LOVE IS BLIND

By John Miroghene Wanogho

"Love is blind," they say, but not devoid of vision, I say. For if lovers blink, the truth is that they are blind, but only for a little while.

"Love is blind," they say. Dead is that love devoid of vision, I say. If it's true that lovers' eyes do cease to see, oh, how I cry in my heart for love! For the inevitable disasters that love would see.

"Love is blind," they say. But I see well, I say, beholding the rising of the sun and its indisputable setting with time. Without this understanding, one would treat love without love.

"Love is blind," they say. Love's vision sees beyond, I say, farther than the eyes can ever see. No wonder God's love for us reveals our wickedness and unfaithfulness within.

"Love is blind," they say. But the love that is real and pure, beyond the hidden hearts of lovers, can truly be seen. Love that exists under the sun can see; it needs no physical eyes, just the eyes of the heart to see.

"Love is blind," they say. Love flows like the seas, I say, taking its course wherever the wind blows. The eyes may see beyond the sea if the heart can yonder see.

"Love is blind," they say. Constant is the shining of the sun, I say. Though we see it for a while, shall we then say it ceases to shine? For God has made His wonders so.

"Love is blind," they say. With the rising of the sun comes the reminder of its setting with time. Shall we say God's control is no longer present over what He alone created?

"Love is blind," they say. There’s much to love that the eyes cannot see. If love is real, then let it see with the eyes hidden deep within the soul. Love is and will always be mystical.

Love is fragile; I accept that. Love is patient, that I know. Love is caring; there's no doubt about it. The profoundness of love is for some. But I refuse to agree that "Love is blind."

"Love is blind," they say. We must state unequivocally where the blindness lies.

The love that is blind sees no wrinkles on the face of the beloved. It knows no age, and in it lies boldness.

The love that is blind says yes to virtue and no to vice.

I rest my case.

GENUINE LOVE

Genuine love has nothing to do with fear. Whenever there is fear mingled with love, that love has lost its authenticity.
When it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, what is meant is respect and profound reverence, not fear regarding what the Lord might do if one disobeys Him.
When fear is used about the Lord, we should critically consider the context in which it is used. If it is used to indicate that there are repercussions for one's actions, then it should not be interpreted as the kind of fear implied when it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That fear, as explained by Jesus Christ, means love, respect, deep reverence, and honour. Jesus Christ, who repeatedly said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15), understood that if we fear God merely to keep His commandments, then we have lost our true position in Him.
In theology, there is a term called attrition. It means grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment; it is the lowest degree of repentance. Knowing that this form of veneration could result in losing the true essence of sonship, Jesus continually emphasized that love of God, rather than fear, would lead a person to live free of sin. When He said, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments," He implied that genuine worship should be motivated by love rather than fear.

WANOGHO AFUJUENYA THE GREAT: A WARRIOR, BUT ONE WITH A DIFFERENCE

Wanogho Afujuenya, the Egbetusi of the Urhobo nation, hailed from a lineage of warriors and was a prominent figure among them. To describe him merely as a warrior would not capture the full extent of his significance. He embodied many roles and qualities.

He confronted the colonialists when they first arrived on Orogun soil and facilitated the establishment of the first church in Orogun, despite not being a Christian himself. He valued religious freedom and maintained a close relationship with God.

In fact, he was regarded as a demigod. According to history, when he was about to leave this world, a rainbow appeared and a casket was seen suspended over the roof of his palace. When his room was checked, they found Wanogho Afujuenya peacefully asleep, never to awaken.

Remarkably, he was the only “ogbu” (a warrior who has killed in battle) who never took a life. Thus, referring to him as a warrior necessitates specifying that he was an unconventional one—an individual who, though self-taught, possessed profound knowledge that he shared with those eager to learn.

In 1904, the British colonial masters made him the first paramount chief, and in 1963, he became the Okpara-Uku of Orogun clan, the traditional ruler of Orogun kingdom. His recorded number of wives was 97, excluding numerous concubines, and he had 167 children.

