emmanuelonimisi

ON SCIENCE AND FAITH: Does Christianity Require a Flat Earth Perspective

It has been my joy to follow the developments of NASA’s Artemis II mission around the Moon, and to see the enthusiasm it’s bringing to this generation. In these times however, I have also become more aware of a prevailing perspective that the Earth is flat and, to my surprise, just how widespread this view is. Many also hold to this conviction for religious reasons and this gives them a sense of legitimacy to their position. While I respect everyone’s right to an opinion, it’s a topic that fascinates me to no end.

As a Bible teacher and a Geographer (who would still like to be an Astronaut someday 😉), here’s my perspective on this (and I would love to read yours too!)

A cursory read of Bible texts seem to imply a Flat Earth geocentric universe (that’s a Universe with a flat earth at its centre). It seemed to imply that the Sun, Moon and Stars were part of this system, taking their course across our skies. It’s largely rooted in the cosmology of the primary readers of the times, from the perspective of the authors. Some of the passages in question are poetic in structure, such as in Psalm 19:6

[The Sun’s] rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

In those days this was the prevailing view, even beyond Hebrew culture. Above this cosmos was where God, or the gods (depending on their theology) lived, while the dead would be relegated to nether regions of Sheol beneath. The core idea was that, over the cosmos, the One God is Creator and Lord over all, holding everything by His Power and in order.

But the world of science implies that the Earth is spherical, that it is one of the planets revolving around our Sun in a solar system, and that this is one of trillions of solar systems in the ‘known’ universe. I touched on this in the first episode of my show, CREATION’S WONDERS.

Proof of a Spherical Earth

To be fair to those who hold this view, the flat earth perspective isn’t entirely without intuitive appeal. From where we stand, the Earth does look and feel flat. The horizon appears level. We don’t feel ourselves hurtling through space at tens of thousands of kilometres per hour. And for much of human history, the greatest minds in the world shared this assumption. The flat earth community also raises questions about trusting institutions, photographic manipulation, and the reliability of government-backed science — concerns that, while I believe are misdirected here, come from a legitimate culture of questioning. It is worth engaging these honestly rather than dismissing them outright.

In light of these, here are a number of proofs I can highlight before we go forward as to why the Earth is spherical:

Horizon Elevation: When ships sail away, they don’t just get smaller; the hull disappears first, followed by the mast. If the Earth were flat, the entire ship would remain visible. Also, as you climb higher up a tree or in a plane, your line of sight extends farther. The horizon appears farther away because you are seeing “around” the curve
Lunar Eclipses: During a lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the sun and moon, casting a curved shadow on the moon. This shadow is always round, which is only possible if the Earth is spherical
Visibility of Stars: Different star constellations are visible from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. For example, Polaris (the North Star) is not visible in the Southern Hemisphere, which would not happen on a flat plane.
Circumnavigation: People have travelled around the world, such as Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, returning to their starting point without ever encountering an edge
Space Photography of Earth: Modern technology provides direct, high-quality images of Earth from satellites and astronauts in the International Space Station, showing a round, rotating planet.
Modern Telecommunications and Travel: The functionality of satellite technology, global positioning systems (GPS), and radio propagation across long distances cannot be explained on a flat surface and requires calculations based on a spherical planet. Air travel and the installation of undersea cables are all based on calculations that take the curvature of the Earth into account. The very fact that you can read this online proves that these calculations are working.

The Bridge: Does this Negate My Faith?

So where’s the bridge? How does one encounter biblical perspectives while knowing these facts. It all comes down first to understanding WHY the Scriptures were written the way they were. I’ll start with an analogy.

In primary school we were taught that we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. In later classes we learnt that both the air we breathe in and the air we breath out contain oxygen and carbon dioxide in different proportions (along with other gases). Our teachers did not lie to us. They simply emphasized what our minds needed and could grasp at the time.

Why the Bible Was Written That Way

The Scriptures weren’t written to explain everything about everything to everyone at every age. God inspired the writers — about 40 people across 1500 years — and their intellect with involved in writing such that the people of their time could understand what the texts were saying. The primary purpose of Scripture was to guide people to salvation; reconciling them to God through Christ. Like Paul the apostle wrote to his protegee, Timothy:

…from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

That’s why its emphasis is God’s sovereignty in Creation, the Fall of Man in Sin, God’s workings with people in human history, Christ’s coming, His Death and Resurrection, the Church Age, Christ’s Return and the Coming Judgment, and the New Heaven and New Earth to come.

The Role of Science as Worship

Science on the other hand, and all of knowledge by extension, is a tool our Creator blessed us with to explore, discover and better appreciate His wisdom and intentionality in Creation. Theologians have believed for centuries that one of the ways God reveals Himself is through the creative order (Psalm 19, Romans 1:20), and so have many scientists. The Bible after all explains that the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). As a matter of fact, the father of the heliocentric model, Nicolaus Copernicus considered the solar system a “world-machine established in our behalf by the best and most systematic Builder of all.¹” He said studying the order brings us to “wonder at the Artificer of all things, in Whom is all happiness and every good.²” As profound as these thoughts were, his perspective saw what we know as the solar system as the whole universe. This shows us that knowledge is expanding.

