L.I.F.E (Living in Father’s Expression)

THE WAY OF MINDFULNESS

Jesus is the ultimate bodily expression of the Father. His entire life was lived pleasing God the Father and bringing all men to the place of Living In Father’s Expression. In this column, we celebrate the LIFE and ATTRIBUTES of Jesus and how they apply today to our daily life on earth. We celebrate Mindfulness and Compassion.

Mindfulness is simply the art of paying the right mind or attention to others or to circumstances. It is directly against mindlessness which is the attitude that doesn’t pay mind to others or which pays attention to things that have no real value. Mindfulness is a beautiful attitude and attribute to have in one’s life. It has the ability to create space for unity and collective purpose, which every nation on earth really needs right now. While mindfulness stems from love, loveliness and true compassion; mindlessness stems from self-centeredness and selfish pursuit of gains, which always undermines the spirit of brotherhood. Concerning compassion, scriptures paint several pictures of Jesus relating to the multitudes of people that thronged Him each day, with compassion and absolute mindfulness of their pains, weaknesses and circumstances. His mindful attitude towards them, which created compassion within Him, always birthed healing and miracles among the people. Healing does happen when we are mindful of others.

Every nation on the earth has a culture and way of life that sets them apart from others. Unique behavioral patterns that reveal the true heart of the people and what
they believe and stand for. Some of these behavioral patterns were passed down from generations of those who lived in that manner, and some were created afresh.

One of such nations with unique behavioral patterns is Japan.The Japanese people are widely known for their art of mindfulness. Mindfulness for a Japanese is not just something they adopt along the way, it’s what they are taught as children and that which they are compelled by what they see others do, to also do. For many people who may not know what mindfulness looks like in real life, see the examples below.
Suppose you are getting late for work and rushing to catch the peak hour bus or train. As soon as the bus door opens, you may run inside to grab a seat (or even find a place to stand) without actually waiting for people to get off first. And even though you know you are being downright offensive (to others), you nevertheless do it,
because of the fear of getting to work late or because you really don’t care about who is hurt or not, as long as you have your own way.

Let’s take another example… how many times have you held the door for others who are walking just behind you or climbed up an escalator in a queue? Not often you would say. Or how many times have you seen a kid in your neighborhood doing what is not right and then you correct him or report him to his parents for appropriate discipline? Not often also. And this is because we have been lied to as to how to live without paying attention to others. The art of practicing restraint by paying attention,
displaying perseverance is called.

Mindfulness. It is a beautiful art of living and something that Japan as a country has mastered over time. He who loves Love and mindfulness work together. Love is the beginning of all things good and godly, while mindfulness, coupled with compassion is the force by which love is expressed. Love is God and God is Love and it is He who
began all things in love. Meaning that there is nothing a man can do outside of love that will please God. Yes the bible says without faith it is impossible to please God, however, faith comes from hearing the word of God who is Love. So love is the beginning of all faith and compassion. And therefore, the only way to live.

The words of Jesus are so clear as to how man is meant to live with man right here on earth. The ways and the thoughts of God are so ingrained in nature and the things
we see, that we really don’t have any excuses for not living out the patterns of love and mindfulness. See what the Apostle Paul wrote “For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Rom 13:9-11.

In other words, He who loves his neighbor…will not steal from him. The public servant that loves his countrymen…will not steal the pension funds meant for men
and women who have labored for years in active service.The pastor who loves God and His people will not undermine that trust to defraud them.The house owner who loves God, will not throw out a tenant for not paying rent on time. The teacher who loves his teenage girls and wants a bright future for them will not defile them sexually. The list goes on and on.

Of what use is the unity of nations if we don’t learn from one another. If Jesus modeled for us the way of love, compassion, mindfulness, and if Japan has perfected or mastered the art of mindfulness and it works in their society with such ease and peace, how about other nations, especially Afrikans learning the way of Jesus’ compassion and the Japanese art of mindfulness. Afrikan nations can
ingrain the learning of mindfulness in the curriculum that our children are taught from, instead of the false curricula that programs them like robots following the
chase of vanity, through unhealthy competition for class and position.

