JAKOH DOUBTS The time when the sun burned with its full intensity in the sky had passed. Now it turned pale and a portion of it covered by the grey cloud, fully ready to enter its place of abode. Jakoh, yet standing, rested his buttock on the mahogany tree. His droopy head was turned towards the rustling dry leaves on the ground. He felt he must give full thought to the ideas that raced in his mind. While he was going to his farm in the morning, Jakoh was keen enough to grab the detail of the message being disseminated by the town crier: “At noon a stranger is coming to the village to give out bags of money to anyone who comes to the village square.” It was such announcement that raised a concern in Jakoh’s mind. “This has never happened before in our village,” he said to himself. “It can never be true.” However, he gave it a second thought and returned home waiting for the stranger who was coming to give out bags of money. He stretched himself on a bench, his mud-smeared legs sprawled out and his mind racing with mixture of hope and doubt. A few minutes before noon, Jakoh jumped to his feet, “Such can never happen!” he concluded and left his house for farm. On his way to farm, he met a grey-headed man who asked him where he was going. “I’m on my way to my farm,” Jakoh responded. The old man was very impressed by his diligent spirit. “What a diligent man you are!” The man commended him. Jakoh would start boasting about how hard-working he was and spoke about how lazy some people were; who would not work but would be waiting to receive bags of money from a stranger. “I’m never like that,” he finally said. The grey-headed man set his gaze on Jakoh. The sparkles in his eyes signalled he had something to say. With his steady baritone he promised, “I’ll wait for you till sunset.” The grey-headed man would not wait for further conversation; rather Jakoh would have wished to ask him who he was. Somehow, he had a feeling he could be the stranger the village was expecting but later convinced himself he wasn’t. After all, a man who would give out bags of money would not walk empty-handed. Jakoh arrived on his farm in the heat of the day. He would not mind the scalding rays of sun burning the back of his neck as he stooped to cultivate his farm. Sometimes, the tree branches gliding over each other made a sound of hungry bats. At another time, the coo of doves reminded him of departed ancestors. His physical fitness seemed to be no more; so he had to return home. At Jakoh’s return, the village was silent. The sound of the gentle breeze could be heard. It was time the wilting leaves were falling off the branches, their zigzag motion as they were afloat in the air before reaching the ground appeared to be an omen to Jakoh. Hence, he must find a meaning to the omen. As he set aside to meditate beside a tree, the voice of the grey-headed man began to resonate in his mind: “I’ll wait for you till sunset!” He was distracted by two men running into the village. He called out to them, having noted the excitement on the faces. “Where are you running to?” he asked them. The men stopped and told him they were going to receive their bags of money. Jakoh’s immediate questions caused the men to doubt, “Do you think it could be true that a stranger would come into the village and give out bags of money?” One of the two men quickly freed himself from the doubt Jakoh’s question had posed. He ran into the village square. The next moment, he returned with a bag of money. It was no longer a thing of doubt. The stranger really came and gave bags of money! Jakoh and the other friend took to their heels and made their way to the village square to claim their own bags of money. Meanwhile, it was sunset! Jakoh would not have his bag of money. The other friend who also doubted under Jakoh’s influence would not have his bag of money. It was too late! Stop doubting the promise of God. If you doubt for too long, you may never have it. Believe, claim and go for His promises before sunset. Yours sincerely, Wole Adegbile.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 07:45:37 +0000