Nicolaus Copernicus, As quoted in *Poland : The Knight Among Nations* (1907) by Louis E. Van Norman, p. 290; also in *The Language of God* (2006) by Francis Collins, pp. 230-31

I believe that Science is the unfolding reach of our understanding to discover and make sense of the Universe that God has made. Our understanding is expanding the more we know, and the more we know the more we can see of the intricacies of His work. It fuels our worship to understand that the grandness of the Universe tells us the capability of the One we call God, and Who invites us to call Him Father.

Louis Pasteur as quoted in *The Literary Digest* (18 October 1902)

While we wrap our minds around these concepts, our Faith also lets us know that the physical laws of nature are not the ONLY rules guiding our existence.

Take the account in Joshua 10, where the Sun “stood still” over Gibeon. To the original readers, this was straightforward: the Sun moved across the sky, and God simply stopped it. Today, we understand that it is the Earth’s rotation that creates the appearance of the Sun’s movement. So what actually happened? If taken as a literal pause in Earth’s rotation, the physics are catastrophic. Inertia alone would produce winds of over 1,600 km/h, triggering tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and the effective end of most life on Earth. None of that happened. So either the text is using phenomenological language (describing what was seen, not what mechanically occurred, much like we still say “sunrise” today) or God performed a miracle so precisely engineered that the physical consequences were suspended entirely. Both possibilities are consistent with a faith that believes in a God who is sovereign over the laws He authored. What the passage is really communicating is not a science lesson about celestial mechanics, but a theological statement: that God fights for His people, and that no battle is beyond His intervention.

The Author of this Story works within its plots and arcs towards His purpose.. This is what we call a Miracle. Miracles are part and parcel of this faith. The core of our belief is a Miracle, that God became a Man Who died, was buried, and resurrected to set us free. The Bible is full of miraculous invasions into the natural world, such as the Star of Bethlehem (which some debate whether it was a supernova, or a comet, or just that — a Star placed lightyears away before Christ was born) or the Red Sea parting, or rain falling after a drought. The difference for us is that we understand that Someone is working behind the scenes, giving purpose to it all.

The Two Books Perspective

Francis Bacon explained it this way, that God authored two distinct books: Scripture (theological truth) and Nature (scientific truth/Creation). These are complementary, not contradictory, and are both essential for our understanding.

Science and faith are not two fighters in opposing corners. They are two lenses through which we examine the same magnificent reality. The Book of Scripture tells us WHO made it all and WHY. The Book of Nature shows us HOW it was made and invites our endless wonder. A spherical, spinning Earth orbiting an average star in one of trillions of galaxies does not shrink God; it expands Him in our perspective. The deeper our knowledge reaches, the greater the One it points back to. You don’t have to choose between your Bible and your telescope. Pick up both.

References

¹ Preface Letter to Pope Paul III as quoted by Edwin Arthur Burtt in The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Physical Science (1925)

² Introduction to De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres.

³ “Nicolaus Copernicus”, Wikiquote, https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus

4 “Louis Pasteur,” Wikiquote, https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Louis_Pasteur

The Story Behind the Basic Writing Course

Back in February I put the word out that I would be hosting the Basic Writing Course to take writers through an intensive 8-week programme to sharpen our writing. The turnout has been more than I anticipated, and the experience is one that I am learning from as I reflect.

While the vision behind this has been on my heart for the past couple of years, it was a push from my pastor, Kola Johnson, that encouraged me to take the bold step to put it out there. It did not come at the most convenient time, as I still have a 9 to 5 and am currently in the middle of many projects here and there, but it has been my joy to pour into other writers through this course. I especially appreciate my awesome wife for her support through this season. We’re doing this together.

In the first module, we looked at how our identity goes far beyond writing, as we were invited to explore the motivations and hopes in their writing.

In the second module, while we observed how we appreciate the distinctive voices of our favourite writers, we examined why each of ours is important, and how to discover and sharpen it as we write.

And how! Reading the submissions by my students thus far has been a humbling experience. It’s been a window into hidden talents burning within, new ways to explore the world, and passions ready to burst forth with precision and clarity. I don’t take this for granted, and I let them know this. I take this assignment to steward them through this period with gravity and honour. I’m grateful to be a part of someone’s writing journey through this programme, arming them with the tools to put their writing out there with confidence and excellence.

I believe our creative desires have a divine root, and that anyone can write. I want to help people do it well.

If you’re part of the BWC 2026 Cohort and you’re reading this, I believe in you!

We’re heading into the third module of eight today, and I’m excited for all that lies ahead for us.

