This story
is based on an experience that happens not too long ago. We (I and a colleague)
were crossing the highway. We had waited for the traffic to lessen so that we
can cross, spent a considerate number of seconds and just looking up I realize
there is an overhead bridge that we could have climbed; little to say that we could
have continue our journey without even engaging in the risk of being knocked
down by a vehicle on the highway. The time wasted in waiting for the fast
traffic to lessen could have been adapted into profitable use if we had climbed
the overhead bridge. Crossing the express lane looks faster but many people
have become ‘late’ because they don’t want to be late.
So many
lives have being lost in Nigeria due to highway crossing and I have to thank
God for keeping me alive that very day. I could have return at the remembrance
of the over head bridge but I still went ahead to cross the road which is
another striking event.
In reality
this is what happens to almost all of us but some people never wake up to the
realization of the fact that they could have taken an overhead bridge because
they are now ‘late’ while the others that remembers the overhead bridge still
went on nevertheless to coss just like I did. Some people believe they have
being crossing the express lane for years and nothing could happen to them.
They are young, alive and full of strength so why worry about the overhead
bridge when you can just cross the express lane.
In life the
reality is that the overhead bridge is not just a fun bridge, it is stressful
because climbing requires effort and coming down requires watchfulness lest you
fall over yet the stress is not to be compared to the risk of crossing the
express lane.
At every
major traffic road of life there is an overhead bridge. Some take the overhead
bridge while some decides to cross the express lane of life. Some suddenly
realize that waiting for the traffic to lessen wastes precious time and decides
to go back and do the right. Some others just wait there till the traffic
lessens and cross. Some are now habitual express lane ‘crosser’ and cannot
remember the last time they take the overhead bridge. We can apply this reality
to every aspect of life but will be limited to few aspect of life for this
publication.
The present
pain of reading, planning, studying, hard work, smart work, intelligence,
integrity and honesty cannot be compared to the present pain of foolishness,
idleness, stealing, bribing and dishonesty. You need to understand the kind of
preparation and planning an armed robber gang engage in before carrying out a
big robbery project. If that same planning goes into an honest project the
result will be outstanding.
The present
pain of the foolish far outweighs the present pain of the wise. Also in the
long run the pain of wisdom yields satisfactory fruits while the pain of
foolishness yields a terrible and disgracing fruit.
Why not
engage in wise labour today?
The stress
of labour is better than the stress and weariness of foolishness.
Wise labour
breeds wise fruit.
Foolish
labour breeds foolish fruit.
… And Jesus
said labour not for the fruits which perish but for the fruit that abound unto
life eternal...