Before you Cast that Stone

I have listened carefully and read so many comments made concerning the issue of Miss Chidinma Okeke, the Dethroned Miss Anambra 2015 and the recently leaked ‘sex tapes’. I must say that truly the social media has really come to stay and as such we all must learn to be careful of the way we conduct ourselves especially when we feel people are not looking. While this should make us all very conscious of our environment and conducts, it could serve as a tool to save lives if used properly, for example, a video or picture taken during a raid or robbery could help the police who are usually ill equipped and have so very little to work with. Imagine how many cases will be resolved with the help of well taken videos and pictures.

However, I have issues concerning how the whole issue is panning out. The other day, I saw a video of how a man was mercilessly beating a woman. The woman did not need to be on video, she needed to be rescued. It was appalling to see, people walking by without trying to save the lady. With every punch he gave her, the ‘man’ felt so elated. It was as if he was receiving a boost to his ego.

Back to the topic at hand, though as a Christian, I do not support such acts.  I do know that what miss Okeke needs is understanding and help and not condemnation especially from Friends, Family and every Christian. If you are a Christian and the news made you incensed against the young lady, I must say shame on you! We must Condemn the acts and not the actors. we are to be a bridge, a way of escape from sin into light.

In John 8 (I suggest you read the whole chapter), A certain lady was caught “in the very act” and they brought her to where Jesus was. They told of how it is constitutional and legally written (in the Laws of Moses) that such acts were abominable and that the punishment for such was death. Jesus looked up at them and told the mob,  who were ready to stone the accused, to stone her only if they were any better than she was. The story is that the blood thirsty mob walked away one after the other. This was over 2000 years ago.

Fast forward, over 2016 years later, the same thing is panning out here. I will like to ask, who was the lady in the bible caught with? In this present case, what has been said concerning the other people who were involved in the video? The person who shot the video?  No mention was made from the many calling out for her blood and damnation. (The Nigeria Police force has claimed arrests concerning the case)

And just like that crowd of over 2000 years ago, many who condemn her have their own issues. The nation is filled with abusers of under aged girls, rapists and the likes. And some of them will look at this case and condemn. It is like a popular saying that “everybody is a thief but the barawo is the one that has been caught”.

 Maybe your hidden weakness is not sexual in nature, maybe yours is weakness with money? Maybe you have illegally helped yourself to the funds of your office or the nation. It is plain hypocrisy for someone who is an abuser of sugar to say an abuser of drugs is evil. You are both abusers in God’s book. You do not have a right to point accusing fingers at her. 

I do believe we all have one form of weakness or another. We need help spiritually, mentally emotionally and the likes.

I recall a few years ago, a video of four boys sexually abusing a young lady went viral. The case was never solved. The social media should be used to empower the weak, expose the wicked and to ensure justice is done. But the joy of many is to be the first to spill sensitive videos, nude pictures and the lies for their personal amusement and to be the one that has the highest number of likes on social media platforms. 

This brings me to the many social media News sites that have these videos ready and easy to be downloaded. What is the catch? Many of these organisations will tell you they owe the people to inform them. Some will say they must publish the truth no matter what. While I appreciate that the truth must be told, you should do much more. You should lead the call for perpetrators of such acts to be arrested and prosecuted. With every of these videos people watch, the more cold hearted they become. Folks will start to get accustomed to such hatred and the society will be worse of for it.

Miss Okeke is not the only victim here; I have read that the people suspected of leaking the videos have been arrested. They too must be prayed for.

I expect the human rights activists to fight for cases like this and not to wait until the government plans to increase fuel prices before they run out to 'occupy Ojota Park'.

I do not now Miss Okeke, but what I know is her heart matters to God and so it must matter to every Christian out there. It is of the Lord’s mercy that we are saved. It is by His grace that we live. Even with grace, many fall. But we always have a faithful God ready to lift us up.

My call is that we all should be a helping hand and not the hand that pushes away.  When we see or hear issues like this, we are expected to pray for everyone involved. It is what pleases God.

Like the story 2000 years ago, Jesus said to her, I do not condemn you. You can go, however, stop the sin. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Every life matters to God..

I watched a video of a young boy alleged to have stolen being beaten to death and burnt. I remember ALUU 4, I recall a recent video of “Area Boys” beating a man to death. I think it is high time the Government starts to put a stop to all these. So I ask, what is the life of a Nigerian worth?

A Way out of Mess

Ever found yourself in a mess? Wrong choices, bad friends, lack of information? Ever been in a wrong relationship? Have you ever been in debt? Down on your luck and it seems you are destined for worse stuff?

Well, I wanna assure you that there is always a way out. I am not talking Houdini, David Copperfield or Professor Peller. No matter how hard pressed you are, there is always a way of escape.

These Five points might be of good help to you.

Be Calm: When you find yourself in any messy situation, you need to be calm. Do not press the panic button. Lindsay Holmes wrote in the Huffington post about “7 things calm people do differently”, her first point is that they focus. Being calm helps you to focus on the situation. What got you there and how to get out? You must learn to be calm. When everyone is losing it, you have to be able to keep yourself especially emotionally. 

Pray: I have deliberately put calmness before Prayer because you are able to pray better with a clear understanding of what the challenges are. Why Prayer? Why not Prayer? Prayers could be for God to forgive you and to have Mercy. You then pray for God to give a way out. God is able to make way out of the Wilderness. He is able to cause Strength to come to you to help.

Think: As God gives you the inspiration, put your mind to work. Take a good look at the challenges and as you think, you start to see the issues differently. Where it seems there was no solution, you start to get ideas about how to go about getting out of the mess. The reason you got into the problem in the first place could be because you refused to think deeply or holistically about it. Think and meditate over the whole issues, most times, deep inside of us, we have a solution from within the problem itself. There is always a way out.

Speak Out: Someone, somewhere and at a certain point in their lives have been where you are presently. They have tested the waters; they have paid their dues and are at a place where their experience can make the difference. Especially for those who have made business errors, look for a mentor, and get tutelage you do not necessarily have to experience the same failures others have experienced. You can learn from Information and Instruction.

Stay Out: When eventually, you get out of the mess, please do stay out. Learn from your mistakes and try very hard not to fall into situation again. Stay grounded and seek to be better at whatever you do.

We all fall at some time but we have what it takes to get up and keep going.

Have Fun…