The change that Afrika is looking for is contained within her own decisions and choices. For if the Doctorate and the Masters degree holders that we have in Afrika
have not found any solutions to our challenges for decades, does it not mean that they will never do so and that we are missing the real point of why we are a continent?

The Way of Mindfulness
Of all the books I have read in my entire life, and I have read lots of them, one book stands apart from all of them. It’s a book by James Allen called Mind is the Master – A collection of nineteen books in one. I love this book to bits. If not for anything else, then for the fact that a man (James Allen) lived a simple life of love, compassion, mindfulness and also wrote down masterfully his gracious lifestyle for all people to see that a life of godliness is possible. Jesus said “As a man thinks, so is he”. Meaning that, what a man engages his mind to think about is what he is. Meaning that we all are what we thought yesterday and will be tomorrow, what we think today.

I write these words to my Afrikan brothers with a question in my heart. What is it that the fathers of this continent thought about or didn’t think about that brought us into the mess we are in right now; and what it is that we in this generation are thinking or not thinking that will keep us in this mess tomorrow? We are simply what we think about and that which we allow our minds to dwell on. Personally, I grew up not liking
Afrika, especially Nigeria where I was born. And my reason for not liking Afrika or Nigeria was simple. My young curious mind could not understand why a man (Afrikan or Nigerian) would know the right thing to do and choose not to do it, either because he wants to save face or he is just too ignorant of the consequences of his choices.

I didn’t want to have anything to do with Nigeria or Afrika and I was sincere about it. But little did I know that my mandate and assignment from God would be about Afrika. Now I love Afrika and her people and would do anything to make her see her true potential. And by this, I do not mean to make her see the potential that will make
her more of a slave of economy, tax, money or false wealth. Her true potential is that which is connected directly to the eternal things God has in mind for the world, through her obedience to Christ. Simple. Every other thing is just the reward that comes from using that true potential.

Afrika is blessed indeed
Afrika must create her own reality, away from the programming that she has been subjected to for centuries. To create is to give life. Not to create is not to give life.
Afrika must create within herself the mindset and the outer platforms that give room for that which strengthens love, mindfulness, compassion, brotherhood and peace. All Afrikans must give priority to loving one another, for there is no difference between a South Afrikan and a North Afrikan, a West Afrikan and an East Afrikan.
Afrika must begin to appreciate and reward, with love, those who create things that give hope, positivity and strength to the Afrikan people and stop celebrating thieves and sycophants, immoral entertainers and the likes that are corrupting our children. We are simply what we appreciate and love. One of the most challenging issues we have in Afrika right now is corruption. But the chase against corruption is vague and at best, futility. Why? Corruption is a huge industry and the proceeds of that industry feed the system that tries to put everyone under bondage. For those that say they are fighting corruption and at the same time are the leaders of the system that corruption feeds are simply deceiving themselves and the truth is not in them. Corruption as the fruit of evil desire and mindlessness, will die a natural death from Afrika if we pay mind to mindfulness. For mindfulness, which comes by selfless love, is the cure to selfishness and evil desires, which is the heart of corruption. As an Afrikan, love sincerely, teach your kids and anyone you meet how to love. Stop talking love and start living out love. Be mindful of others, their joys and their sadnesses. Stop parading hyperreal stories on social media and in your gatherings that have nothing to do with reality, but are simply lies. Do all to raise your Afrikan
brother up. Pray for the peace and restoration of Afrika. Don’t turn blind eyes to corruption and the desire for its proceeds. Let the leaders of Afrikan nations create policies that strengthen love and brotherhood and stop the things that undermine the same. Afrika is truly blessed, but like the garden of Eden, we as Afrikans must tend and keep this gracious blessing God gave us. For no one else will do or at best, they will do it for their own selfish gains.

There remaineth love, hope and faith, but the greatest is love. Remain blessed, lifted, loving and…be mindful.