DEAR CHURCH

     I see you have a lot of children scattered everywhere in my country; every twist and turn, every lane, corner; in street corners, markets, villages, towns and crevices. I see your emblem. I must confess I am impressed by how far you’ve come; your reputation is hitting the roof, and there’s even a good chance it will hit the sky.

     I see church, you’ve paid careful attention to your appearances. I’ve traveled to some cities around, and your elegance catches my fancy. Your walls are not without pearly adornments; like a bride elegantly dressed, you are a beauty to behold. You dwarf your close associates with your mountainous edifices. Your gaze is sharp and fixed like a flint towards the clouds.

Dear church, you’ve become a reference for success, opulence, wealth; although some of your offspring live on paltry income. Robust resources, teeming followers, unrivaled reputation; you sure are successful. You’re doing alright.

         I am however writing this letter with great disappointment. I am really sorry if I crossed the line, or if I stirred your peaceful waters. I really, really wanted to talk to you, hence this letter.

        Church, a lot of your followers are very successful Publicists, Judges, Lawyers, CEOs, Sportsmen and Sportswomen, Directors, Ambassadors, Politicians, Senators, and the likes. Looking at the followers you’ve got, it is nothing short of being impressive. Evidently, your problem isn’t wealth or reputation. Your problem, as I have observed, is that your followers are wealthy in possessions only.

I feel strongly that directly or indirectly, you are mostly to blame for this. Your unrelenting insistence on ‘possessing possessions’ is gravely misconstrued, to the detriment of contentment. What happened to being “able to live in abundance or in lack”. I am not saying you should not instruct them to develop, grow and live successful lives. I am saying that your habitual emphasis seems to suggest that getting all that could be gotten is all there is in this life.

       Also, you do not have control over your charges. Most of your offspring out there were nested, cuddled and nourished by you. Now they are occupied with more ‘pressing’ needs, satisfied only to occasionally grace your presence for blessings they need to make it out there. Somehow, you are content with their seasonal turn-ups. They fulfill their weekly obligations of sowing seeds. They however keep their hearts from your reach. I wonder if you taught them that or they learned it from others.

     You are scared to call them to order. They’re major contributors to your income. They’re Celebrities, Governors, Presidents, wealthy politicians and are way beyond your league. Are they?

To be continued...