Year 2016... Don't Be Fooled

I'm constantly baffled by the circumstances of life I've been faced with in the past months, let's just say the year 2016 for me as been a journey through life's merry and bitter path on my way to rediscovering self and unravelling God's plan and I must admit I shed a couple tears and maybe frustrated at some junctions but His unending grace and my undying zeal to succeed kept me going till this gracious moment I'm privileged to be gracing these pages. And if it is right for me to say, then without stuttering, I will say I've been through hell and back.

Truly, life is not a bed of roses and though I've grown up being accustomed to this phrase but I guess I'm only just beginning to understand the depth in the simplicity of how it sounds. Life is deep and don't allow yourself for even a mere second to be fooled into thinking otherwise. You're alone in this world and if you're lucky, you just might have your parent and siblings travelling on the same coach with you because our families are not even guaranteed to be trust worthy and dedicated to helping us walk right in life. I mean, I've heard and personally experienced scenarios of life whereby a so-called parent, brother or sister is the one ranging war against the destiny of their own.

It's sad when we begin to look deep into the affairs of life and trust me, the more you see, the less you know. Well, I'm grateful I was blessed with a wonderful family, God bless the woman behind my smile and to you my loving brothers and sisters and not forgetting you too dad, you may be gone for twenty one years but you're still a part of this team. Many at times I almost gave up in life but you kept me going because the thought of not been able to disappoint you all coordinated the motivation to stay on track, putting an extra soul in me. You have always been there for me even though I mostly caused you pain at the initial stage of my youth days when I inherited a misplaced priority from nonchalantness and wrong associations in the university that almost ruined my life but because I am a project that must be accomplished, no matter the change in regime, the allocation is continued and that I'm thankful for.

Seemingly, it's no longer news to you all my regular readers and followers that I had a pretty awful past and sometimes I feel I may be constituting some kind of nuisance on the pages of my writing pad when I take it upon myself to share some of these privileged information I wouldn't trade a billion for because they are actually what defines who I really am, but then again, taking a deeper look at it all, the only nuisance I believe I'll be constituting is to the camps of those affected by my testimonies and those who are obviously still feeding on milk because it takes a certain level of spiritual understanding to swim in the depth of my words so I ask this day that you seek wisdom because there are a lot buried in between those lines.

It may seem to you as a regular story but definitely not a regular interpretation. No doubt, we all have a story to tell but I don't actually tell these stories, they tell themselves through me, so please pay attention for it may not even be talking to you at this particular point in time but to someone next door who you can be a blessing to. The year 2016 has been one of the best year for me, not because I built houses, drove expensive automobiles and took trips to the bahamas. The truth is, I couldn't even step out of Lagos all year long but I fought and won the biggest battles of my life and still fighting and now I can boldly look to the mirror and be a proud reflection of myself and that for me is the definition of a good living.

Some are driving the best cars and living in mansions but don't even know what tomorrow holds for them. They are lost in the moment but I rather fight now and live later. And through this journey, I rose and fell to rise stronger and the farther I go, the more the secrets of life given to me. And on that note, may I quickly take a second as I advice you all never to trust anyone. The truth is, our best friends could be our worst enemies. And as a matter of fact, they mostly are. Well, I thank God for opening my eyes to see the true identity and intentions of people I called friends and I just really think the dictionary should loose that word and have it reinstated as 'FRIENEMIES'. You know, I just can't begin to phantom the evil that men do but all the same, I give God the glory.

Looking back through the year, what can you say are your greatest achievements? Is it the houses you built, the cars you brought or the awards and shows you headlined? The good people of the united states of the world, life is deep, don't be fooled if you presently find yourself walking through wall street and switching trips in those private jets, are you sure you got that paper right or you're one of those desperate brothers fast tracking life so that they can ride in those fancy trucks and fresh out Bentleys, it's only a matter of time when life comes calling and requesting for what you owe, it's always better to wait for God, He's the only one who truly gives wealth, the kind that last forever without future scars and regrets.

No doubt, life is good and we all want the good things but why start what we can't finish. I've seen millionaires end up walking on the streets without a penny to their name and even some end up more pathetic and run mad if they are lucky enough not to find an early grave. A word is enough for the wise, thread softly and don't be too impatient. Stripping a brother off his glory so that you may acquire all the riches in life doesn't make you a 'Red Star General', it only makes you a monster whose story is bound to end very badly. Retrace your steps now that you still can and if you're already too deep into it, well you have a chance to start afresh. I believe greatly in 2017 and with God, you can be free from your past and embraced in the future. I wish you all a merry Christmas in arrears and am very optimistic of a prosperous new year. God bless you all !

