I’m constantly reminded that I’m only a mere creature operating under divine supervision. But I’m superior to dogs, monkeys, horses, and mules because I was created with enough intelligence to study the world around me, gather important information from Creation, and pray to the Almighty for help and guidance. These ever-present facts confront me daily, probably to keep me humble and remind me of my limitations and mortality. My fall and injury while walking from Sofokyere and intending to reach the Village of Nyame Nnae merely reinforced these important realities in my mind. At the time, I was confused because I couldn’t figure out the meaning of these unfortunate events. Nor was I supposed to be able to accomplish any such fete. Since that is the way Providence works. I was merely required to trust God and rely upon His goodness because I was convinced He was leading me.
Many questions filled my mind. Nor were they simple. However, trust in God and patience are important virtues to cultivate and exercise in this life and on this side of eternity. One important lesson I’ve learned over the years is that every pressing human problem has its solution within the divine bosom. Man’s biggest problem is his alienation from God. “Behold, The Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59: 1-2 (NKJV).
Human iniquity and waywardness are inescapable and brutal realities since we sin in thought, word, and deed. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8 (NKJV).
Although sin is an ever-present and vexing issue in the relationship between the human and the divine, scripture assures us that the chasm can be bridged through Jesus Christ. This is not some frivolous prospect but a vital necessity to foster a truly meaningful relationship between man and God and also to achieve eternal life. However, such accomplishments must be worked out one day at a time. While sitting on the chair in the healer’s yard, she massaged my right foot with ice. Intending to facilitate my full recovery. This process, however, was also a journey of faith for me. After I fell into the slippery mud and lay on the ground contemplating my next move, I never imagined, even for a moment, that part of my pilgrimage of faith would require me to travel to a remote village. Where an unsophisticated, uneducated child of God would minister to me in my hour of need. I recognized this development for what it was: an answer to my fervent prayers to God for help and deliverance. All the king’s men and all the credentialled professionals at the hospital had failed me. Because they were incapable of putting my Fibula back together again. Something that The Spirit of God was able to accomplish through Ms. Diana, the healer. What a wonder!
This journey was painful because I was not supposed to forget it. Amnesia is the fatal ditch into which, as humans, we are prone to fall. While traveling to the Village of Senasi and sitting in the Okada, I took my eyes off the road and became preoccupied with other trivia. In fact, I lost my concentration. When I attempted to refocus, I became disoriented and, for a brief moment, forgot exactly where I needed to be before disembarking. I asked the taxi driver to stop because I had mesmerized myself into thinking I had arrived at the right place. Unfortunately, I had miscalculated and discontinued my journey at the wrong stop. I paid the operator, and after walking in the opposite direction for a few minutes, I realized something was wrong. I soon boarded another Okada and told the driver where to go. He claimed to understand, but after only a few minutes, I became painfully aware that I was going in the wrong direction. I asked the driver to turn around. He did, and soon, I was exactly where I needed to be, but he charged me 10.00 GHS. I could have avoided that unnecessary expense if I had only remained focused. Such is life.
All of my future problems would be many because that is the nature of human existence “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue. And do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!” Job 14: 1-4 (NKJV).
If my relationship with God was right, my future problems would easily dissolve like Alka Seltzer effervescing in a glass of water. That was the moral of this experience and even others. My frequent visits to the hospital and the subsequent meetings with the Physiotherapist were mere distractions, and many such developments will occur in life. But we are called to stay focused. Even if we must stop, turn around, and retrace our steps occasionally. There are many forms of sin and human depravity raging in our world today. We are all called to live above them, to keep our relationship with God sacrosanct so that our prayers may remain unimpeded and our problems soluble.
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