If you would like to be the first to know when further cohorts would hold, register at https://emmanuelonimisi.com/bwc

Inside Out 2 turns us Outside In

I recently got to watch Inside Out 2, the sequel to Pixar’s 2015 major ‘emotion’ picture (a tag line that the marketing team should get a raise for) which took the world by storm. I must say, this story moved me in ways beyond words. In this article I would be spoiling some details

Pixar: House of Feelings

Pixar has always excelled at making compelling stories out of the most unexpected characters, giving them arcs that are relatable to us in diverse ways. With each story and character arc, Pixar has succeeded in connecting with the hearts of viewers of all ages. With Inside Out, they took it up a notch. After giving toys feelings (Toy Story), giving vehicles feelings (Cars), giving rats feelings (Ratatouille), giving fishes feelings (Finding Nemo) and even giving monsters feelings (Monsters Inc.), Pixar actually gave feelings feelings! Inside Out is the story of a young girl names Riley Anderson, and of how her feelings played a role in the transitions of her growth through a life changing experience. With characters such as Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger residing within her mind, Inside Out took us through the rollercoaster of emotions she went through and taught a valid lesson for all: sadness is an important indicator that we need support, and it should not be shut down.

With Inside Out 2, Riley is becoming a teenager, and her feelings are about to get even weirder. Growing up to be a kind and exceptional young lady, her sense of self has been based on her core goodness, which is echoed in her words, “I am a good person.” But with puberty, new emotions develop that challenge her sense of self. Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui (with little cameos by Nostalgia) take up Riley’s headspace, as she tries to become like others she admires. The original five emotions (Joy and the gang) are literally bottled up and are set on an adventure to recover the Riley they know and love.

What got to Me

At the climax of the movie, Anxiety has made a mess of Riley’s life. At this stage Riley has lost her sense of self and her primary motivation is to get other people to like her. I could identify with this so much because, even beyond my teenage years, the desire to be affirmed and accepted has been a primary motivator for me and many of us for a long time. With Anxiety at her wits end, Riley realizes that, truly, she is not good enough. This pushes her into a panic attack.

When we realize that our attempts to align with the world’s perspectives and opinions will never truly succeed, if our goal has been to meet their standards, we would feel less than you ought to be. Many young people have found themselves here.

But this is where the emotions surprised me. Anxiety finally admits to Joy, “We don’t get to decide who Riley is.” And Joy realizes it too. All this time she had been trying to return Riley to her usual self by discarding any bad or painful memories, but now she allows Riley to learn from her mistakes those memories. Riley then gains something that is a valuable factor for everyone’s growth: self-awareness. Yes, she hasn’t been a good friend. Yes, she has messed up. Yes, she is not good enough. Yes, she wants to be at her best, but never measures up. But in that moment, Joy hugs her (it’s hard to describe this if you have not seen the movie), and the other emotions join in.

Awareness of our strengths and weaknesses primes us to be in the best position to receive the help we need and, best of all, to show grace to ourselves.

The makers of this movie did a really good job of illustrating the value of self-awareness in our growth, whether we be adolescents or adults.

My first key takeaway was that our emotions are only ‘indicators’ of how we feel. They should not be ‘directors’ of our actions, or determinants of our identities. Our feelings are not permanent. Know what is true and stick to it, no matter how your feelings go.

Also, awareness of our strengths and weaknesses primes us to be in the best position to receive the help we need and, best of all, to show grace to ourselves. The earlier we learn this, the better we would be. This is underlined at the end when Riley is asked if she made it into a team (something she had always desired), but while she wants to be on the team she is more open to the possibility of trying again if she fails. This time, she sees herself as more than her achievements or failures, and she can master them for her growth.

One of the biggest contradictions many believers face is reconciling our acclaimed righteousness with the failures and weaknesses we find in ourselves occasionally. Sometimes it feels hard to acknowledge them, and sometimes we may even feel they disqualify us before God and the people in our lives. But our weaknesses are reminders that we need the Savior, and He is always ready to help us.

Our worth is not in other’s perception of ourselves, but in our Creator’s. He sees us at our best and at our worst, and He loves us still.

And so also should we.

You are not your failures or your successes. You are you. It is the true you that can grow.

Thank you for reading. Have you ever experienced an event that made you more self aware? Please share with us. It might encourage someone.

My Questions in the Light of You

I’ve got so many Questions
many things I can’t deduce
Everyone thinks they’ve got the answers
And it makes me think, “What’s the use?
Must I believe everything they say,
Accepting what they say is true?
What if they’re wrong?
What do You think I should do?”

Maybe someday I’ll get the answers
to the questions that fill my mind
May not be now, or even tomorrow
Or after ten more years are left behind

Maybe I’ll get to ask You these questions
on the Day We finally meet
Maybe by then, my quest for understanding
will finally be complete.