Kay Magnate

The College Dropout

Say Cheese, his sister said, joy evident in her voice as the camera clicked away. Kayode was ecstatic, he still had a problem believing it. He had to be dreaming and if he was, he did not want to be awaken. “I have graduated”, he whispered, savouring the words. It rang true and it felt wonderful. He observed his family and friends rejoicing around him with barely concealed joy. Left to him, an intimate celebration with family and a few friends was enough but of course, his family refuted the idea.

He couldn’t fault them though, they were all just so glad for him, but then, who wouldn’t? The story of his life was in summary, a miracle. Who would have thought that the college dropout would amount to anything? Although, it would seem that he hasn’t achieved anything, he felt like he could capture the world and he could even see himself doing just that. If not for him, then for his mother, who at that moment, was looking at him with so much pride. That look always made his world feel alright.

He would never forget the look she gave him about seven years ago when he told her he had dropped out of school. It was full of disappointment and hurt. He promised himself that expression would never be directed at him again. He wanted to make her happy always, he figured he owes her that much. He didn’t think one could be in love with his mother because that’s how he felt about her. Saying he loves her sounds too superficial to describe the way he appreciates her.

She is his strength and he knows his siblings feel the same way about her. How many women recovered so boldly and remained unmarried for the sake of their kids after losing their husband at their prime? Kayode sometimes felt she did not grieve enough for her lost love because she wanted to stay strong for them. She became both parents to them without so much fuss and whatever each of them became, they attributed to her unwavering believe in them.

 Kayode was in junior secondary school when he lost his father and although he would never admit it to anyone, he lost all motivation to succeed. His father had always been his driving force, he did well in school because he wanted his father’s approval. After his father’s demise however, Kayode lost his morale to succeed at something. He figured, “what’s the point?” Unfortunately for him, by the time he realised he was travelling on a dead end, it was too late.

He was already in college studying a course he had absolutely no passion for, moving with the wrong friends and failing woefully. Now that he thinks about it, his admission into the university was a mystery and the situation was too overwhelming for him to do anything but be bad at it. Frequent visit with his faculty examination officer over his grades overstretched him and eventually he gave up.

The first person Kayode opened up to was his immediate younger sister, Sade and for some reason, she understood. But then, he didn’t know why he was surprise, she always seemed to understand him. It was probably because she was closer to him than his elder brother and youngest sister. Sade was the one with him when he finally told his mother and from her reaction that day, Kayode expected nothing less than a disownment. Surprisingly, after a few days of walking on eggshells around the house, she summoned him.

He cannot say exactly what he was hoping to hear from her but the last thing he expected her to say was that she loved him and she believed he could put the past behind him and work on making a future for himself. Kayode couldn’t possibly find the words to explain how he felt that day, all he knew was that was the day he decided the world will hear of him. His mother probably doesn’t know it but those words pushed him to where he is today.

Kayode smiled at the memories as the noise of jubilation geared him back to reality. He knew he still had a long way to go, this is just a stepping stone but he couldn’t help but feel fulfilled. He no longer felt like a disappointment but a success.

The future is uncertain but why does it look brighter? Why did it seem like the world was waiting for him to come contribute his quota? Why does it seem like the sky was beckoning on him to soar?

He did not have the answers to these questions but one thing was clear, He was going to leave his footprints on the sand of time. The world is waiting for the solution to a problem and the college dropout would supply it.

(Inspired By A True Life Story)

Kay Magnate

Why Am I In This Friendship?

Friendship is one of the most familiar words in the dictionary as we all are in a friendship of sort. This stems from the human nature to crave companionship and intimacy. However, as familiar as we seem to be with the word, it is also a word widely misrepresented. A lot of people have been left scarred because of the wrong choice of friend(s) and you hear them say “there are no true friends”. True friendship itself is not a mirage but we seem to have a falsified view about the idea of friendship. I, for one, confide in my friends than I do in my immediate family, yes, we are that close. But closeness is not a determining factor of friendship, intention is. It might sound too simple but it does carry a lot. The simple question, “why am I in this friendship?”.

Wikipedia defines friendship as “a relationship of mutual affection between two or more people”. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, on the other hand, gave a more explicit description, presenting it as “a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other, for the other’s sake, and that involves some degree of intimacy”. The recurring point in the definitions stated above is that friendship is a mutually satisfying relationship. In other words, it must involve more than one person and it must be mutual. Now, you hardly see people being friends with themselves except their sanity is questionable. But finding people who are not in mutually satisfying friendship is not a rare sight. Sadly enough, most people are unaware.

