Posted by BY J E SOLOMON
A couple of things had happened to distract my attention since the last article dated August 4. I’ll refer to it as bad times. It’s like those moments in life when almost everything seemed to go in the reverse.
I cannot discuss in this article all that happened, but anyway, it was also a critical time when I had to take a personal budgetary decision similar to what the US Congress did recently – having to raise the debt ceiling. However, unlike Congress, I didn’t have to play politics with it or hassle with anyone. I didn’t need all of that unnecessary time-wasting. I just did it.
Also, during the period, one of my social network accounts was bugged for the first time by an “internet devil” that sent scam messages in my name to friends using that particular social network.
One thing remains clear in my mind; that is, in life, good times will come, and bad times, too, will come. It has also reinforced in my mind the truth about human fickleness and why one needs to be prepared to accept unexpected painful experiences from just anyone. I realized, somehow, that we can turn certain bad situations into personal gains.
A particular incident still makes me want to believe that some people are inherently mean and very open to be evil. No matter how well you relate with them, or open up to them kindly, whenever it pleases them to cause any harm to you, they will do it. It’s as if evil runs in their blood and it’s their kind of hobby.
As said earlier, bad times will come, but how do we generally handle some of life’s bad moments? Are we easily despaired? Do we try to overcome it by any means, fair or foul? Or do we turn to God for solution?
For some it’s that time when they wish they have the best of friends around to help revive their waning spirits. But that only works for a short time. Once the friends are gone, and the pleasant feelings come to an end, you find yourself back to the same situation. Others resort to the use of alcohol or drugs or sex, and sometimes a combination of any two or, all three. That, too, doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it leads to more serious problems.
My cousin, Nii-Ahuma, a very frank and easy-going person, has a unique therapy for stress reduction, a funny way of turning his attention from nagging problems. He says it’s the quickest way for him to stop needless worries.
This is what he claims he does. He would watch videos of animals copulating or watch porn films for some time and that helps to stop all worries without resorting to alcohol, smoking, etc. Thereafter, with a mind at ease, he would be ready to move on and deal with stuff that needs to be done. He maintains, though, that his therapy only serves as a temporary relief from worries. It does offer him the peace of mind he needs to reorganize himself.
The most important lesson I learnt was that the so-called bad moments are great opportunities for us to recoil into our inner selves and take refuge in the ever-ready and open arms of the Divine Father, the source of unfailing strength and energy.
Oh, I almost forgot. While I was going through those tough times, Hurricane Irene added some discomfort to my miseries by forcing me to spend Sunday night, August 28 at work for nothing. It deprived me of sound sleep and the comfort of my bed. All major roads on my route were either closed or dangerously flooded and it was unwise to venture out there not knowing how I was going to get home.