It’s the beginning of a new year. It’s that time of the year when, as in that lovely poem by Pa Gabriel Okara (New Year’s Eve Midnight), our hearts slowly beat “the Nunc Dimittis” to all our “hopes and mute / yearnings of a year” as “dreams beyond dreams” of the old year mingle “with the dying / bell-sounds fading / into memories / like rain drops / falling into a river”.
It’s a time to leave the past behind and dream anew. “Behold, old things have passed away, the new is here.” It’s that time of the year when people make resolutions on the things (like habits) to drop and projections on what they wish to achieve in the course of the year. “I must marry this year.” “I must quit smoking and womanising”. “I must build a house this year.” “I must buy a new car this year.” “I must quit my job this year and set up my own business.”
For many Nigerians especially, it is also a time of positive confessions and declarations. You know how they will often tell you to stop confessing negative, such that someone who is very ill will say to you, “I am strong.” So, a guy who was owed some money by a friend of mine went to this friend and said, “I’m very rich right now, so please pay me my money.” And my friend laughed and said, “Go, I’ll give you when you’re broke. You don’t need it now since you’re very rich.”
But the spirit of positive confessions will come upon many this time and you will hear real positive declarations. “2017 is my year of great expectations”. “2017: My year of total abundance”. “2017: My year of uncommon breakthrough”. “2017: My year of rising from grass to grace”. “2017: My year of zero to hero”. “2017: My year of testimonies”. “2017: My year of unlimited favours”. “2017: My year of ‘My Case is Different”.
And smart religious leaders will latch onto these proclamations of faith and print stickers, bless them and sell to the congregation who will then post them on their cars, doors, or other unimaginable places.
On Facebook, the “Amenites” will post prayer points and ask their friends to type Amen if they want to receive miracles in 2017. They will claim such posts originated from some highly respected “Men of God”. And, like play, like joke, such posts will gather thousands of Amens from Nigerians eager to reap a harvest of miracles in the new year.
Meanwhile, the Christmas and New Year festivities have been full of grand wishes from loved ones and to loved ones. “You shall not only cross over to 2017 but shall take over and possess your possessions – Amen”. “May your new year be full of success stories and may prosperity never depart from your home – Amen.” “In 2017, you shall do great exploits and attain greater heights beyond your enemies’ imagination – Amen.” “2017 shall be that year that you have been waiting for. All your dreams and expectations shall be fulfilled in this new year – Amen.” “This year, you shall work like an ant and eat like an elephant. You shall reap where your enemies have sowed – Amen.” “You shall be lifted up beyond your imagination – Amen”.
And for every new month of the new year, these wishes will continue, with greetings of “Happy New Month” accompanied by prayers ad infinitum.
Great wishes, you would say. Great dreams too. And there is absolutely no harm in dreaming dreams. “Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams,” says the Holy Book.
But dreams remain just dreams, great wishes remain great wishes, and prayers remain just that until you lift a finger to work. “Laborare est orare (To work is to pray),” says a Latin adage. All the good wishes, all the Amens, all the prayers in this world mean nothing without work. See, even the Holy Book makes it abundantly clear that faith without good work is dead in itself.
Somewhere else it says: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?”
It further says, “By the labour of your hands you shall eat”; “He who does not work let him not eat”, etc.
So, as you attend “power-packed” prayer crusades this January looking for miracles to turn your life around, ask for grace to remember that prayer without work is null and void. You will do your bit, God will accomplish the rest. God worked for six days, and he still goes about working. If you have no work, please find something to do with your hands. Learn a skill; you need one in these hard times. But please do something. No idling.
Happy New Year.
Chuks Oluigbo
