Waiting For A Sign !!!

I woke up very early to do my chores so I could avoid the morning traffic that could keep one in it for hours. I had spent hours praying, and was sure filled with the Holy Spirit. I couldn't wait to get out of the house, it's was the day I was going to get registered for my national service at the service secretariat. I pressed my white shirt, and my faded jeans, I wanted something I could move in easily. I checked my time as I dash out of the house, it was 6am. I plugged my ear piece into my ears, and splatting into my ears were contemporary Christian music, that kept my spirit alive.

It took me about two hours to finally find the secretariat,somewhere in Tema community two. apparently I was arriving almost at the deadline for the service registration, and there were a lot of young people who were there. There was a long queue that I had to join and as you would expect from young graduates, there was this long conservation as to why we still have long processes and systems in this modern age. I couldn't spare myself from participating in such an exchange of ideas. Explaining with facts, how all these long processes could be cut short with simple applications that can be designed by national service computer science students. Moreover, I still kept my cool, as I often reflected on the prayer and the scripture I read in the morning. I intermittently looked through my Nokia E66, either reading an article or going through something I had written.

As I was engrossed with the activity of the day, moving along with the queue, a young sleekly dressed lady came to sit few meters away from where I was with her friends, in the same queue I was in. What caught my attention about her was when she brought out her phone, and it was the same as mine. I had hardly seen anyone use my kind of phone, and was quite fascinated about it. As the day progressed on, I kept stealing glances at her, of which she noticed, and from a mere glance, I often caught my self starring.  Since I was ahead in the queue, I had to leave into a room for another process. Whilst in the room, I stood by the window so I could keep close eye on her. She had notice my apparent disappearance, as I saw her turning left and right to find where I had vanished to. It then dawned on me that I was actually admiring the young girl and if I had no serious intention about her, then I better quit starring.

This became the war of the day, as my mind struggled to avoid being in the flesh and being consumed by the spirit. My morning prayers were very intense that I felt it even hours later. I found myself attracted to this girl, and believe that she also  felt the same. Should I go say something to her, or should I wait for a sign ?

This was the question that tried to put my piety to test. On one hand I felt so much in the spirit and didn't want to grieve the Holy Spirit, conversely, I was thinking a chemistry  had already started forming, each time we had an eye contact.

After four hours, I had still not made any choice, and she deliberately flaunting her self in a discreetly nuanced manner so I could notice. There I was unable to move, stock in my seat, and trying to discern from the Holy Spirit. I remember telling myself, If God is in this He'll surely give me a sign.

I had finished my registration and it was time for me to leave, but my instincts won't let me, so I sat on a bench close to the entrance, hoping to have an obscure view of her. Apparently, she had finished her's and was about leaving. She deliberately allowed her friends to leave and few minutes later, about half an hour, she began to walk to the gate. It was like a slow motion, and the slowest I have ever seen. She walked bit by bit hoping I would be loosed from my bondage and jump in front of her to say 'hello, how are you'. She must have imagined me being so shy, and the best way to help me was to delay the time for love at first sight. She spent quarter of an hour standing at the gate resting her shoulders on the pillar that held the gate, optimistically expecting that at least it would be so obvious for me, and the heavy POP over my mouth would be let loose. Whilst I was seriously contending in the spirit like Jacob had with the angel, saying unless you give me a sign I would not let you go.

She finally took a long gaze at me and began to go, my legs became so heavy, and my heart thumping as fast as possible, I began to inadvertently mumble tongues hoping that the holy spirit would show up quick before she vanishes into thin air. Right before my eyes, I saw her vanish, never to see her again, neither did I receive any sign from the Holy Spirit. All I told myself was, if she is mine, we'll meet again. It's been three and half years now and I'm yet to come across her shadow.

