HOPE IN THE DARK 1

I YEARN FOR DARKNESS

I actually didn't sleep in the night before until it was few minutes to twelve. I tried waking up fully when I heard the alarm at both 3:00am and 4:30am meant for my personal devotion as suggested by my spiritual mentor. He asked me to discipline myself, and try to wake up by any of those times. I set the alarm the very day he told me, but I don't think I have ever observed any since then, and it was about five months ago.

I ignored and dismissed the alarm the first time it rang on one Monday morning by 3:00am. I tried dismissing it again by 4:30am but I don't know what happened. My android screen wouldn't respond to my touches on it. The phone fell to the ground while I was trying to put it off and power it again. By that time my eyes are fully opened and my system fully awoke by force. I was scared for my new fragile Gionee android tablet. I put on my bed lamp to see if there were no scratches on it. Luckily, there was none. And to show appreciation to God, I grabbed my Daily devotional manual and drew my Bible nearer, even though I couldn't remember the last time I read it.

I opened my calender app on my phone to check the date, so as to locate where to study in the devotional. "March 20" I said to myself, while I tried to locate it in the manual. 'Overcoming mountains' was the topic for the day and Mark 1:35-37 was the bible text attached to it. I felt I didn't have any mountain to conquer, or any big problem been faced with, so I closed everything. "This is not my topic" I said to myself. I returned everything back to the table; the devotional and the Bible, and I laid on my side to continue my sleep, but I found it difficult.

I covered my eyes with the pillow to stimulate sleep but nothing happened. Sleep was not coming. Something kept saying into my heart, 'Read. Read. Mark 1:35-37. Read.' It looked to me as if I was becoming spiritual but I knew it was because I had seen it already few minutes ago. I was not spiritual and I knew it, so I couldn't deceive myself on hearing God. However, the text kept banging in my head and wouldn't let me find some sleep. In other to satisfy the voice, I fetched my bible and read.

        "35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

After I read those verses, immediately, I fell asleep and woke up few seconds after six. I quickly rose to my feet as I took my bath and got ready for work. I got to work early but it seemed I came late; a lot had happened before I got to work. The managing director's face was dreadful and not easy. I knew there was trouble.

"I'm sorry about this but there's nothing the company can do" the MD said, "we are already in a great debt, and this is the only way out. Once again, I'm sorry. Some workers just have to be laid off."

It was as if someone struck my heart with an hammer at his last statement. I knew I was already in trouble. I wished the earth would open up and swallow me alive.

I dropped my bag on the couch in my bedroom, flung my tablet on the bed, and I began to brood on all that happened at work earlier in the day. I was overwhelmed by everything. I have never thought of being sacked or laid off before. I have always been diligent at my work and have even helped others in their departments. 'Why could this be happening at a time like this?' I thought in my mind. It remained two months for my service at the Telecoms company to attain fifteen years when I would be due for some benefits and promotion.

From the edge of the bed where I sat, brooding, I noticed the backlight of my phone lit and I rushed to get it. It was an alert from my bank. I checked it and saw I have been credited with a million naira. That was the amount I received as being laid off from the company. My boss called to confirm I received the money. All hope of being promoted, receiving some credits and benefits escaped into the air.

I wasn't myself for some days, the fear of poverty dawn on me. I have always loved my job and would do anything to protect it. 'Read. Read. Mark 1:35-37. Read' the voice from within spoke again. I wondered what the voice wanted to gain by bringing up such at a bad time like that. Well, I loved satisfying anybody, even an unseen spirit that speaks strange words. I held my Niv bible again for the second time in that month. I opened to the same place and read. The words of the verses were coming to me lively, and stirred up my spirit and opened my eyes. I remembered the topic of the devotional the day I was laid off at work, 'overcoming mountains'. Perhaps God had known that would happen and was prompting me to pray, to do something about it like Jesus did in the Bible text for that day in the devotional. Perhaps I would have been part of those who were not laid off!

I decided to do what Jesus did in the first verse, perhaps what happened in the last would also be my testimony.

I began to discipline myself and began to observe my devotion at 3:00am, very early in the morning; while it was still grossly dark. I prayed and meditated on whatever the scripture taught and believed things could still work out for my good. I once read in a place in my bible, that, 'all things work together for good to them that love God...'

Night and darkness became what I longed for to come, for I couldn't afford to miss a night of war in prayers.

I just observed my devotion one morning when my phone rang, and when I checked, it was my boss calling. My heart pounced and began to beat in excitement. "Hello sir" I said.

"Hello, Kelvin. I have been trying your number for some hours but out of reach."

"Oh! I'm sorry sir. It must have been the network."

"Okay. That's just by the way. Can you please come to work today?"

I felt I didn't hear him well, so I changed the phone from left to my right ear. "Sir?"

"Can you please come to work today?" He repeated.

"Sure! Why not?"

"Yes!" I shouted when the call ended. "Thank you Lord"

I got back to work that morning, hoping to resume work again. I got to the MD's door and knocked.

"Come in"

I smiled as I walked in but his countenance was telling a different story. He picked his phone and made a call. "Ask the officers to come in."

Hearing the word 'officers' I sensed there was a problem. I shouldn't have come.

"Have your seat" the MD said, and I did.

He set a file before me, and opened two pages for me to see. "Who signed these?"

It was a requisition ledger that had my signature on it. I stared at the pages to see what was issued, only see it was for some products worth millions of naira which were not received by the company. I couldn't have signed such. We have never demanded for so huge amount of money. That was too much, and I couldn't have signed such in my sanity. But it had on it my signature as a departmental head.

"This case has gone beyond the walls of this company and has reached the police. A lot of investigations have been carried out before I called you." The MD said. I was already in tears, knowing that I would spend the rest of my life in jail. I shouldn't have come. But how could I have been careless to have signed such requisition ledger.

Two officers entered the office with someone I knew well. It was Donald, one of the boys in my department. "Mr. Kelvin" the MD said, without looking at me but fixed his gaze on Donald. "The Lord so much loves you if not, you will be in jail by now. You see this idiot" he said, pointing to Donald, "he has been forging your signature to demand for products without your consent, and he succeeded not only in fooling you but also the company. The reason I didn't cross check those requisitions whenever it came to my table was because I have always known you as an honest man..."

That week, the company retrieved 80% of all that Donald stole, and I was restored back to my duty as the engineering departmental head. The Lord did it because I fought the battle in the dark. Donald did his evils in broad daylight but I overcame in the dark.

From that very moment, I realised the value of fighting in the dark. I may have been robbed in the light but I will restore in the dark. Enemies may shoot arrows at me in the day but I will be healed in the night. My hope, my faith all are in the dark. While it is day, I long, I wait and hope for the night to come, I yearn for darkness to take over, for in it is my strongest hope.

Story by: ADENIJI MICHEAL (MICHEALHADEN)