His eyes are on this Umudioka sparrow. For this aging lad He will still kick down any wall that stands in his way as a young actor. And still will tear down any lie that suggests that this His child is too old to soar even higher at 78
Only Your Reckless Love can do all of this, Father, for me in 78 years, and I’m still counting, by Your loving grace. Daalu, Onyenwem
TWO Sundays ago the SP – aren’t those the initials for our secondary school Senior Prefects? – prepped the congregation for the service. He led us slowly into that wonderful song Reckless Love by Cory Asbury. And as PJ, the SP – Snr. Pastor – of The Fountain of Life Church, who, btw also has a good ‘n’ lovely singing voice, got us really going into those well-crafted and very emotive lyrics of the song, some images of my 78 years came welling up. For today let me dwell on that which, on the Asaba bank of River Niger, would’ve terminated this here journey in 1961.
The entire family had arrived there from our base in Akure. We were on our way home in Umudioka for Papa’s vacation aka annual leave which he preferred to take biennially. Our vehicle had been loaded onto the pontoon to ferry us to the other side of the great river, to the Onitsha jetty. Whatever had distracted me I now cannot remember. But I do recall the rush of panic that almost took my breath away when I saw my parents on the barge as it pulled off and away from the Asaba jetty. I kinda reared up, as I used to for both high and long jump in my school, to take what can only be a your-life-depends-on-it-omo jump. Luckily, on account of His Reckless Love for this rascal of a lad I landed on the flatbed flap of the vessel. Mama let out a gasp, Nna! Papa gave me that never-try-that-stunt-ever-again scowl of a look. And, I heaved a big thank-you-Jesus sigh of relief.
Oddly in these 63 years, none of us ever discussed what happened on that boat named Bishop Shanahan until now that you’re reading this!
Had I landed short I can imagine that there would’ve been just a little splash as I was but a small lad. River Niger would’ve momentarily opened its mouth and then closed it as it majestically continued on its own ageless journey to the forever-thirsty Atlantic Ocean without as much as a tiny pause! Hadn’t she been chopping people and cleaning mouth since creation? But on account of the overwhelming, neverending reckless love of God He saved me.
Could I’ve earned it? Mba nu.
Did I deserve it? Of course not.
Yet, His eyes are on this Umudioka sparrow. For this aging lad He will still kick down any wall that stands in his way as a young actor. And still will tear down any lie that suggests that this His child is too old to soar even higher at 78.
So, my Papa wey dey for heaven, I dey too grateful for how You’ve kept me in my yard, hearty and quite hale, still with Mama Yard, and all the pikins You blessed us with plus their own bambinos, ighotago, eating akpu and ofe onugbu which we merrily send down on their way with good old water or FES – you too like gist, but I won’t tell you what that is – or even a flute glass of claret, when the spirit catches us in that our yard. Phew! that was a long sentence!
Only Your Reckless Love can do all of this, Father, for me in 78 years, and I’m still counting, by Your loving grace. Daalu, Onyenwem.
Thank You.
https://youtu.be/RrJJiaXeBSY?si=GHx7momy_HvWwWHF
Pls don’t blame me if a tear dropped.
