We are all born into different families, without our consent, we found ourselves in where we are unknown, unsure of where this will lead to but we walk. We grow with all the challenges we come across even without knowing sometimes not understanding, but we walk. Sometimes we think that it’s our choices and decisions that get us into where we are even though it could be true, but one thing is sure, even with our decisions and choices, we still face within those choices, circumstances we did not foresee, or had control, yet we walk to the world unknown.
We walk into marriage most times not prepared for what we meet in the union, yet we walk. We have children not knowing what having them portend, we nurse them anyway whatever betides we are encouraged to walk the journey even to the unknown. Wherever life leads us we walk. One thing am certain about is, nobody knows what life portends, we walk through the unknown even when we think we know our destinations, we still get there, not too sure of what to expect, yet we walk anyway.
Just a few days ago, watching EWTN, seeing Global Divine mercy devotees all kids, praying, chanting the mercy of God, I wondered how true is this mercy with all the wickedness of men. Then at the midday mass of the same channel, I watched the assembly of worshippers and priests all looking somber yet beyond the looks wickedness locks, yet I asked where is the mercy of God in this wickedness yet we walk still in the world unknown, a world whose light is been quenched by the darkness of men.
How did we get the decision and choice to have killers, monsters, manipulators as our leaders or rather rulers, yet we walk not knowing what to do.
I watched in consternation how we got to this barbaric state.
The lonely part of the journey of life. At those times when everything falls apart, when nobody is around to support you, to listen, when friends and family turn away from you, what do you do? Keep walking, those who gave up on you will be back soon as long as you keep walking because,life is a journey keep walking.
When everything fails, when all hope is lost, when nothing seems to walk, what do you do, keep walking because life is a journey.
When those expectations fails, when the promotion does not come, when the bills pile up and there’s no hope in sight, keep walking because, there’s always a twist in the journey of life.
Life can really tear us apart, life challenges are huge, the tears roll, our health fails, school fees not paid, rents are due, the landlord or landlady on our necks, our friends are long gone, the pressures mount, all hope lost, but keep walking because, this is the journey of life we can only overcome when we keep walking.
Walk is symbolic, walk is living, walk is faith in things unknown, walk resonates, walk attracts, walk wins, walk rejuvenates. We walk because, life is bigger than anything else, life is bigger than anybody else, life is bigger than all the challenges we face.
Life’s journey come with name calling, stigma, do all these hurt? Yes of course but we walk through the shames and fames of life. When life throws those baggages at you, when nothing seems to walk, what’s your best option to quit or walk? When the kids drop out of school, when nobody seem to care, when addiction takes over, when we break down emotionally where’s the option? We walk, we keep moving through this journey of life. A lot of meaning can be drawn from the things around us, famines, draughts, wars and other natural disasters yet people in these affected areas continue in the walk of life.
I watched a documentary on CNN some years ago on the calamities in Somalia and yet people in skeletal states buried their dead yet praising God, they ‘Walked’ that documentary increased my faith to trust God no matter what the situation. The Somalians Walked and are still walking so we walk.
Is life fair? Yes, perhaps we can also say No, but life is fair to all those who walk even in the most devastating states.
So many things happen around us that we can’t understand, life full hopes and aspirations and a sudden collapse, hopes shattered, dreams crashes, but we walk. Life is for those who accept, and walk.
Marriages start so beautifully, and suddenly collapse, children go to school, suddenly get distracted and everything changes; the once lovely family suddenly suffers, alcohol, drug addiction takes over the joy once enjoyed in the family is lost to ugly incidents of verbal and physical abuses, society suffers. Broken homes, broken promises, failed hopes, yet we walk.
Life is struggle and struggle is life. If you understand this truth and accept it, you walk; knowing that life is struggle from birth to death, you realise that struggle is beautiful and worth all our while. A life without struggle is no life at all. We walk.
Clara Nnorom is a Management Consultant in Lagos.