He had the opportunity to become the "Ovie" of Orogun Kingdom when offered by the British colonial masters, but he declined, asserting that the Okpara-Uku was the rightful Ovie of Orogun.

Wanogho Afujuenya can best be described as an extraordinary individual living in an ordinary world.

This note was inspired by a thoughtful question from Stella Ezeanya, which prompted me to write this concise yet precise tribute to my grandfather. Smiles...

HUMILITY: A VIRTUE RESERVED FOR A SELECT FEW

The reason people find it difficult to live humbly is the debasing tendency associated with humility. People tend to humiliate those who are respectful and revere those who project an air of self-importance. It is human nature to belittle the humble and admire the self-exalted. This unconscious dynamic causes many to avoid humility. While virtually everyone can be modest and respectful, the fear of humiliation often makes it challenging to live authentically, leading to the forfeiture of their God-given potential.
Fear is a primary factor that prevents people from living up to their true potential. The fear of facing the challenges that come with relinquishing their ego stems from ignorance of the benefits of humility. 
Until one understands what one stands to gain and the requirements to achieve it, one can’t endure the necessary trials. It is akin to envisioning a preferable future and persevering through the obstacles to realize it.
The fear I am referring to here is a form of laziness. Those weak in mind cannot withstand life's trials. However, I believe that facing these trials is crucial for anyone seeking to fulfil the essence of their existence.
Ultimately, one can only live humbly and true to one’s essence when one understands and embraces the purpose of one's existence despite the accompanying challenges.
Live humbly and stay true to your essence.

NATIONAL INTEGRATION

When discussing oneness, I refer to the integration of diverse ethnic groups to unify voices for the collective development and growth of a region—and, by extension, the nation of Nigeria.

The primary reason for seeking a unified front among the ethnic groups within the Niger Delta region is to consolidate our demands for justice and development. As Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." The path forward is to unite as Nigerians, a singular nation. Any movement that focuses solely on ethnic or regional divides will fail from the outset due to its narrow scope.

We should draw lessons from history, particularly from successful nonviolent movements. Consider two prominent figures: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), known as Mahatma Gandhi, who led India's nonviolent struggle for independence, and Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), an American clergyman and Nobel laureate who was a central figure in the American civil rights movement. Both understood the essence of civil disobedience and nonviolent action.

Given Nigeria’s complexity, similar to that of America, Martin Luther King Jr.’s approach is especially relevant. Despite America’s diversity, King managed to realize his vision through his profound grasp of the struggle against segregation, oppression, and suppression. He transcended racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural barriers to achieve justice.

King’s strategy was inclusive; he emphasized love and unity, focusing on collective action to confront societal injustices. Through lectures, seminars, workshops, and rallies, he inspired a widespread movement for change. The masses, galvanized by his vision, were compelled to seek a unified front for their emancipation.

In Nigeria, we should adopt a similar approach. Failing to unify in this way could spell disaster for our nation. It is crucial that we act decisively and patriotically to build our nation. Religion, while potentially a significant obstacle, can become a powerful tool for achieving our goals when paired with knowledge and understanding.

Indeed, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," and the worst crime is passive complicity in the face of injustice.

God bless the Niger Delta, and God bless Nigeria!

AWARENESS CREATION: THE PATH TO THE EMANCIPATION OF THE MASSES FROM MENTAL BONDAGE

Awareness creation and enlightenment through social crusading are essential to transforming the stereotyped mindsets of the masses to a higher level of thinking. Until we achieve this, the change we anticipate, rather than merely desire, will remain a mirage, a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained. I use the term “anticipate” instead of “desire” because if we truly desired change, we would act consciously and deliberately to make it happen.
Our mandates have been repeatedly stolen by those in power because we have not been sufficiently enlightened to resist the forces obstructing our path to freedom. An uninformed populace will always remain deformed, and you would agree that a deformed person can never effect real change. This change we seek will only become a reality when everyone is actively involved in making it happen.
Let us act wisely and correctly while we have the chance.
Change we can believe in, yes, we can!
God bless Nigeria and Nigerians.

