WHERE IS JUNIOR?

WHERE IS JUNIOR? By Emmanuel Idiagi

When I was much younger, they called me Junior.

I ran around and played all the kind of play you could ever imagine.

From crawling to running.

From running to jumping.

From jumping to injuring myself.

We entered a car close to our house. We had a serious journey to embark on. We called all the imaginary passengers to enter with their change so as not to cause delay when we get to the bus stop. The car had flat tyres and my mouth was the sound of the engine. We dropped each passengers at their various destination but in reality the car was static!

Atimes, we went to another vicinity to play a football match. We either came back happy or defeated. Such a match, if luck wasn't with you, you'll come back home, walking with one leg of your slippers because the other leg pulled out during the tournament. If you were prudent enough, you'll look for a little nail to fix it up. If JUNIOR wore one leg of his slippers coming home, no one would see it as absurd.

'He's JUNIOR'

Oh my God! See Junior has started again o...

'Junior! Junior! Come here jare'

Junior is still laughing, eagerly looking for some new fun to catch up with.

I loved the fun. The fun was fun! Wow!

But I pondered recently.

I asked myself, "But where is Junior?"

Right now, if I decide to run around the compound and jump like before, I can see some folks already at alert to catch me, tie me up, to take me to the nearest Psychiatric hospital for check up or something.

But no one would bind up Junior like that. No one would ever think something went wrong with jumping and running JUNIOR.

I hear people call me, 'Uncle! Uncle!'

And I ask myself, 'But what of Junior? Where is he?'

I carry that young boy and the beards around my chin begins to stab his smooth face. He begins to stare at me with naughty looks.

In his mind, I guess he'll be like, 'Why is this Uncle's face stabing me like this now?'

But Junior never had a stabing face. Now, how will I be able to convince this small boy about JUNIOR'S smooth face?

I'm either called a Mentor, an Uncle, a Brother,... but what of JUNIOR? No one wants to call me JUNIOR anymore. Why?

Is that not my name again?

***

Friends, sometimes in life, we need to face reality.

We are no more getting younger each passing day. Our life span is short.

You were called 'baby girl' some time ago but right now, people call you, 'aunty' or 'mummy'.

Sometimes, you get offended.

'Stop that rubbish. I don't like it. Call me...'

Do you know why you get pissed off?

You're still backing reality that's why.

My sister, it's an evident that life is not only changing around you but life is changing with you!

All those we called uncles are now papas.

All those we called papas are now grandpas

All those we called grandpas and grandmas are all gone.

Friends, life is so short.

What do you want to do with your life if I may ask?

People who don't understand the brevity of life will always want you to spend your whole life chatting, laughing and doing so many frivolous things that won't add much value to your life or to your world.

But what's your decision about life?

I have some candid advice for you friend.

Are there some books you've always loved to write? Write them now.

It seems you've always wanted to compose some cool musics. Now is the time.

You've always wanted to learn to play that instrument? You're not sure of tomorrow beloved. Learn it now.

You've always wanted to preach God's Word and do some great work for the kingdom of God? Do it now.

You've always wanted to be a business tycoon or something. The hour is now.

'I want to make sure...'

'I want to be able...'

'I want to...'

NO! JUST DO IT RIGHT NOW. START IMMEDIATELY.

Don't procrastinate anymore.

'JUNIOR' IS NO MORE.

Challenge: Your life is brief. Live your life to please God and impact your world as much as possible to His glory.

Life is like a tale that's told Beloved.

Be wise.

Prayer: O Lord, teach us to number our days and to apply our hearts to wisdom.