy your arrival brought to me after waiting expectantly and impatiently for you and Oh! Our first ride, how smooth it was and that silent sound you made. You were blessed that very day and commissioned for the task for which you were bought. I can still recall vividly in my mind’s eye, my colleague handing your keys to me and asking me to take good care of you. Yea, this I believe I have done faithfully and you in return have never failed in your duty to send me where ever the people of God are. To the surprise of all who were present I introduced your name. I had thought of naming you “Cecilia”. Why that name? I do not know, I just wanted that you have a name to show how dear you are to me and the ministry you will help me in. Mum Martha, however suggested that I name you after St. Christopher, because he is the patron saint of travellers and since you are a means of transport for my travels for opus Dei, we would need the intercession of St. Christopher. Good suggestion. Thus the name, Christopher, the Donkey. The Donkey? Yes, the Donkey, because like that meek mule carried Jesus triumphantly into Jerusalem to lay down his life for humankind so would you be taking me, a humble servant of the Lord to people of God to lay down my life in service to God and to his Church. This you have done dutifully in this past year and I am grateful. My dear Christopher, I know I had pushed you to your wits ends sometimes. I feel it too but I couldn’t help but make you go through it for we must not fail the people we are to serve. There were occasions when we reversed roles. Instead of you carrying me, I virtually had to carry you out of the mud. It was energy draining but fun. We were once given a heavy pounding by the rain. In all, you have been a faithful friend and companion in the service of God. On this day I am thankful to all who made you possible- my colleague Mass Servers, Mum Martha, and others. It is my prayer, however this day that we part company soon. But until then, may continue to be the faithful aid you have been to me. Happy Anniversary, Christopher, the Donkey.

New Year Resolution or New Year Wishes

The name "January" comes from the Roman god Janus, the god with two faces, one looking to the past and the other looking to the future. This is indeed a time to look back at the year that has just ended and to look forward to the New Year ahead of us. How did I spend this one year of my life that has just passed? Did I use it to advance my goals and objectives in life? Did I use it to enhance the purpose of my existence? Could I have done better last year in the way I invested my time between the demands of work, family, friends and society, and the demands of my spiritual life? What things did I achieve last year and what did I fail to achieve? How can I consolidate the achievements of last year while reversing the failures and losses in this New Year? Through soul searching questions like these we find that a review of the past year naturally leads to setting goals and resolutions for the New Year. There are people who tell you that there is no point making New Year resolutions. Do not believe them. We must set goals and make resolutions as a necessary conclusion to our review of the past year. And we do need to review our lives from year to year because, as Socrates says, the unexamined life is not worth living. As we cross/pass over from 2013 int0 2014, many of us have made or are making New Year resolutions. Most of those, however, are not resolutions at all but only wishes. What is the difference between a resolution and a wish? A wish identifies a goal one wants to reach, a resolution specifies the steps one will take to reach it. A wish says this is where I want to be, a resolution says this is the road I will take, and this is what I will do to get there. The wishful person says "I want to pass my exams this year" and the resolved person says "I will devote an extra hour to my studies every day in order to pass my exams." The wishful person says "I will have more peace and love in my family this year" and the resolved person says "I will spend more time with my family at table instead of rushing off to the TV, so that we get to know and understand ourselves better." The wishful person says "I will live a life of union with God this year" and the resolved person says "I will set aside this time everyday to pray and hear God's word." The difference between wishing and resolving is: are we prepared to do what it takes to make our dreams come true, are we prepared to pay the price? Happy New Year

"My Mummy is the best Cook in the World."

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There is this TV commercial that runs on Ghanaian television. In this commercial, a little boy goes around telling anybody who would hear him, willing or unwilling, what he feels in this simple sentence, "My Mummy is the best Cook in the World.". He goes on even to tell a little Dog and also shouting on the top of his voice to nobody in particular that there is no other cook in the world as good as his mum is. Agree or disagree with him, his Mummy is the best cook in the world. After all, as a Latin adage translates, "in the matters of taste there is no dispute. The actions the little boy as portrayed in the commercial poses to us a question. Do we show appreciation to those who have played a role in our lives? We more often than not fail to show appreciation to people who have done us little favours especially to our parents because we feel it is their duty. "It is his duty as a father to provide for me" , it his her duty to give make sure I eat", etc are often our thought and words towards those whom we feel owe and an obligation to provide for us. A word of appreciation is not bad. At last the little boy reaches his mum and unlike he was doing, he only gave his mum a broad smile and said, Mummy!. that was enough the make the mother feel appreciated. One of my formators back in the Seminary used to say, "In the event of Love, words are lost." this is quite true. it is not his words that put the smile on the face of his mother but the deep love from the heart that shown on his face. we can do likewise. It was for me a wonderful opportunity when I was ordained two days to my mum birthday. Guess what I did.

