DARKNESS COMES BEFORE LIGHT

I do not profess to be the wisest of them all, nor do I profess to have much wisdom. Over time I have learned a lot through life experiences, which as you all know is the greatest teacher, and as my mother always say, “time is the master of all things”. I sat watching some videos with my daughter yesterday here in Africa, just passing the day by and taking it easy. One of the videos we watched was an interview with the legendary Bob Marley, the link is below.

The interviewer was clearly a racist pig, which was obvious in not only how he conducted the interview but the derogatory way he described Jamaica, the garrison communities, and its people. This was the first time I watched this particular interview with Bob Marley, I had watched many before, but in this one, I saw a Bob who was highly spiritual, so spiritual that you could see that the interviewer offended his spirit, his answers to the interviews were cryptic and nonchalant, even his expression was that of annoyance.

What came to me as I watched the video of Bob’s humble beginnings and his life’s journey, was the fascinating way how life shaped him and also how he influenced the world, this small boy from St.  Ann’s Jamaica. I marveled at life itself and of our creator, gaining deeper understanding within that moment of destiny and how important it is.

Many people who have made an impact on the world or who have influenced the world in a major way, who have contributed wealth to society by way of teaching and enlightening others through whatever medium, if you check their back story they (most of them) had a rough beginning or have gone through rough times. I began thinking yesterday as the video played and my daughter watched, oblivious to me and my musings (my mind had wandered off on these thoughts which I am sharing with you today) of the whole concept which exist in every religion, and all tradition, that everything is based off light and darkness, Ogbe (Og-beh = light in Yoruba) Oyeku (O-yeh-koo = darkness). These two Odu’s are the first in the unalterable Odu order of Ifa, and it is the first to be called into being in the Christian bible.

However light and darkness and how it is played out in our lives is not as we know or see it in nature. Of the Sun’s position in lighting up the sky, or the Moons’s position of giving off its shine when the Sun has clocked out. This plays out in our lives in our everyday experiences and what we go through on our path way through life.

There are times in life when I wish I was a little girl again, and did not have to make life decisions, all was left up to the parents, as a small girl I would be free to live and dream, to not have any care of the woes of the world but unfortunately life does not work that way, and sooner or later a small bird has to learn how to fly, soar to the highest of heights just to be who we came here to be.

Now bloggers I am just letting you all into my head, my own thoughts which makes sense to me, and as usual I am sharing them. In my experience, in my world, what I have observed so far within the time I have lived on earth, this is the nature of life. My own path tells this same story. I was born within a good family setting, good enough for me I think, we were not rich in material things or having a lot of money, but we got by and did not suffer. When I faced life on my own, as all young people have to do eventually, it was a struggle. I was a teen age mom (this is not a woe is me moment, I am just giving you a brief synopsis of my journey although it has been written here over and over again, just bare with me it is to make a point) who my family had rejected, so I was on my own. There were days when I wondered what I would eat or where to sleep, but before the night fell God made a way for me.

I survived those days, but I still had some rough road to walk, and although I prayed all the time for God to have mercy on me, because the crying was too much, I was broken hearted at the treatment I got from people who I wanted to love me as I loved them, my mother being the number one person. The wisdom of what was happening to me had not yet become clear to me back then. The bad treatment I received from family and the wicked baby father was the Universe grooming me for the person I am today. I never felt loved by any of these people, although I yearned for it, but the coldness they showed me, allowed me to develop more love and compassion for everyone, not wanting anyone in the world to feel as how I felt.

I worried about my children and I prayed to God never to let me be the mother to neglect or abuse them. I wanted to be the best mom and as I had my children I was mindful of how I treated them or how they were received by others. I kept them close, and to this day I am accused by many that I shelter my children.

The path of a child from birth, shapes them into who they turn out to be. Many children are without proper guidance or even proper care, but whoever dares to dream and follow their heart or passion, regardless of their circumstances, if they are steadfast, the truth behind who they really are and what they are here to contribute to society will reveal itself.

