... THE CROSSROADS

I noticed her from a distance. Maybe because of the way she was dressed or the way she stood, who knows? It could have been the way she cast her eyes at the passing cars or probably because I'm also female, and would, to a certain extent, understand certain misguided feminine ploy. She stood, wantonly chewing the gum as if her entire life depended on it. The car coming from the opposite direction was a Jeep with a chunk (I think some would rather I use Hunk here; oh well…) of a man at the driver's seat. It sped past and the standing dark beauty glanced nonchalantly at it. I would presume she didn't like what she saw.

We were on our way to a meeting - my Boss and I; already behind schedule. Our car was soon to pass where the young lady stood. She fixed her eyes on the driver's seat, probably hoping to get a good look at the driver. Ughh, was that disappointment? I would have bet my ten toes I saw a look of disappointment cross her face. Maybe she didn't think to see anyone sitting in the passenger's seat. What was she thinking then? That she will cast her net like a fisherman and catch the fish unaware with or without me swimming alongside the fish? The very idea sounded ludicrous. Plus the analogy between her and the imaginary fisherman in my thoughts was quite hilarious. I felt a giggle rise and tried to stifle it. I managed a light chuckle instead and looked out my side of the window. I hoped my Boss didn't notice, so before he would say anything I asked about something to distract him. What would I have said? Surely, you don't expect me to tell him a female fisherman was trying to catch a silly male human fish by the crossroad we just passed.

As we sped down the road, I began to reflect deeply on what I just witnessed. I thought about my Boss who was a married man and, obviously, didn't notice what just happened. I thought about so many other faceless men who would ignorantly fall into a net subtly set for them. With it came also a realisation that as it was for the menfolk, so also it was for the female counterpart. It took a fellow lady standing at a crossroad to get me to ask myself a pertinent question... "What happens at a crossroad - any crossroads at all?" What happens when we are faced with a decision - a decision for good or bad, the right or wrong, the best or worst, the safe or dangerous in life? What informs our choice when we take that turn or take a path at that crossroad? What are the odds that we'd not plunge over the edge or keep fast to the track we set out on at first?


The Crossroad... A place of confusion. A place of crucial decision with far-reaching consequences. A place where mistakes are made either for the best or worst. A place where people takes a plunge down the ravine or scale up the mountain. A place where men are made or marred. A place where just a step can take you on the highway to destruction or on that very narrow path to safety.

Narrow, you say? Yes.

I discovered that it is often all so easy for us to make decisions that serve our selfish interest and cravings first than consider the interest of others. Many will argue with this, I know, but when it comes to making a decision that serves the good of another or people around us, there's this unusual pressure; this fight and inner struggle that leaves us tired and giving up easily. At that point, our thought goes, 'what the heck! I won't be the first to have made mistakes anyway.' And with that thought, we take the easy way out which may eventually not be the right option to have taken in the first place.

I'm guessing you are probably thinking, 'What's the point in all these?'

Okay, here it is.

When we drove by the young lady that day, I took note of some interesting truths.
1. Everyone encounters crossroads at certain points in their lives whether literary or literally.

2. No matter how innocent or ignorant a bystander one may be at a crossroad, there is always a challenge to face, a choice to make, either for good or bad at every crossroads. Challenges or happenstance are no respecter of status.

3. Never underestimate the power of a challenge at a crossword to destroy or build you up. You can never tell what measure of heartache a little compromise can bring you. Better to walk away from an inferno when you are not wearing a fire proximity suit than be consumed by the very fire you are trying to quench.

4.  At a crossroad, there will always be conflicting choices to what one knows, and the possibility of making a wrong turn will be quite high. In this case, don't get overly confident or try to be superman when you are not. Be clear about your strength, choices and path, and stick with it.

Herein I rest my Pen.

If you have ever been at a crossroad at a point in your life, and you came out unscathed, this writer would love to read about your experience and how you handled it in the comment section or write me at ejikestephanie@gmail.com.

Disclaimer: Image not mine.
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POLITICAL MADNESS - The New Normal

Hmmm, the politics of these present times!

It would seem that the more informed, knowledgeable and technologically advanced we grow, the more selfish, foolish, twisted and cruel we become. Could animals in the jungle be better at organising and ordering their world than us? Even the holy book, the Bible took notice of how organised and strategic ordinary ants can be (Proverbs 6:6-8). They have no ruler or overseer, yet they seemed to have an understanding of timings and seasons; an inbuilt planning capacity to know when to work and stockpile for the general good, and when to eat and supply. Do you know what that means? They understand the rudiments of economics more than us! Quite amazing to imagine that those ants can handle inflation and deflation plus demand and supply more than us? Yet we all know and believe their pea-size brain (though having about 250,000 brain cells according to certain experts) cannot be compared with man's jumbo size brain box. They didn't even pass through the formal educational system (Aside from  crawl all over the walls), yet it's as if they took a glance at our economic lecture notes and understood it straight away. Can anything be more mind-blowing?