Or maybe…

Maybe…

Maybe by then I would be overtaken
By your Awesomeness and Beauty
the Questions may just fade away
into mere inconsequentiality
Compared to You, my questions are nothing
just a chasing after the wind
‘Cause all I’ll need to know, You’ll tell me
So I can be all You made me to be.

You know what?
I think I’ll just start gazing at You right now.

(Originally written Jan 21, 2014)

Teach me, Lord Jesus

Some people are reading
their Bibles each day.
They’re learning how God works
And what He would say.
They’re growing and feeding
On Heavenly Food.
Lord, teach me to study
That I may think like You would.

Some people are praying
And seeking His face.
They’re gaining direction
And strengthening in Grace.
He’s sharpening and pruning them
Enlightening their gaze.
Lord, teach me to pray
that I may follow your ways.

Some people are serving
The Lord with their all.
They’re giving their best
‘Cause they’ve answered His call.
They’re spreading the Gospel
And doing what He pleases.
Lord, teach me to serve
As you want me to, Jesus

May I be Your sacrifice, given to You, living to please You in all that I do.
That I may be Your gift to all; to Gentile and Jew, ’cause You’re all that matters, Jesus. It’s true.

Amen.

Amen.

The Faces of Christmas is Here!

In 2017 I had an idea to create profiles of the characters in the Christmas story. It was meant to be a prompt to get me to combine two of my favorite subjects: Bible history and art.

And that was the birth of The Faces of the Christmas Story, a series I ran on this blog.

Years later, Householder Publishing reached out with a proposition: what if we created stories around these characters in the Christmas story? It would be an interesting take and the potential was too great to pass up.

So, of course, I said YES!

And that is the genesis of what has become my latest book, friends: The Faces of Christmas.

The Journey

From mid-2021 through 2022, I worked with Toluwanimi Babarinde, principal at Householder Publishing, in placing these characters in believable stories. There were periods when I was blank, I’ll be honest, and when I was scampering for ideas on what to write.

It was easier to write stories on characters the Bible did not go in-depth on, because that gave me some artistic license. But, believe it or not, it was Joseph and Mary’s stories that were the most challenging for me. How do I give readers a new experience in a story they are all-too-familiar with already?

They were the last two of the stories I got to write. I hope you like it when you read it.

Bound in hardcover and beautifully illustrated by Gideon Akor, the book is one I’m really proud of and that I think you’d love it too.

My Hopes

From the very beginning, this concept was birthed from an appreciation of the ordinary stories of the people that make up the Christmas story. It amazed me how God brought them into the wonderful story that He was telling. It mirrored, to me, what He can do in our seemingly ordinary lives too.

I hope that readers get to see that too. It is my hope that when you read this book, you come to appreciate much better what Christmas is really about, for you.

And Now it’s Out!

It’s been amazing, over the past few weeks, watching the book pop up in online stores across the world, some in languages I do not even understand yet, and it’s so exciting! I hope that everyone reading them gets to be blessed by them too. Jesus came for everyone!

For information on where to get The Faces of Christmas, check out the book page.

I’ll be sharing more about the whole story behind this book, with the setbacks and lessons I learnt along the way, real soon. Through it all, God has been with us.

And that’s the lesson of Christmas, the Gift of Immanuel.

The Story behind ‘Along the Way’

On September 21, I released a memoir called Along the Way. In many ways, it felt like it was where my life had been headed for a very long time.

I grew up reading books with deep adult subjects, and I especially loved those that had illustrations. I used to flip the pages to just see the next illustration, but gradually as I grew, I also began to read the content of the text. I loved how the drawings drew me in, and I looked forward to putting out books like that. Books that cover subjects that are relatable to both adults and children.

As my 30^th birthday approached, I wanted to put out something into the world to encourage someone out there who, just like me, may have been trying to make their way through the uncertainties and decisions of their 20s. I certainly don’t consider myself an arbiter of all knowledge, and I’m still learning, but there were a number of things I had learnt along the way (see what I did there?) that I figured could help others too.

One of the major things I am learning, and which formed the major framework for Along the Way, is the fact that the ordinary is not mundane. Because God made our times and seasons, He has treasures and glorious wonder deposited in every person and every moment. All of Creation is a testament to His wisdom and glory, but we would only see it if our hearts and mindsets are trained to see this way. It’s why Paul wrote about the ‘renewing of the mind’ that is necessary in knowing God better (Romans 12:2). Life is finite, but there is so much wonder in the moments we get to experience. I want to live like that, appreciating the little things and able to bring forth God’s wonders through them. To see no one as ordinary, but to value them the way He does.

That is the core concept of Along the Way, and what I wanted to put out into the world.

And do you know one of the most awesome parts? The content of this book was made up of articles I had written over the past decade, at various points in time. I gathered them together, revised and modified much of them, and eventually the book to shape. It was almost as if, in those moments without my realizing it, God had been prompting my heart with just what I’d need to put this book together long before I even knew there would be a book. That blows my mind in no small way.