There are many people now as I write who are having a rough time at life, some have gone through horrible things, which though they try to forget, still haunts their minds, and some are troubled and confused as to what will become of them. Many will perhaps read this post and wonder to themselves, at my age, and with all that I have been through and still going through what is the use? Some will think to themselves of all the sorrows and pain they have endured and to date have seen no reward nor do they believe that they have contributed anything worthwhile to society or to their families. Some have no thought toward life whatsoever, they go through their daily routine, work, school and home life, thinking that that is all there is to life. The sad thing is that many people fail to realize their life’s worth. They have no idea of the how they influence people they know or meet  daily, whether in a good or bad way.

Many people who knew Bob Marley said he was fierce, kinda rough, but at the same time he was a good person. All that did not matter, what mattered of his short life was the message he came with, the message which he spread. He was on a short journey and he lived a full and enriched life. In the interview the man asked him if he was wealthy and he in turn asked the man what is wealth? He did not measure his worth in materialism, he loved life and all it came with. This is also a wonderment, death and what it really means, because though Bob Marley has joined his ancestors many years ago he continues to impact the world and the new generation through his music which is timeless.

Many musicians throughout time, those which have strong messages but were troubled while they lived, it is after they have left is when they are appreciated the most, and their legacy lives on. The journey here which is life, was created from darkness, and it is as we exit the womb and see light that we really begin to live, not knowing what awaits us. We should not allow our circumstances whatever they may be to limit us. Many people, for a way out of poverty and depression, take some seedy way out, but will later regret it, but those who are steadfast for progress will forge on ahead, determined to make something of themselves, and by this it does not have to be seeing your name in bright lights in big cities, it means using your life for the progress and benefit of others as well as your self.

The late Jamaican singer Tenor Saw, said in his music; “Life is one big road with a lot of signs”,and this is very true, except the signs are written in your mind, in the deep crevices waiting to be unlocked. Do not expect to be handed a silver spoon as you enter this world, although some people were born with the proverbial one, but they too have to face their own challenges and they too have to figure out their own route in which to take in life regardless of the wealth and opulence which met them at the birthing table.

Darkness comes before light, this is the law of the Universe, and we all have to pass through darkness as we did on our journey here (the rough ride through to the womb),what we may think as a dim light within our lives, depending on our individual circumstances, is in fact preparation for greatness to come. There is no way I can convince all of you here that your life is worth more than you know, but it truly is. Some people are just not awakened to this fact as yet.

I had no idea that so many people would later in life depend on me for advice as I grew and cried because of what I faced through family and a wicked baby daddy, I never knew that I would be able to tell people their future and help them avoid disasters and avert problems, I never thought that I would be who I am today, Obara Meji, loved and respected by all that I know. I have no enemies, let me repeat I have no enemies, I am of the water and water have no enemies. This is not to say that there aren’t people who do not like me, but of them I pay no attention because I know that soon they will realize that I am not nor ever have been their enemy.

Appreciate the lessons you are learning or may have learned through your suffering and tears, disappointments and sorrows, do not be afraid to visit those times in your memory or endure for a little while the pain you are going through, there may be many life lessons you may have missed because of your lamentation or feeling sorry for yourself, or one day you may be able to teach others from all which you have experienced and help them understand their life better.

I LOVE YOU ALL

OBARA MEJI!

Adùńṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run lọ́wọ́ sí, aṣòroóṣe bí ohun tí Ọlọ́run ò fẹ́. /
As easy to accomplish as what God sanctions, and as difficult to do as what He opposes.

[If God is in it, it will work out.]

Everything comes when it must, and everything happens for a reason, do not hurry your life, what is destined for you, cannot escape you, just keep the faith, be patient and be prayerful, filled with compassion, kindness and respect for all, let these qualities be among your name, God will fill in the rest…..Obara Meji!

All religions are valid as long as it teaches peace and love….Obara Meji

There are no disappointments in life, only lessons learned!….Obara Meji