Selasi's Meditations Revived.

Hello Loyal Readers, It's been almost two years since my last post on this blog yet many of you have been loyal at visiting this blog. I sincerely am sorry for the disappointment. I promise to turn a new leaf. This long period of my inactivity has rather been an eventful one for me. During this period I was ordained a Catholic Priest after 9 solid years of formation. I am grateful to God for the honour of calling me unworthy though I am to serve in His Vineyard. I count on the support of your prayers for a successful ministry. I will share with you some of my reflections on event and other issues that have caught my attention during the one year and counting that I have already spent labouring in the Lord"s field. Ouuch, my battery! i welcome your feedback on my posts. Have a wonderful reading.

The Fingers- Lessons for Life

1. The thumb. You cannot tie a knot without the thumb. It thus represents that without which you can do nothing. Just as without the thumb you cannot tie a knot, so without God you can do nothing. Never leave God out of anything you do.

2. The index finger. This finger is used to show direction and thus represents the direction or focus of your life. It poses the question, “where are you going?” With your eyes set on the goal you want to achieve, you can then work towards achieving it.

3. The middle finger. It is the tallest of the fingers. It represents the king or the elder - one of good counsel and leadership. Who is the king of your life? From whom do you take advice? And as an elder, what advice do you give to the younger ones who look up to you for direction?

4. The ring finger. It wears the ring, a symbol of love. Radiate love to everybody and bear no grudge against anybody.
It is also a symbol of humility. Just like the linguist, though always with and speaks for the king, never assumes to be the king, so does the ring finger. Be humble.

5. The little finger. Small and simple, the little finger is a symbol of simplicity. Never pretend to be what you are not. Be the best you can be and leave the rest to God. Be simple in whatever you do.

VOCATION - A CALL TO RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP.

Leadership is a very vital part of every human society. Every human society and institution needs leaders to steer the affairs of the community and to give direction toward the holistic development of that society, institution and organisation. Every educational pursuit is, therefore, geared towards making one responsible and thus equipping one with the necessary skills to be able to take up the curial position of leadership in society.
Leadership can be group in relation to what aspect or sphere of human life and endeavour within which this leadership is exercised. Examples are Youth Leadership, Business Leadership, Political Leadership, Religious Leadership, etc. Leaders in any of these particular fields require certain skills and expertise that are critical to the peculiar characteristics of the particular field.
Religious leadership is unique in that it has the character of stewardship. Leaders in this aspect of human life are stewards who make themselves available in service to God and also to and on behalf of humanity to God. They take care of the People of God and render account of their stewardship to the God of the People. E.g. Moses, the Judges, the Prophets, etc., who were called by God to take responsibility of guiding the religious life of the Israelites and be mediators between them and God.
Jesus , in line with perpetuating the message of the Gospel and ensuring an able leadership for the church until the end of time , appointed Twelve men from among his followers and entrusted to them the task to "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”(Mark 16:15). Aside this twelve were also “some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.”(Luke 8:1-3)
This work of stewardship and leadership has been handed down to our generation and is being rendered by the Priests , Religious Brothers and Sisters and other Lay people who have offered their lives to serving the church in various areas.
However, the words of Jesus in regards to the ratio of religious leaders and those to whom they render pastoral care, that, “the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Mathew 9:37) aptly applies to our age and time. The church thus needs more young men and women like you to embrace the vocation to serve God and the church as Priests, religious Brothers and Sisters.
There can be nothing more rewarding than taking care of the People of the Lord while the Lord of the People takes care of you. Like Phillip to Nathaniel inviting him to Jesus, I also invite you to respond to the Lord’s call to serve Him, with the words, "Come and see."(John 1:46).

WE ARE ONE

Simba: As you go through life you’ll see there is so much that we don’t understand.
And the only thing we know is things don’t always go the way we plan.
But you’ll see everyday that we’ll never turn away when it seems all your dreams come undone.
We will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride.
We are more than we are, we are one.


Kiara: If there so much I must be, can I still just be me, the way I am?
Can I trust in my own heart or am I just one part of some big plan?

Simba: Even those who are gone are with us as we go on. Your journey has only begun.
Tears of pain, tears of joy, one thing nothing can destroy,
Is our pride deep inside, we are one.


Simba: We are one, you and I. We are like the earth and sky, one big family under the sun.
All the wisdom to lead, all the courage that you need, you’ll find when you see,
We are one.

THE LION KING
(Simba’s Pride)PS.
Kiara is the daughter of Simba, the King of the Jungle, and heir to the throne of the animal kingdom. Fun-loving Kiara would not want to be constrained by royalty and thus was going beyond bounds and into trouble. Her father, having gone through a similar experience until he was directed by the spirit of his late father, advises her.