It encourages me for the road ahead, that my best bet is to trust in His process and keep on following Him. I do not know the future, but He does. And one thing I hope to keep doing is to trust Him and take each step in faith and trust, as I follow Him along the way.

I pray the same for you too.

Along the Way is available in paperback at Householder Books (US only), as a digital download on Amazon and Selar, and to read on OkadaBooks and Bambooks.

The Faces of Christmas comes out this Christmas! I’ll be writing about that in a moment.

‘Along the Way’ is Coming!

Hi there! I’ve got a new book coming, and I’m really excited to share it with you.

Along the Way is a compilation of some creative pieces and lessons I’ve learnt in my walk with God over the years. I’ve learnt to see life as one big treasure hunt that God has placed before us, with new mercies every morning and treasures every day. With eyes open wide in wonder and hearts impressionable to His Word, there is so much He’ll show us along the way.

My dear friends at Householder Publishing are providing opportunities to pre-order the book in paperback form, so head on over to pre-order a copy. A book like this should definitely be in your library, I can assure you of that.

The digital copy/ebook is also available for pre-order over at Selar, so head on over to Selar to order a copy.

For more details, check out the book page right at this link.

Thank you so much!

Pablo

A story about one dog’s journey home.

Three young dogs were milling about at the rubbish dump one morning, but it was the dump that was the main attraction to the Labrador that was watching from afar.

They called him Bones, and he was the toughest canine in the neighborhood. Whenever there was a fight for territory, once he came on the scene, the fight was over. His howl was the loudest at night, and other dogs could only hope to match his domineering influence. He especially loved rubbing it in their faces. And so, with a smirk on his face, he hurried over to the three and climbed up the dump.

“Now, now,” he said whimsically, “Argue all you want, dawgs, but you know who the real king of this hill is.”

Garr, a cross between an Alsatian and a Terrier, stared up at him. “Hiya, Bones,” he said dryly.

“Now, y’all be nice to me,” Bones continued. “And I’d even let you grab a bite or two from this here dump. I can imagine it must be tantalizing to your eyes right about now, eh?” He licked his lips, but they did not seem amused in the slightest.

“Um… thanks Bones,” Ruff the pug said. “But if Nada here is right, we might not need to come to this dump ever again.”

Bones was taken aback. “Huh?”

Nada was a Doberman, and she was the youngest of the pack. She nodded with glee. “Yeah! There’s this human you’ve gotta meet. He’s really nice and I think he likes me.”

Bones arched a brow. “You’ve got a human? But … but we’re strays. It’s who we are.”

“Yeah, I know,” Nada said, her tail wagging faster as she spoke. “But this guy treats me like I’m a … friend. Anytime he sees me, he pats me on the head and pets me.”

“I’ve never been petted before,” Garr said with a pout.

“Me neither,” Ruff added.

“And he sets out food for me too,” Nada said. “Like I’m his ‘person’. One day he even gave me a bath!”

“A what?!”

“No way! What’s that like?”

Bones watched in disbelief as Nada shared more stories about this human that had caught her fancy. It sounded too good to be true, and Bones knew that human-attachment was a road to heartbreak.

“I’m suspicious,” he said as he approached them. “He your former owner or something?”

“Nope,” Nada said. “I was born on the streets, Bones. I’ve never had an owner before.”

“What do you think, Bones?” Ruff asked.

“I think this is a load of hogwash,” Bones said. “We can never trust the humans. They think we’re pests.”

“This guy doesn’t,” Nada said.

“So what you gonna do?” Bones said, staring her down as he stood in her face. “Take us all over to your human friend so we can be begging for scraps?”

But Nada was not intimidated. “He gives me more than scraps. I think he’s—“

“I mean, look around, dawgs,” he said. “See the assortment of grub we’ve got in this dump. Food from yesterday, some from last week, some from last month – a variety of all kinds just waiting for you to take. And the search, oh, searching through the other garbage and stuff is the real adventure. Getting to taste and spit out the stuff that don’t taste good to your liking, and trying out new stuff. What could be better than that?”

“But it’s not good for you,” Nada said. “Some of it is spoilt. Some of it can kill you.”

“Why?” Bones snapped. “Cause your human’s gon’ give you something better?”

“Actually, yes. And I think he can give us all something better.”

“What if he stops? What if one day he don’t like you no more?”

Bones felt more and more humiliated as Nada extolled the virtues of her friend.

“What’s your damage, Bones?” Garr asked. “Why are you so against this human?”

Bones shook his head. “Trusting humans is dangerous,” he said. “You don’t want to go that route. Once you’re emotionally-invested…” As he spoke, he realized his eyes were getting misted as memories flooded his mind. “No. It’s a can of worms. Just trust me on this. You can’t trust them two-leggers.”

Ruff placed a paw on the ground. “Well I wanna see what Nada be talking about.”