Anyways, let me not get carried away now... I'm not here to talk about ants or their strangely organised system. I'm here to talk about you and me, our precursors, the so-called leaders and renowned men of this age. Let's talk about our fairy tale political structures and our democratically governing body- our system of law and order. Come on, let's talk about our well-known talk of common sense that's not so common after all, especially once we have that taste of power and control.

However, before I do, let me borrow a paragraph to apologise beforehand to those of us who are determined to feel offended and insulted by this article (Surely, I already know many will), those who love to assume someone is writing about them once there's a matter of discuss; and to those who would not think twice to dissect the not-so-conspicuous-writer who had no fear to even think of writing such things. The last time I checked, freedom of thoughts and expression still exist, doesn't it? (Not so sure about speech now, but at least our minds are not gagged yet) So, please do pardon my obviously itching hands and overly concerned attitude towards our society and world presently. Forgive me but it comes with the territory.

Let's get back to the crux of the matter...

Politics! Doesn't it sound, eh-hh, manipulative? I mean I have often heard people say to others "Don't sound so political" or "You sound so political," as if the word 'Politics' is the very master of deceit and pretence. But politics isn't the governing body in itself, rather it denotes the activities of a government. So why then do we focus so much on the activities of government than on the personalities that wield the reins of government? Isn't government suppose to define its politics - or is it the other way around? I know, I know. I probably sound like a nut case with so many loose end to tie.

However, I crave your indulgence here. I strongly think and believe that a Government reflects its politics which in turn reveals the essence of the government. Like the computer term 'Garbage in, Garbage out,' whatever we see in government today reveals the kind of leaders we have elected, the quality of mindset we have and the standard of training we have received and is still receiving from our parents and predecessors (Ah-ha! And maybe the kind of electorate we are. Aren't we the ones who voted them into leadership, huh?).

So, when we have an economy heading down the rocks (If not shattered already), and a dissected society more numerous than the cloves of Onions, and Lawmakers who are more interested in breaking than making laws and a completely unstable governmental structure and policies, what other evidence should be indicative of the quality of our personalities and enlightenment than the events and situations prevalent in our nation today?

One can't go seeking fresh water to drink from the Dead Sea. Why? The water stank because it only receives in-flow but has no outflow. Furthermore, its salinity is high and the environment harsh to the survival of any plant or animal. This depicts a state of non-development and dis-enlightenment.

What is my point?

Our politics stinks because our choice of leadership stinks too! It shows the deplorable state of our minds despite our acclaimed acquisition of various educational and professional certification. The product of this is seen in the decadence that runs deeply in the veins of our political systems, structures, offices and communities. More saddening is to see renowned men - men you'd consider refined, defend these atrocious actions even when it's clear as daylight that our society is being forced to swallow the deceptively coated pills of lies whether they accept it or not.

How have we allowed ourselves to be so brainwashed that it has become near impossible to discern lies from truths? Have we degenerated so badly that we have become comfortable with frolicking with insanity? Have the line been so tampered with that none can tell where wickedness began and where kindness ends?

We pride ourselves to be learned, yet there is nothing refined about us when we comfortably chose insane men as captains over our already rocking boat. What did we expect, huh? To have a goat birth a lion can only be a dream born out of deranged minds. The very laws of nature bear witness against such.

We have political madness all over, and it is fast becoming a norm amongst us no matter how much we wish it away. Truth is, wishing for something without a decisively complimentary action born out of a transformed mind is what it is - wishful thinking. How apt to quote our popular adage at this point; if horses were wishes, beggars and even fools will definitely ride (My Emphasis).

Countrymen, let us not delude ourselves more than we have. Insane minds can only produce chaos. What we have and are living with today is a product of the quality of mind that we let handle the reins of our affairs. For as long as we endorse insanity, well, I can only say this to us - Welcome to political madness, our new normal!

Inexcusably we should have better. For if we claim to know better at this age, then there should be proof of that. In another time soon to come, if we have to relive our choices one more time, what would it be? Madness or saneness? Crudeness or refinement? What would that choice be that’ll make our government, system, society, communities and people better than they were yesterday?

I for one know what my choices are, and they haven’t changed. I’m on the lookout for a society where my children and the coming generation can walk, talk and rest freely without being chased all over by political madness. Herein I rest my pen.

 

What are your thoughts? I’d love to read from you?