CHANGE: FAITHFUL TO OUR FATE

Fellow Nigerians, we are at a critical juncture in the life of our nation—a moment that will define our future as a people and as a nation. We have watched as a small group of so-called leaders has hijacked our nation. I refer to them not as leaders but as rulers, for a true leader is one who guides and serves, who bears the weight of the people's suffering, and who possesses vision and understanding. The qualities of a genuine leader are limitless.

It is unfortunate that, after over fifty years of independence, we have yet to experience true leadership, or rather, visionary leadership with the essential qualities.

We have adopted a system of government without truly understanding how it functions. If we fully grasped what democracy entails, we would have moved beyond our current state, where a few unscrupulous individuals seize power and impose their dehumanizing policies on the masses without resistance.

The essence of democracy is the right to vote and be voted for. By the grace of God, this right is sacred, and we must use it effectively to choose our leaders.

Change, as they say, is constant but cannot be achieved effortlessly. It requires our collective decision, unwavering commitment, and determination to make this long-awaited change a reality.

We cannot afford to delay, for time is not on our side. The developed world is advancing rapidly, and we must match that pace to achieve growth and development. Every journey has a starting point, and electing leaders who will drive this development is our starting point. When we elect our leaders, we become true drivers of our economy and have the power to recall them if they fail to meet our expectations. The time to correct past mistakes is now.

We must passionately advocate for awareness, informing the masses and galvanizing them to act wisely and vote for leaders who represent their interests, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation.

Change We Can Believe In!

Yes, We Can!

WHAT CAN GOD NOT DO?

Please, everyone who reads this should, before commenting, try to understand the writer's perspective and what prompted the write-up, as well as what he seeks to achieve. This is indeed a simple yet complex question.
Whatever you think God cannot do does not exist in the realm of God. Before you say God cannot lie, God cannot change, or any other things you might believe God cannot do, ask yourself: does that thing exist in reality? It’s similar to saying God cannot eat, because in reality, God does not eat. If I had said, “Tell me one thing that God does not do,” then you could say He does not lie, eat, change, or whatever.
Words are very powerful. "Cannot" implies limitation, and I believe you would not want to limit God by using the term "cannot" to describe Him.
The God that I worship, whose name is Jesus Christ, can do all things, and there is absolutely nothing He cannot do.
There is not a thing, there is nothing, I mean not one thing that God cannot do.
Connotatively and denotatively, what I said stands. Indeed, there is nothing God cannot do, no matter how it is viewed. If viewed critically, you would see why the word "cannot" should not be used for God. We’ve moved from discussing the almightiness of God to discussing His ability. It is the word "cannot" that is the subject of critical consideration.
Some might say God never does certain things, and “never do” can be likened to “cannot do."
The nuance between "cannot do" and "never do" is subtle but significant. "Never do" relates to will, while "cannot do" relates to power.
Some may ask, what about the Bible associating God with the word "impossible" in Hebrews 6:18, which states, "...it is impossible for God to lie"?
"I accept that," because of what "impossible" means and implies. How can you imagine God lying? That is not possible. There are many things that are not possible within the realm of God. "Impossible" and "cannot" also carry the nuance I mentioned earlier. The two words do not carry the same weight. The writers of the Bible were guided by the Holy Spirit to use the word that best suits God. To explain this clearly concerning the Bible itself, let’s look at the preceding verse in Hebrews 6:17. It reads: “Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.” Verse 18 reads: “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which God can't lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.”
Now, take note of the phrase "unchangeable nature." What it implies is that God's nature does not include the possibility of lying, and as such, it cannot happen. "Cannot happen" means "impossible to happen." But it is not accurate to say that God "cannot lie," because the term "cannot" does not apply to God.
We should be cautious when speaking about God to avoid limiting Him. So, we should be careful with our language.