“Me too,” Garr intoned.

“Then come along with me!” Nada said. “He usually has food ready around this time.”

“You’ll come back here!” Bones called after them as they hurried away. “You’ll all come back here. Just you wait and see. Y’all gon’ be back here, with your tails between your legs, begging me to let you come to this dump! You can count on it!”

But as they ran off, their tails wagging in hope, Bones felt defeated. He had had his own experience with a human, and he had seen the slippery slope of trusting a human being. But after the conversation they had just had, the dump was no longer appealing to him. Curiosity got the better of Bones, and he hurried after them, if only to watch from afar.

Nada, Garr and Ruff crossed into the backyard of a quaint house on the edge of the street. Bones hid behind a tree and watched as Nada called.

“Hey!!!” she called. “It’s me, your friend, Nada!”

Bones had to stifle a chuckle. Nada probably forgot that the human would only hear her barking, and not actually hear her words.

But sure enough, a human opened the door. Bones had not seen that coming.

“Ah, Nada!” he came down to his haunches, petting her, her tail wagging like it had a sense of its own. “You came back!” He looked at the other dogs, who were already stepping backwards already. “And you brought friends too!”

He beckoned to them and they sauntered cautiously as he pet them on the head. Sure enough, those tails began to wag like Nada’s. Bones felt sick of it.

The Human held a hand up. “Wait for me, alright. I’ve got food ready.” He hurried into the house and returned with a bag of treats which he poured into bowls for them. “You must be hungry. I’ve got enough to go around.”

Bones had not tasted doggie treats in a very long time. The sight turned his stomach and tugged on his heart. But it was at that moment that he realized that this scene was all too familiar. It dawned on him even more when the human looked his way.

The Human’s eyes widened as he took in Bones from afar. There was a scar on across his left eye.

Oh no… It can’t be.

Bones’ mouth felt dry as he realized that he had known this Human, and the Human knew him. Shame and regret clouded his heart as he took a step back.

Nada looked up and noticed the Human staring, only to turn and see—

“Bones?!” she said.

Bones gasped. I’m not supposed to be here!

He scampered off, blinking away the tears from his eyes. He only stopped to catch a breath behind a wall. Nada’s Human was the same Human he had known all those years ago. He couldn’t believe it. The memory brought nothing but pain.

“Bones?” He turned to see Nada peeking from behind the wall. She came over to him. “Are you okay?”

He wiped a paw across his eyes. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Were you crying?”

“Me, cry?” he chuckled. “Don’t be silly. Go on, back to your friends.”

But Nada would not be so easily shrugged off. “You knew him, didn’t you?”

Bones shrugged. “Maybe. I-it doesn’t matter. Just forget about it.”

“Bones, it’s okay. I won’t think of you less.” She sat beside him. “You were once his pet, weren’t you?”

He wanted to deny it once more, but he just couldn’t. He nodded silently.

“What happened?”

There was no pretending with Nada. “You see those scars on his left eye? That…” He lowered his head. “That was me.”

“What?”

He took a deep breath. “It was a different life, a very long time ago. I was his friend too. We played and went everywhere together. He used to call me Pablo, if you can believe it.”

She chuckled. “Pablo,” she whispered, trying it out.

“But one day I saw this dump. I saw all this grub with many scents that I’d never tried before and I knew I just had to get a taste. But he didn’t let me. He kept pulling me away, saying, ‘No, no, don’t go there!’ Until one day I snapped at him and…”

He shut his eyes as he wiped his paw in the air, re-enacting the moment he struck his Human’s face.

“I was stunned, seeing him bleeding that day. He was shocked too, crying on the ground. I didn’t know what to do. I had broken our bond and his trust. I’d drawn his blood. I couldn’t go back again. I had to run away and make a life of my own, far away from him.”

They sat in silence for a moment, staring into the horizon.

“And you’ve been a stray ever since,” she said.

He nodded.

“It wasn’t him that messed up,” Bones said. “It was me. There’s no way he can forgive me for that. He’s Human. They don’t forget stuff. I can never forget that day, myself. It’s why I can’t allow myself to trust a Human again, because I could break that trust one day.”

Nada stared up at him in stunned silence. She didn’t know what to say to that, too.

But in that moment, the Human came from behind the wall. “Pablo?” he called.

Bones gristled, becoming defensive in that moment. He took a step backwards.

“Hey,” the Human said, stretching a hand towards him. “It’s me. Your friend.”

Bones bared his fangs, growling in warning. “Stay away from me,” he said. “I may bite you again!” Of course he knew the Human wouldn’t hear his words, but the growl would pass it across.

“Bones, what’re you doing?” Nada asked.

“Stay out of this,” Bones snarled.

The Human was undeterred. “All these years I’ve been looking for you,” he said. “Thank God you’re still alive. My, what has happened to you, Pablo?”

“Stay back!” Bones warned, barking. “I’m warning you.”

