I used to think the above statement only related to people and relationships. I had an encounter over the weekend that changed that perception. First of all, accept my apologies for not coming up with anything interesting to write in the past few months.
Saturday, 12th August 2006, was ‘WHITE CANE DAY’. It was organized by the Nigerian Society for the Blind and the Vocational School for the Visually Impaired to raise funds for the visually impaired. The high point of the day was the walk from National Stadium to Costain roundabout and back to the Stadium. Each volunteer had to adopt any of the visually impaired to guide him/her through the walk. This is where this story actually starts from.
I had the privilege to walk with Kazeem, a bright young lad of 26. He wasn’t born blind. He became blind in 1999 by accident. He was a very good snooker player. Immediately after a very hard won victory over the reigning champion in his neighborhood, he was jumping around and celebrating with his friends and somehow (he still can’t explain it) the cue stick he was holding found its sharper end right under his eyes. He was rushed to the hospital but the doctors could not do anything for him. He lost the right eye. As the months rolled by, the left eye somehow got affected and he started loosing it gradually till he became totally blind in that eye in 2001/2. As at today, he sees slightly with his right eye but it’s not enough to make him walk round the house alone. He had plans to be a mechanical engineer (he still does). I met his friends Solomon, obinna, ’bicycle’, iya segun, and sly. This guys where so smart they were even educating me about things I thought I knew. I overhead Solomon talking about nuclear warheads and wastes and I was impressed. Kazeem talked about machines and engines. They even loved football and where even talking about relaxing over a cold bottle of beer.
Kazeem said I won’t know how much my eyes are worth until I loose them. He was right. He thought me a lesson.
Everyday and every time I will keep thanking GOD for giving me my senses and keeping them intact; for keeping me alive, safe, and unharmed; for continuously blessing me and my family even amidst hardships, troubles and even when I sin.
I hope you would find time to thank him today and always for everything he has done and is doing for you. Also try and show how grateful you are by giving out to those in need either in kind or in cash. You would definitely be putting a smile on someone’s face. Like Kazeem said, you never know what u have until u loose it………….
