I decided to title this address as a legacy one because of its purported value to posterity. I will be remiss in my duty if I do not comment on the state of affairs in our nation.
Sierra Leone is an irony of a nation whatever that means. You can read between the lines. Our political leaders have fraudulently converted this land of iron and diamonds into the scum of West Africa. The fact is that almost all our Leaders have not been God-fearing and patriotic. Bad politicians are elected by good citizens who do not vote.
There is little choice between rotten fish. A.P.C and S.L.P.P have been entrenched in our hearts in such a way that we do not consider any other parties to rule us. No ‘ariogbo’ has been able to fathom the rationale for this deplorable state of affairs.
Religion seems to offer us some solace. We have inter religious marriages all over the country and we enjoy the same holidays like the Easter just past. We should not dwell on the things that divide us but those that strengthen our bonds.
At the baptism of Jesus a voice from heaven said “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased”. But some people who claim to know better say Jesus is not the son of God. Let them say. Christians should not quarrel with them.
If Jesus can rise physically from the dead and Mohamed did not it does not matter. There should be no argument about that.
It should not be forgotten that Christianity and Islam hail from the same Abrahamic roots. Abraham is the same called Ibrahim by Muslims so why the petty quarrels between us? Somewhere along the road there was branching with some becoming Christians and others Muslims. Mind your own religion! Keep to your own lane as we journey towards salvation.
I am not a teetotaler. I have read about St. Paul’s advice to Timothy in 1Timothy 2:23 that states “No longer drink only water but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”
Proverbs 20:1 states “And do not get drunk with wine”. But Proverbs 31:6 states “Wine gladdens and money answers.” These are the pros and cons of drinking. The choice is yours.
In my book of poems which has not been published I wrote inter alia, on the topic Health is Wealth. When I a dead I hope it may be said “His sins were scarlet but his poems were read.”
I am not a man of man but a man of God therefore I am constrained to talk about God. To begin with we do not know where God came from. God is love. God is merciful. God is forgiving and just etc. He is infinite and cannot be limited by description. In a world of superlatives God is the greatest. God suffers from no power failure like EDSA. If we know everything about God we would be equal to him but this is impossible. Suffer it to be so now. There are so-called human beings who are living without God and without hope in the world. It is necessary from time to time to stop in your tracks and to ask yourself the rhetorical questions! What am I living for? Am I living for pleasure only? Is life worth living? The answer to the last question is that it depends on the liver.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 states “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandment; for this is the whole duty of man.”
Most people want to grow old but old age has its flip side of blemishes and infirmities. For instance my face is not as you see it now 30 or 40 years ago. Incidentally I have not been using hair dye or garra for my hair for the past 5 years or so. It does not matter how I look as long as I am in fine fettle and in good health. By God’s grace I have been admitted to hospital for only one day in my whole life. Haleluyah! I have been sick on some occasions for only as long as about one week. God has done it.
My face has suffered from time’s wreckful siege of battering days. I sometimes regard my face as a misrepresentation so I tend to reject it but is it possible?
At old age you are subjected to a battalion of innumerable ailments. They buffet you on all sides. Oh dear! My advice to you is to avoid old age, avoid Connaught. It is free advice I don’t need it. Take it!
All sober-minded people desire success. But success spoils some people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent. For a true Christian or Muslim there should be two tiers of success. One is earthly and the other and more important is success in eternal salvation after death. Gaining the whole world and losing your soul in hell is void of purpose.
I represented all Sierra Leonean journalists in the United States Election Time Tour in 1964 due to hard work. I commend hard work and the avoidance of loitering to all of you here. Hard work pays.
I was appointed Justice of the Peace due to diligent and hard work by a President who did not know me in person but only by my work.
Thessalonians 3:10 states: “if any one will not work let him not eat”.
President Roberrt Kennedy said “Ask not what America can do for you but ask what you can do for America.
Rev. Williams says ask not what Sierra Leone can do for you but ask what you can do for Sierra Leone. What I would hate however is for any younger person here to predecease me. Wait for your own turn!
In 2Timothy 4:7 Paul wrote “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. Like Paul I can say I have fought the good fight. But unlike him I have not finished the race while still alive. In any case I feel that I have kept the faith though only God is the righteous judge.
I am prepared to meet my Maker but whether He is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is the sixty-four thousand dollar question.
Now for the secrets of my long life and health. Longevity basically depends on one’s genetic make-up and life style.
But I would advice you to be eating fish, crabs’ and oysters like Sherbros. Avoid red meat as far as possible.
On a more serious note eat an adequate and balanced diet and exercise if possible on a daily basis if you are about 65 or over.
Don’t smoke as I did and don’t do as I do but do as I say. Don’t drink spirits on an empty stomach.
I wish you all to live for over 90 years in good health. Say Amen!