But the Human still approached him cautiously. “I’ve wanted to protect you from the dangers around,” he said. “I want you to be my friend again, Pablo. I want to feed you to good health and take care of you. I don’t want you to be harmed ever again.”

“I’m doing fine all by myself!” Bones snapped. “I don’t need you!”

But the Human would not get the message. He still came closer, reaching out with his arms. “It’s okay, Pablo. I’m not going anywhere. It’s okay.”

Bones kept trying to retreat, growling, but as the Human’s hand touched his head something changed. Sensations he had not felt in a very long time coursed through his body. His resistance withered away as healing flooded his heart.

The Human embraced Bones, and Bones sank into his embrace. All the shame, pain, fear, pride and regret he’d carried all these years were dissolved in the pool of love and acceptance that he plunged into in that moment. His tail began to sway on its own accord.

Is this what it feels like to be loved? Bones mused.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, licking the Human’s facial wound. “I’m so very sorry for all I did.”

“I forgive you,” the Human said, tears in his eyes as well. “I forgave you, Pablo.”

They remained there for a while, as they made up for years of distance and estrangement in that hug. Bones was a baby once again, in the arms of the Human.

Garr and Ruff came around to Nada, shocked at the scene before their eyes.

“I don’t believe it.” Garr said in shock.

“Is that our Bones?” Ruff intoned.

“I’ve never seen his tail wag before.”

“Never knew it even had the capacity to do that.”

“Alright, guys,” Nada said with a smirk. “Let him have his moment.”

The Human looked up at them with joy in his eyes. “Can you believe it? Pablo has returned!”

“Pablo?” Ruff asked.

Nada sighed. “It’s a long story.”

Bones turned to them. “Don’t you tell anyone about this or else—“

“Go tell your friends,” the Human said, oblivious to what he had just said. “Bring them over. We’re gonna have a dog party to celebrate. Pablo has come home.”

Bones sighed. He was going to have to get used to this.

He was loving every second of it. He didn’t know what the future held, but all he knew was that the Human – his Human – loved him and forgave him.

And that was enough for Pablo.

THE END

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Jesus (Luke 15:10)

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You can Laugh!

Dayo and Akin learn that a merry heart is good medicine, especially in trying times.

It was another one of those days.

Dayo Jegede was stuck at his friend’s house on a Friday evening, and there was no electric power to do anything. He had been staying with Akin ever since the academia at the university had gone on strike for over five months already. Like millions of Nigerian students, he had tried to invest his attention in online courses and eventually in remote freelance graphic design jobs. Yet, any progress he could have made was affected by the erratic power supply in their area. He was two days late on a flyer design he was meant to send to a client in Norway, his laptop battery was down, his phone battery was teetering on 1%, and Akin’s nonchalant singing in the other room was beginning to get irritating.

Dayo slammed his laptop shut and stomped over to Akin’s room. “Guy, this thing dey tire me,” he said. “I just dey tire.”

Akin smiled. “How e no go ‘Tyre’ you? Oya, come ‘Sidon’ for my side. Make we talk.”

Dayo hissed. “I dey yarn you correct thing, you dey use me crack joke. I swear, I suppose knock you for head.”

“Alright, alright. Sorry. You never eat since, na why you dey frustrated.”

“Abeg, leave that side. I need to get this thing. You get fuel for gen?”

Akin winced. “I suppose buy, but the price don go up. So I no—”

“But them still go sell, shei?” He turned his flashlight to the clock, confirming that the time was a few minutes to 9pm.

“Well … but e go cost o.”

Dayo clapped. “Oya, do fast. Make we go buy fuel. Please, I go add money on top.”

He was well aware that his account was deep in the red, but now he was desperate.

Akin winked. “What if they don close?”

Dayo really did not have the time for banter, so he clenched his fists to ease the pressure that was building up in his arms. “Akin … please…”

Akin did not need further convincing. Within minutes, they were already walking down their street to get to the filling station along the main road. From the houses around them, they could hear the racket of other residential generators, providing electric power for their domiciles. It dawned on him that it had been a long time since they had experienced a truly silent night in their neighborhood.

Another result of this problematic country, he mused, hissing under his breath.

“Have you noticed that the sky is brighter tonight,” Akin asked.

Dayo turned to him. “Hmm?”

“The sky? It’s supposed to be dark, but because of the full moon, it seems a lot brighter.”

Dayo never ceased to be amazed at how Akin always seemed to keep an upbeat disposition despite all they were going through. It bordered on annoying most times, so Akin never dwelt on it.

They met a long queue of cars at the station, and a couple of people with their kegs ready to purchase fuel. Dayo wanted to curse someone, to let off some of the pent-up anger that had been building up within him. It did not help that the other folks in line were discussing the state of insecurity in the country, and the seeming futility of the forthcoming elections.

“All of them are liars,” a pudgy man said. “They only want to fill their own pockets.”

