THE 10TH BEATITUDE. . This morning I did my devotion from Matthew 5:3-11, where there are 9 arrays of #Blessings which Jesus unleashed on Mount Olives popularly known as the #Beatitudes. As I go through these pearly sayings, I heard the soft voice from within say,…THE TENTH BEATITUDE. #Blessed_is_he_who_expects_nothing_For_he_shall_never_be_disappointed. The words sound peculiar. Alexander Pope wrote this in October 6th, 1727, in a letter he addressed to John Gay, and he themed it THE TENTH BEATITUDE. In his words, he was cautioning John not to be TOO OPTIMISTIC about the future. Not that being optimistic is wrong, but laying your plans on optimism can really bring doom, disappointment and wreckage. As I reminiscent on his piece, I heard the soft voice from within say: THE TENTH BEATITUDE. #There_is_a_slip_betwixt_the_cup_and_the_lip. This old fashioned proverb was culled from one of the Sailor’s Stories that I was told. The story of Ancaeus, the helmsman of Jason’s ship ARGO in Greek mythology. In this great story, Ancaeus was told by a slave that he would never live to taste the wine of his vineyards. When a bottle of wine made from his own grapes was set before him, he sent for the slave to laugh at his prognostications; but the slave made answer: #TheresManyASlipBetwixtTheCupAndTheLip. At this instant a messenger came in and told Ancaeus that the Calydonian boar was laying his vineyard waste, whereupon he set down his cup, went out against the boar, and was killed in the encounter. Hence, the lesson is: NOTHING IS CERTAIN, NOT UNTIL YOU POSSESS IT. This also reminded me the unfulfilled optimism of my late sister, which never saw the light of day till she died. As I still bosom on this thrills of life, I heard the soft voice from within say: THE TENTH BEATITUDE. #Catch_Your_Bear_Before_You_Sell_Its_Skin. My friend, why can’t you act prudently and stop being over optimistic? Being too optimistic makes HEAVEN to address us as FOOLS. Take things as they come and lay not your mansion on the moon. As humans, we have started complicating our expectations as though they are our dreams, and we layout plans that never come to be. Remember the story of the rich man in Luke 12:13-20, who the scripture called, fool, because he neglected this very rule. As I dwell thoughts onwards, a still voice from within say: THE TENTH BEATITUDE. #Dont_count_your_chicken_before_they_are_hatched. It is a mistake, my dear friends, to assume that because your hen is sitting on a dozen eggs you will have twelve chickens, since some, perhaps even all of them, may be bad and not hatch. So never be too optimistic about ANYTHING; WAIT TILL YOUR DIFFICULTIES ARE OVER BEFORE YOU BOAST OF SUCCESS. Mr. Gbenga hoped to be made a manager before the end of the year and have his salary greatly increased. He started placing orders for new furniture and a bigger car before the promotion had actually been made. “Don’t count your chicken before they are hatched” warned his wife. This was a good advice, for it was Mr. Shola who was made manager, and Mr. Gbenga found himself in financial difficulties. As I think on all these, I remembered what happened to me this week, yeah, same thing happened to me this week, which made me to take home these words…THE TENTH BEATITUDE #Do_Not _Hallow_Till_You_Are_Out _Of_The_Wood. The very old verb TO HALLO meant TO GIVE A LOUD EXCLAMATION. I heard this for the first time as a sailor among most of the stories we share on deck. Travellers lost in a forest were relieved and delighted when they found their way through it and emerged into the open country; but to mistake a small clearing for the open country and shout: “HURRAY! We are out of the wood” was rejoicing too soon, for many more trees might lie beyond the clearing. This proverb came to be reckoned when I heard the story of a shipwreck…. “Here comes a helicopter!” cried one of the shipwrecked sailors on the raft…”We are saved!” But the light was bad and the pilot did not see them. As the sound of the helicopter died away, another sailor said sadly: ”We’re not through the wood yet” Yeah, just this week I had similar experience by which I rejoiced for being passed for the Gulder Ultimate Search Season X, only to be screened out on Sunday. It was so painful. #First_Catch_Your_Hare. My dear, this is not a bad advice against your aspirations oo. Prudence is the key. You cannot cook and eat it until you have caught it, which may not be easy. Don’t decide what you are going to do with a thing until it is in your possession. For the umpteenth time, the still voice echoed: THE TENTH BEATITUDE. #Never_spend_your_money_before_you_have_it. A friend who was planning to wed in 4 months’ time, had his uncle assuring him of his support at the tone of N70,000 naira in 6months time. Due to this, he engaged himself in several loans, believing that the money he will realize from his wedding reception ceremony and that promised by his uncle will offset the bills. He was doomed, when the total of what he received at last was not even half of the debts he incurred. I also remember, making a pledge in the church in reliance of my gratuity from my former place of work. I was too optimistic that by February this year, I must have received the said amount. But, till date, I have not been paid of that gratuity, and am still indebted to the church.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:27:13 +0000
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