The importance of friendship to our lives cannot be overemphasized and that is why we cannot afford to get it wrong. The friends we keep are undoubtedly one of the greatest influences we have, which explains why most often than not, our friends reflect our values. We therefore need to understand that true friendship goes beyond what we see on the surface and those deeper factors are what determines whether it is friendship or an organization.

Friendship is expected to have certain features ranging from sympathy, empathy, honesty, mutual understanding, compassion, trust to the enjoyment of each other’s company, the ability to be oneself, express one’s feelings and make mistakes without fear of judgement from the friend. On the surface, most friendships do not lack these qualities but on a deeper level, you tend to find insincere intentions masquerading as affection. Any relationship devoid of genuine love and concern for each other and an unrequited friendship is not in the true sense of the word, “friendship” because as established earlier, it involves both parties reciprocating the love, care and concern.

One thing I discovered about friendships is that those that developed by chance/virtue last longer than those borne out of need. Now, need comes in different ways, there is what I call “the innocent need” and “the parasitic need”. Both types of need are dangerous as it destroys the carrier in the innocent need and the host in the parasitic need. The carrier of the innocent need in most cases is unaware and it is found in people who are insecure or love-starved, low esteemed, if you like and they have irresistible desire to feel loved. When they meet someone who is in the least interested in them or vice versa, they stick to that person in desperation.

The outcome is either the recipient is a leech and ends up draining them or that person is nice but in the long run, gets choked up and withdraws. The parasitic need on the other hand, is very aware and sometimes even smug. The need in this instance is usually for money, position or comfort. In both cases, the driving force for such friendship is not love or genuine concern and will ultimately hit the rocks, leaving one party, if not both, hurt.

Friendship developed by chance is usually as a result of common interests or values. These are the kind of friends life toss at you and you find out their craziness matches yours. They become an integral part of your life but its not a need as much as its an enjoyment. They understand you perfectly and even your silence. This kind of friendship is mutually satisfying and there is a sincere enjoyment of each other’s company. However, it should not be mistaken that it must last forever, sometimes, it does fade most probably due to distance in space or time. But unlike the former that ends with hurts and hard feelings, they slowly fade away while their memory lasts forever.

This brings us back to the first question, “why am I in this friendship”? Or “why is my friend with me?”. My best answer will be in the range of an “I don’t know, we just had a connection”. You ask me the kind of person my friend is and I can give you a two volumed book on how great a person he/she is. But why is the person my friend? I can’t seem to explain in words, I am just eternally grateful for the friendship.

Kay Magnate

Love Conquers All

Marriage is a legal institution between two people to become husband and wife. Basically, It's a celebration of moments, love and togetherness. However, there must have been a lot of hurdles crossed before this eventually comes to play and this piece of writing has been put together to point at the religion aspect of it and will like you all to sit back and relax, strap your sit belts and journey with me as we look at the possibilities of the coming together of a christian brother and a Muslim sister, who are both dedicated to their respective religion to become husband and wife.

To kick start this engine, I will like us to know that no matter how hard we try to run away from the truth, the fact still remains that Christians and Muslims are one even though we have our different beliefs and ways of doing things and I'll keep sticking it out to you all because we all were created by the same God and of a common goal, regardless. Allah is God and so is Yisa, Jesus so why the favoritism? The same way the Muslims bow their heads in prayers is the same way the celestial churches do and what if there's a difference in how the protestants or even the Christians and Muslims in general go about serving their creator, the fact still remains that we all acknowledge and serve one special God and that I believe supersede all.

It is just sad how we all tend to discriminate against one another and to this effect, the coming together of a Muslim and a Christian to live happily under one roof may seem quite difficult to achieve but definitely not impossible. However, I've seen a lot of Muslim sisters giving up their religious background and beliefs to become one with a christian brother, embracing his religion and dedicating her whole life to what it stands for, all in the name of love but I've not seen or heard of a christian brother giving up all of that to be joined with a Muslim sister to practice Islam and even though I will like to talk more on that but I guess that is a topic for another day.

Apparently, just as there are people who have dedicated their entire life to the practice of Christianity and are worthy of been called Christians, so are there people who are just ordinary church goers and lip coated heaven worshipers and I'm afraid this same scenario plays out in our mosques too, but I'm not here to point fingers to that regard, after all the gospel didn't say you 'MUST' serve Jesus or Mohammed depending on what direction you're looking from, it only says you'll be saved through him 'IF' you do, it's a matter of choice, really.

