YOUTH COMMITS SUICIDE: LAMENTATIONS

After an overdose of thoughts and disappointments, 'short sighted' people embed the news daily with grievous headlines. Using excessive pills, hanging oneself, intentional shootings and so on seems to carry the day in this act. But to be honest, there are diverse ways youths have decided to kill themselves deliberately, a gradual suicide which dresses itself in a coat of many colours.

Being of African descent, the black colour has become something I live day by day to appreciate. After all, there's no court I'm going to drag my creator to for dropping me here. Thanks to everyone who has taken it upon themselves to accept the blessings of being born where they were birthed. What doesn't cease to amaze me are the people who chemically pale their skins in order to come to par with naturally fair complexioned people. If they do this to manoeuvre racism, I don't know. There's no credible reason for this kind of act. At the end of the day, when there's no finance to maintain them, they start smelling like hydrogen sulphide and become far worse than their beginning becoming roasted as something to be offered as burnt offering.

It's basically a great thing to look nice and fresh. Nevertheless, it is pathetic to do this at all costs. The alarming rate of illegal and unscrupulous ways youths get money these days is very pitiable. The 'wire-wire' as they call it; Someone even told me they were collecting the dues of our forefathers who were used as slaves back then. Who asked them? They've even gone a little further to put a + by adding rituals to their business.

Girls that have been created with massive amount of the Glory of the Most High have now evolved into 'slay mommas' and 'cicis' all in the name of getting money. They sell their expensive bodies to cheap men. When you contract multiple STDs, no one would be able to help you then. You have then initiated the terminal phase of the suicide's metamorphosis. All your friends and role models that were pushing you would neglect you then. You will be on your own. If you eventually end up in the grave, you get to speak for your actions at the Bema seat of God.

Go and ask the first people how their own suicide went. The suicide is gradual, under an enticing camouflage. Our parents struggle day and night just to make ends meet and give us a befitting legacy but all you do to repay them is by stabbing classes, wasting their efforts accordingly. Do not smoke. Do not drink. Poco a Poco, they terminate a person's life and destiny.

Everyone is doing it doesn't dictate you doing it. What's the motive behind the doing? Why should I do it? What will be my end if I do it? These are basic questions we have to ask ourselves before joining the crowd. I was triggered by something that happened lately to someone close which I believe should not repeat itself. There are many more ways we commit suicide in disguise which we choose to ignore its tenacity.

Let's make our parents proud. My prayer is that they eat the fruits of their labours over us and do not have any reason whatsoever to mourn over anyone. Keep calm and wait for your appointed time. Don't look at my watch. Check your own time on yours. God's precepts are simple and true. Please! I beg you, don't kill yourself.
Accept Jesus.
Believe Jesus.
Confess Jesus.
Thanks for your time.

Ogundimu Oluwatosin

IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW.

This cliché has seemed to gain ground on social media these days with different usages according to desired contexts. But looking at it closely, it has more to it than meets the eye. I have come to realise, through thinking and observations, that the whole world revolves around this principle. To bring home this point, let me refer you to some day to day situations.

As a Christian, and seeker of knowledge to know more of the things of God, you will agree with me that when Jesus Christ was about to fulfill destiny, He gave the disciples some promises and cogent mandates. He told them that He would send the Comforter who would bring everything to their remembrance as well as teach them all things. Take note here that Christ was referring to what He had taught them. If I happen to be a disciple at that time but was not around or not actually paying attention to our Saviour's teachings, I'll get to know only what I know and only remember only what I paid attention to. Even if Peter was quoting Christ, I could argue He didn't say so. If you know, you know.

As a student (specifically a Cambridge learner), you would be able to relate with this pretty well. There are some basic secrets and gimmicks you need to master in order to ace. From one point, if you see command words like define, explain, state, list, describe, deduce, show, compare, discuss, etc., you know (from your study) that they have relatively different meanings. If you are to explain and you define, it's your cup of coffee. From another point, immediately you read a question and you see the number of marks allocated to it, you already know the number of points you are to write. Even if you write a story book but has none of the required details, it's all zero. If you know, you know.

As a boy, there are some things I have more experience in compared to a girl. On the other hand, there are other things (many things) girls can easily give you personal experiences about that a boy can never, never know. When they're talking about those girlish things, even if you like poke your nose and brain, it might end up sounding all gibberish to you. If you know, you know.

If I should keep on writing, I might not end. There was actually a point in my life when I thought Frank Edwards was a foreign artiste (the wrong intuition coming from how the name looks, basically not typically Nigerian). Everyone has moment(s) of ignorance when they don't know. That's why one of the most interesting things I love reading or listening to are 'Did You Know?' facts.

So, the point is that the virtue of your position, location, gender, religion, age, group, occupation, hobbies, class, school, career, friends, challenges, choice of music and so on makes you know some things others don't except they take a step of moving in the direction of that contextual knowledge. There's nothing like irrelevant knowledge in life (I believed there was at a point). Try to increase the knows in your life.
If you know, you know.
If you don't, you don't. Unless you move to know.

You have something to say? Drop your comments with #IYKYK. Let's learn from you by telling us one of your ignorant times which you came to find out was wrong later on.

Ogundimu Oluwatosin

My Regards

Good morning world.
I will like to use this short piece to appreciate everyone who has been there through thick and thin, who has never lost hope in my supposed "American - like" dream. I love you, there's no doubt it. I pray the Lord will support you than you've done to me. Stay focused, stay determined and remain blessed. Always remember, "for you to leave that point that sucks, you are to see reasons that will and can move you", you know why, because they will be the push.
Happy New Month. I love you all.