“Abi o,” another added. “None of these politicians can even tell us their plan. The money they used to buy their form, where did they get it, sef?”

“It’s not all of them that have no plan o,” yet another added, and he proceeded to explain why his candidate was the best of all the presidential aspirants. That led to another person praising his own candidate, extolling his effectiveness in potentially changing things.

On and on, the conversation continued while Dayo just shut his eyes and tried to keep his breathing even. He could hear Akin humming somewhere behind him. Neither of them enjoyed engaging in political arguments, especially in these times. They all hoped for better days, but ‘the sufferings of these times’ were so not comparable to ‘the glory’ they hoped would follow. It felt very hard to even hope, sometimes.

It took them close to 30 minutes before they could buy fuel, and they were soon on their way home. Dayo was hungry now, but what was primary on his mind was completing the design job on time. Akin was still humming.

Dayo could not hold it in any longer. “This country is the weapon fashioned against me,” he said. “I hate it here. I just hate it here.”

Akin placed a hand on his shoulder. “Guy…”

“And don’t try to make it sound better,” Dayo snapped.

Akin nodded. “You’re right. It feels hopeless. Many things aren’t working. It can be annoying and frustrating, and so discouraging.” They walked on in silence for a moment. “But do you know what I do, Dayo?”

Dayo arched a brow. “How you dey do am, sef?”

Akin pursed his lips. “I try to keep my mind on what God has done and what God is doing. And I’m thankful…”

Dayo hissed. “Guy, I know that stuff. But in the real world—“

“Real? What’s real? If I complain and mope, what does that give me? Even if issues change or I leave the country, there would always be one problem or the other. But God never changes. He is more real than the problems around us.”

Dayo was not ready to engage on that topic. “You make it sound as if it’s easy.”

“Trust me, man, it’s not always easy. It’s why I sing or listen to songs that keep my heart in that place. ‘A broken spirit dries up the bones, but a merry heart is good medicine’.”

Dayo smirked. “I think you just twisted that verse?”

“Did I? Oh I think I did…”

“But, Akin, this thing hard, true true.”

“Shebi you’re a child of God? And the fruit of God’s Spirit in us is Joy. It doesn’t matter what happens around us, He can help us to be joyful. Joy is a gift. The joy of the Lord is your…”

They were already approaching their apartment, so Dayo ignored him. He hurried towards the generator to fill it with fuel.

“Your strength,” Akin finished. “Come on, man, you left me hanging there.”

“Let us get light first,” Dayo said. “We can continue Sunday School after that.”

Akin helped as they poured in the fuel from the keg into the generator. Dayo could not wait to get back to work. So even though when he pulled on the generator cord it did not come on, he knew that it was just a minor issue. He pulled on the cord again…

…

…and this time, it cut.

For a moment the friends stared in utter shock as what they had thought would be their hope of electricity for the evening was snuffed out before their very eyes. They would have to wait till morning before they could get an engineer to fix this. Dayo stared at the broken cord in his hands, with no plan or course of action coming to mind.

With nothing left to do, he turned to Akin, whose hands were on his head. In the silence that followed, the inevitability of it all dawned on them, and they burst into laughter.

For Dayo, it was a nervous laughter of exhaustion, as the realization that there was nothing more he could do about his problems. Yet the more he laughed, the harder it became to stop laughing. The laughter made him feel lighter, like there was nothing more he could do. He was out of control as he sank to his knees and pounded the ground with his fist, choking on hysterics.

“Why you dey beat the ground?” Akin said between guffaws. “Wetin the floor do you, na?”

Dayo managed to make out the words, “Why are we laughing? We dey mad?”

“Don’t you see, Dayo? God is with us! Everything don mess up, but we can still laugh! We still have Joy. Isn’t that something to be grateful for?”

Dayo did not feel the confidence Akin professed, but at that moment, he wished he did. God had given them reasons to smile and laugh and, even now when things seemed bleak, he could still laugh.

Electric power was not restored that night, and Dayo had to turn in the design the next day. However, even though nothing changed, Dayo’s burdened heart was a little lighter that evening.

And that, he realized, was something to be thankful for.

THE END

Hi there, dear reader. Many times we go through situations that impose the bleakness of the times on our consciousness. The news seems choked with bad news many times, and it many times looks as though things are just getting worse around us.

But God is still in control. He’s still got the whole world in His hands. His Spirit within you can keep you Joyful. Happiness is based on what ‘happens’, but Joy is irrespective of what happens. In His joy there is strength to keep on standing, strength to do what you need to do, and you are lightened to even hear and see the wisdom and direction He may be showing you out of the darkness.

I pray that you find reasons to laugh, my friend, and that you keep on laughing. Be strengthened.

Did this bless you?

Have you had a similar experience you would like to share?

Do you need someone to pray with you in what you’re going through?

Please share and let me know in the comments. You just might be a blessing to someone here. Trust me, we all need it.