Tuesday 16 October 2012

AwakeningYou: The Parable of Akpos – by @StevenHaastrup

#AwakeningYou: The Parable of Akpos – by @StevenHaastrup
Dreaming about how he dined with Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Putin, Mark Zuckerberg, Carlos Slim and Bill Clinton and a discussion ensued on what Akpos never understood or knew… He was Lost!

Akpos woke up screaming! Me sef fit resemble them! Me sef fit resemble them!

Welcome to #AwakeningYou – a Tuesday weekly script of #StevenSpeaks.

How? His friend asked cynically, and not even waiting for an answer he yakked on saying… Akpos! You will never stop dreaming… You never resemble Monkey first! My grandpa wey don die still fine pass you!

Overhearing them talk, I called Akpos and asked him ‘How you wan do am?’ but I wanted an answer and then He amazingly gave me this Parable to best explain how…

A man was said to have gone to God with a load of complaints. He was poor. His young and beautiful wife had grown old and pale from hard work and bad diet. His seven children were lean and unhealthy. He had recently lost his little house – his precious inheritance from his poor dad – to a heavy rain storm. The family of nine was crowded in a single room offered by an oppressive boss who paid much less than a fair wage. The boss made open passes at his wife, derided him before his children and threatened to return them to the streets if they complained out loud. He dared not attend the town’s meeting. He was certain no man would listen to a poor man. He was less than a man, he concluded.

He had other woes. God was unjust, he blamed. Why was he created poor? Why did he have so much trouble? Why was he destined to be less than a man?

God listened with rapt attention. He said no word. The man was furious. He demanded an answer or he would kill himself. God beckoned the poor man to come with him on a long walk. They passed through an expansive estate of beautiful buildings. They came to a huge storage of precious stones. It was breath-taking. Somehow the whole place looked familiar but the poor man could not just remember where he had seen it before. Nobody owned such a place in his village. Not even in the big city could he find such a beautiful estate and so much wealth. Even then, none of the buildings was complete. One needed a coat of paint, another some plumbing work… One building seemed to be in need of something. Besides, they were all deserted.

The tour was over. While still wondering what the tour was all about, he heard God ask: “Why did you abandon the buildings and the wealth?” Immediately, he remembered where he had seen the estate and the tremendous wealth. It was in his mind – long ago. He created so much wealth in his mind but stopped the process midway as the circumstances of life proved severe and unfavorable.

He hurried back to the earth and kept his mind busy again – painting pictures of wealth and good life and working harder under his boss. He asked for a raise and got it. His four older children got on the pay roll. In five years, he had established his own farm. In another five years, he bought over his former boss. He diversified into real estate and created huge wealth like he had imagined.

He went back to God with another complaint. Why did it take you so long to answer me?
To which God answered, “I answered you the day I gave you your mind.”

I want you to know that what your mind can do is unique from all that has ever been; God has given you an awesome power. Use it today and everyday to pave for yourself a passage into greatness and service to the community.

Waking up from my Shock, Akpos conclusively answered… I go use my mind reach there! I go come full my brain with weytin we go talk for real life because I know say no person fit do weytin I fit do! I go reach there!

I have never agreed with Akpos but on this I smiled in agreement because He amazingly spoke sense and I learnt so much from the parable of Akpos…
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Haastrup Steven is the CEO of Wingsword Group; He is a freelance writer, speaker, startup trainer and a lover of God. He is a fan of technology and its influence over our lives and the society.

Follow me today on twitter @StevenHaastrup

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