There are different levels of dedication regarding our religious race on earth as I hurriedly pointed out in the last paragraph and would have loved to take a minute or two to quickly straighten that out because with God, it's either you're hot or cold, there's no place within but then of course as I already said, that's a topic for another day because I'm here to talk about two dedicated individuals, who understands the concepts and have chosen to stay hot, although on a different religious platform and we would be looking at the possibilities of them coming together against all odds to be joined as one in holy matrimony.

Well, it seems like a pretty hard task to achieve considering the fact that they are both dedicated worshipers of their various religion but I know it's not impossible as anything is possible with love and one just needs to keep his fingers crossed and allow the mystery unravel itself. You know, love conquers all and it's accomplish-able but on a condition that speaks volume and that is the measure of love they share. Only true love can withstand all the drama that comes with it, otherwise they will soon fade away like a pair of colored shirt washed with bleach and memories of them tossed into the thin air and blown away to be seen no more.

Only love can stand the true test of time, it never gives up. If you have it, you have everything. It's the only thing that suspends physical laws and so I like to call love a miracle. Love is divine and cannot be underestimated. Initially, there will be argument and misunderstandings that will lead to those long and exhausting fights that will at some point almost kill the wonderful thing they thought they had but if what they share is true and sincere, they would overcome and stand strong against all odds.

Love cannot be broken no matter how hard they try, it's like destiny, it can only be delayed and even if separated, they soon find a way back to each other's arms. I like to call it the biggest test of all time because love always wins, it never goes wrong. Nonetheless, I know it is not going to be an easy fight for them to stay un-separated because we must remember that they aren't the only ones involved in this, the both parent of the aspiring couple alone is enough to impose a lasting threat on their friendship, talk more of their friends, loved ones, counsel from spiritual leaders and family as a whole.

Moreover, let's not forget conflicts of opinion stage-managed by the significance of the difference in religious background also staring at them deep in the eye and the basic truth is that when you put all these into consideration, some would rather just save themselves from the drama than dive into that ocean. Notwithstanding, true love faces that turbulent sea, not minding the strong current they have to swim in and will make it to the shore eventually. Love is simply the beauty of life and with it, anything I repeat is possible. There are no restrictions in love, no limitations and no boundaries, it conquers all. I've seen the blind get married to a beauty queen and also a relationship maintaining its standard, its status, not loosing the love they shared despite one of them been involved in a very fertile accident that took both legs.

Love is a beautiful thing, and like I said earlier, if you have it, you have everything. For it suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; Love Vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. It doth not behave itself unseemly. Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth; Beareth all things, believe all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. With love, anything is possible and religion I say enthusiastically is not much of a barrier if the two people involved share a sincere and true feeling. No doubt, it will not be an easy sail but eventually, love always win.

Kay Magnate

By His Mercy

Mercy is a kind or forgiving attitude towards somebody that you have the power to harm or punish. It can also be defined as the act of sparing someone punishment shown to an offender or enemy. Nonetheless, looking at it from the biblical point of view, I will like to say mercy is a product of favor, it is a kindness from God. Mercy is divine amnesty, it's when God suspends other actions and as Christians, we all need God's mercy to survive through life and put up with the uncompromising situations we are faced with everyday.

The truth is, God's mercy is the reason so many are alive today and if we were to judge based on human actions and developments, i can only wonder the situation of things and how messy our lives would have played out on a daily basis but because of His forgiving nature, God's mercy has covered our butt on several occasions even when we had no idea of the prevailing circumstances when the devil tried opening them out in the public and make us objects of ridicule. However, I want us to realize that we can't afford to keep abusing this privilege and take for granted His kindness, why don't we resolve today to making our life aligned with His ways so that we can remain in the divine mercy of God.

In addition to that, I want us to understand that it is not only sinners that need His mercy, even those living a righteous life today actually do too because I believe we've all made some wrong choices at some point in our lives and should fall, sleep and wake at the feet of His mercy. Basically, to correct past errors made, we need God's divine mercy. The truth is, a building with a bad foundation is bound to collapse and only by His grace can it remain standing and that’s why we all need His mercy.

Mercy is divine, it's the longest rope one can ever get and when in action in your life, where people gather together, regardless their number, you will be singled out. Now, lets take a trip to the bible a little bit, do you remember Jacob? Jacob was the husband of Rachel and together they gave birth to twelve children from which Joseph was ultimately singled out for favor and likewise David, who was a product of favor as he was distinctly singled out from the bunch of eight children despite being the last son. Apparently, when you're operating under His mercy, you'll be singled out for God's divine favor.