I'm literally laughing at myself now, what!, I mean what on earth could have overshadowed my mind to think like that. Seriously, did I really need a sign ?, what sign was more than all that she displayed. I wonder how I had become such a half or slow-witted person. This was one of those times I had come close to finding love, that I find myself contemplating between making the crowning move and the indecision of waiting for a sign. I'm sure the Holy Spirit was somewhere laughing out His head out, shaking his head, saying, I have given you... a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. I just can't believe myself, that I needed a sign, hmm, this incident opens up my mind to other opportunities I have had in my life where I sat overtime trying to conjure some kind of sign that will give me the approval to take that leap.

Broke But Inspired

I just have a dislike for the sun rays. It burns so hard against my brunette skin, which is supposed to be adaptable to the condition. On a hot day, I sweat like I've been locked up in an oven. Besides, when I sweat, I feel uneasy and unpicturesque. To avoid the harsh intensity of the sun, I hop into a taxi, and off I go...that goes with an extra uncalled for expenses.

This morning, feeling quite calm and poised, I planned to check on my investment and few others important financials, I have put off for long. Leaving home in the mid-morning, enjoying the warm breeze that tranquillize my mind. I hoped for a calmer day. 
Unfortunately, it's a Friday and everybody is in town, the traffic is terrible, and as the warm breeze is being heated to saturation by the afternoon sun-rays, it becomes unbearable to be outside. Taking a transit walk in between where I'm going, I feel unease with myself. Running on empty stomach, my migraine begins to emanate, what obviously would come on my mind, is a place to calm myself down, with a good lunch. 

Still on my going green agenda, I checked in at Bonjour, ordered a salad mix without mayonnaise, with some strands of Chips. 

Whilst, engrossed with chewing the lettuce and tomatoes, that tasted bald in my mouth, a young dark-skinned skinny girl, walked up to me, to share a handbill about the world poetry day awareness campaign. I kept the conversation going, not to listen to her, but I was actually starring at her. 

I gawked at her as if she had something going on...hmmm....I think she had something going on, at least I noticed. Her dry pink lipstick plastered on lips, so dry as if being painted with a kindergarten color pencil. As she spoke, I continued to gawk, and notice how I could hardly differentiate her face from her dark top ladies t-shirt. Her dark face made the lipstick distinct, with her dry face and a month old corn roll, twirled to give her a big head. The truth is, she looks so broke. As she steals glances on my meal. 

Though the conversation lasted for just 2minutes, yet I noticed a lot. As we were jawing, she brought out her business card from a 'vieux jeu' bag. I could only but steal a glance. As she handed her card over to me, I was overwhelmed and fascinated at her mental ability. She was up to something. The card read, she was into voice overs, voice coaching and graphic designs. That's just the least to talk about when it comes to young enterprising females. But what struck me, was how I had had my mind all over her frazzling war paint, and about getting dissuaded by her sweat grinning face, whilst she being self assured, that she was branding herself right. The truth is that, it's hard to find a grin, on anybody's face, walking in this scorching sun. She was inspired, even though broke. She taught me one lesson; though the sun may be hot, it shouldn't  affect our grin, neither should it kill our passion. 

As I took my last sip, of the lemonade, I hope as I step out into this sun, my passion will rather be ignited.  

>>written on march 21 2014 By Danyl Oppong

My Bow

I bow
In humility I bow
In sobriety I bow
In calmness I bow
The life l want to live
The things I want to do
The places I want to go
My dreams, my aspiration
My passion, my life.
All rapped up in a bow.

What do I fight for?
Why do I push so hard?
Why should I be so resilient?
What do I stand to gain?

Life to me is like an ocean
I like to lie when the breeze blows across the surface of the waters, I feel soothing relief.
But when the storms comes raging, I try to sleep as the saviour did.
I want to say it's well, in the face of raging storms. I want to fly without wings beyond where troubles are. This is my dream.

But when I wake up, I want to move out to Change someone's life. I want to be the reason why someone will smile in adversity.
I want to be friend. I want to make you happy.