Tell The Nations (2): My autobiography of 580 pages : The book I worked on for over 15 years, came off the press last July. I tell of adventures in life in: Africa – Europe – and – America.
TELL THE NATIONS
Next Morning, I had the moment to put into remembrance my home life- style. From the moment, KLM airline jet departed, memories blanketed my being. Mine were memories of my background. My mind went ahead of me. Sky, fancy flight and the trip; all were no longer peculiar to me. Meanwhile, my home background captured my mind. I was home!
My recollections were that of my upbringing: Both of my childhood and my boyhood. I recollected of when, how and where I grew up. I was brought up in a serene background. Life was normal and natural. My parents were peasants. Cultivating and herding the cattle, was the way of life. As an African boy, I practiced daily duties at the early age. Prior to my school education, I was after pasturage. I wandered in wilderness and trotted into juggles chasing the cattle. I had to watch to distinguish them from rhinos and buffalos. Wildlife was practical….
Place of my birth was not westernized. Poverty was plenty. People couldn’t see what they couldn’t afford. They possessed no radios, televisions or newspapers. They were aware with their own world. They couldn’t be materialistic.
Simply made shelters, with muddy walls and thatched roof were like heaven to them. Colonial culture was declined. People were antagonistic to imperialistic modernization. Their ethics were contrary to materialistic mentality. Being proud of being poor was rather practical. Complex cultural context was not accepted.
Starting school was my starting point. The first day, I dashed to school on a dusty road, was a glorious day to me. I was barefooted: But who cares. Walking to school was tantamount to, stepping into a new and a different world. I began to learn, to read, write….
My school days built up ambition in my being. I walked on zigzag pathways to school, while I dreamed. I became a dreamer at my early age. I was ambitious to become somebody. But I never dared to dream of what I do today. What I am doing was beyond my ken. The last task I could dare to dream was to preach, to tour the nations, authorship….
* * *
Above African continent, it was dark. I fell asleep. The flight kept on flying….
That late evening, as we approached the lights of my home airport, I bore no more memories. Meanwhile, I wasn’t homesick. I was home….
Finally the flight landed.
I walked off the plane.
I stepped down stairs.
I reached to the ground
“Homecoming….” I muttered!
I gave God His Glory. He brought me back safely, beyond the shadow of the doubt; I was home. Home again – For how long? Not long! But I had no idea.