Furthermore, when mercy is in action in your life, you will be a candidate of miracle and testimony. When others are praying and still waiting on God for the manifestation hour, you will be testifying to the great and wonderful things the Lord has done for you. You can never run out of reasons to praise and glorify His name, your life itself would be a miracle and because of your testimonies, people will start saying that God is partial, wondering if you are the only one that prays.

In other words, His mercy makes one a favorite and no matter the qualifications and connections other may have, you will be selected ahead of them. You will be the favorite of God and the favorite of man and because of His mercy, your enemies will be disgraced. Those that have been mocking you and have been posing like Goliath in your life, it is just an ordinary stone that will remove their head. Your enemies will be disgraced and put to shame. God will wear you a garment of victory and even those challenging your God, saying we'll see what He'll do will all be put to shame. God will take over your battle and all impossibility will become possible.

You know, when God's mercy is at work in your life, the things you thought you couldn't do, you will be able to do them and without a doubt become a product of change and great future like David, Joseph and Esther just to mention a few. Ostensibly, doors will be opened unto you and uncommon favor from different angles, even from where you least expect will be yours. There will be showers of blessing over your roof and the goodness of God will follow you everywhere you go.

And with that said, allow me to conclude as I recommend us to remain in the sight of God's favoring eye and by His mercy, we can live our lives to the fullest and make the best out of it. I am serving a merciful God and you can as well. By His mercy I live this day and qualified to write inspirational pieces that liberate the soul. If I were to be judged by my past, I should be sited a million meters away from my pen and writing pad but His mercy redeemed me and reintroduced me to the Lord, the creator and the shepard of my soul. Today could be that day your life has been waiting for, why not tap into the anointing of today's inspiration and let His mercy cleanse you and redefine your existence. God bless us all

Kay Magnate

Music, The Violin Of Life

Music is the art of science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony and expression of emotion. The oxford advanced learner's dictionary defines music as sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or exciting to listen to. It's the written or printed signs that represents the sounds to be played or sung in a piece of music.

Music is life and to so many people, it's the reason they are alive. You might deprive someone like me for instance of his food for a whole day and I will do just fine but try depriving me of my music for just a second and you'll find an human body just lying frustrated on the bed with no soul in it, it's more like you disconnected me from life. Apparently, music is like food to the soul, a merry heart is a joyful heart, a joyful heart is a sound mind and a sound mind is a musically inclined one.

The truth is, music does more to the human body than we can ever imagine. Basically, it does more than just bringing sound to its ears. Just as water is very essential for the digestion process that takes place in the human body, so is music extremely important to maintain stability in the human head, it lubricates the mind. So many things go on in there and a little piece of music could serve as a filter that eliminates all the stress imposed on the brain due to the work overload and excess thinking undergone in the course of carrying out the day's work, thereby bringing a suiting feel to the ear, body and soul.

Fundamentally, it is life preserving. Just as Paracetamol is a pain killer, so is it an automatic stress reliever, it enlarges the life span. It is innovative, suiting, music is the violin of life. Subscribe to its manual and enjoy the bumpy ride through the world of class and exclusive instrumentation. Music is love, music is togetherness, it is an ambassador for peace. It cuts across all race, culture and gender. Inherently, music is me, music is you, music is us, it's the reason we all gather in lounges and refreshment homes to unwind and meet with friends.

Music connects us to life itself, a life without it is like a shoe without its lace. And the truth is, no matter the genre of music that catches your fantasy, there's always some sort of satisfaction met when the earphones romances your eardrum and when you just allow it breathe out ceaselessly through your speakers. It calms your nerves and sets you in the mood, taking away all your worries and preparing you for the task ahead. It is inspirational, motivational and empowering. And just like style, it gives a mouth to mouth to your personality, thus bringing it to life. A good investment in music is a good investment of your time because a well relaxed brain will always produce for you.

Just as leaders spend their leisure time catching up on a good book, you can spend yours listening to good music in as mush as you're feeding on the right content. Music is the vehicle that transports you instantly from the valley of depression to the city of creation. It's a weapon that forces the enemies of fatigue and boredom to be dispelled quickly and instantly from our lives. It's like a current in the ocean of life moving us towards the palace of our dreams. When everything around is dying, music lives, so lets carefully rebuild the atmosphere of our expectation, hope and enthusiasm. Music is life, don't stop the music.

Kay Magnate