Undefined. Meaning – not clearly described, stated, or known.
The Lord will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but your Teacher will no longer hide Himself—with your own eyes you will see Him. And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” Isaiah 30:20-21
The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth result from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” John 1:12-13
Baba Alade: Ebenezer! Where are you going? Can’t you see that your wife is convulsing? Do you want to be irresponsible?
Ebenezer: Baba, I am not falling for any trick. How come it was when I told her to leave my house that she decided to start this acting? See ehn, I am leaving and when I come back, I don’t want to see her again!
Baba Alade: When did you become like this? How can you be so callous?
Ebenezer looked at Bisi convulsing and for a second he wondered if she was truly ill, but then, he remembered. She wasn’t even Bisi. She was Sangofunmi. If she could lie about her identity, then nothing else could be considered off limits.
He smiled and walked out.
“Ebenezer! Don’t go. My son let us take your wife to the hospital together.
Baba Alade shook his head.
…
Ade: Baba, take it easy. Don’t break anything o.
Sangolabi, the Chief Priest, could as well have been deaf. He continued dancing.
His sons, Sangodele and Sangodare, watched their father, wondering what had changed. His eyes still seemed to be closed, but there was something different.
Sangodele: Baba, can you see us?
Chief Priest: No o. I cannot see you, but I feel lighter. It seems like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders.
Sangodele: Young man, what have you done to our father? We thought your words would bring him healing, but there has been no change. He’s still the same man he was when you stepped into this house. Our agreement was that your mother will die, if our father does not regain his sight. Nothing you have said or done has changed our minds.
Their father laughed.
Chief Priest: You people are just children. You don’t know anything. What Ade has done for me is worth even more than my eyesight.
Ade: Baba, I didn’t do anything o. It was Jesus.
Chief Priest: Ehn o. It was Jesus, but Jesus used you as my guide to the right path. See ehn, when you mentioned that name, I saw a lamb on an altar. It looked like it had been slain, but it was still alive. It spoke. I don’t know how to explain, but I heard a voice from it saying, “Your sins are forgiven”.
Sangodare: Ahan. All of these happened in those few seconds? Haba! How can that be?
Chief Priest: I cannot explain, but I saw it. I heard what I heard. I don’t know how it happened, but I am sure of what I heard and saw.
Ade was almost crying. He was grateful that he obeyed God despite the obvious danger. He muttered, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.” As he spoke, he perceived that the Lord was nudging him to speak about the man’s daughter. He took a breath and considered the possible reaction from the man and his sons. He whispered, “Would they believe me?” and almost immediately, he heard the Lord respond, “Your assignment is obedience not contemplation.”
He took a deep breath and spoke. “Baba, I want to tell you something about your daughter”.
…
Baba Alade sat at the reception. He had rushed Adebisi to the hospital after her husband walked out. It had been 2 hours and there was no significant feedback from the nurses.
“Please, just relax. We are doing our best.”
That was the summary of what he had been told several times. He wondered what the problem was, and if their best would be enough.
He was also worried about Ebenezer’s whereabouts. He had tried to call his mentee, but the number was switched off.
Baba was tired. The last 24 hours had been difficult, but he knew that the Lord was at work. He knew things would work out well.
If he would be honest, he wasn’t sure any longer. What if Adebisi died? What if she had a terminal illness? What if she recovered and her husband still maintained his stand? There were too many what ifs to consider.
He took a deep breath and spoke to God. “Have mercy, Lord Jesus.”
…
Sangolabi stopped. He was not sure that he heard the young man clearly.
Chief Priest: Did you just say you have something to tell me about my daughter?
Ade: Yes, I said so.
Chief Priest: Please help me find a seat. I want to seat down. Dele! Dare! I said help me seat down!
After he sat down, Ade started the unveiling by talking about the chance meeting with Bisi’s husband in the commercial vehicle, and the prayers that followed at the Pastor’s home. He then followed up with the events that played out when the Pastor and Bisi visited his house.
The Chief Priest shook his head. “This is my fault. I should never have sent her away. I have secretly regretted the decision for so many years. Now, I have the opportunity and I will make things right, no matter what it takes.”
Ade: So, what do you want to do, Baba?
Chief Priest: Are you still asking me? I am going to meet my daughter.
Sangodele and Sangodare spoke up. “Baba, we are going with you.”
The waterworks broke. Ade could not hold the tears any longer.
…
Ebenezer was halfway through his second bottle of alcohol. It had been years since he drank alcohol, but there was nothing he could do to stop. He was distressed and there was no place for him to go. He wondered why God allowed bad things to happen to good people. Despite his fasting and prayers, multiple counselling sessions, and hours spent learning about marriage, he had made a great mistake. Not only did he marry a stranger, but he also married a witch. Well, at least that was his perspective. If her father was the Chief Priest, then he was sure she must have been sacrificed to some strange gods at birth. She was the reason for their childlessness.
Some years ago, he had read that any marriage based on deceit was null and void. If the law was still in place, he could file for divorce based on the issues of falsified identity and misinformation. He was sure he would win the case, but he wondered if he really wanted to win the case and lose his wife. He was not sure of what to do.
He caught the scent of a lovely perfume. He looked up and saw a beautiful lady at the next table smiling at him.
He blushed.
It had been a while since he felt the butterflies in his belly. He wondered what his next line of action should be. He could walk up to the smiling lady and enjoy her company. He could mind his business and continue drinking. Also, he could switch on his phone and called Baba Alade. Those options were in the short term. He was not sure what to do.
His next steps were undefined, both in the short and long run.
He bowed his head and said a prayer. He wondered if God could hear him.
…
Ade: Baba, it is late already. We cannot get to the city tonight. Please let us leave early tomorrow morning. You have waited for several years, one more night won’t hurt.
Chief Priest: It is not easy o, but no problem. We will move immediately the cock crows.
Ade: No problem, Baba.
…
Baba Alade felt a touch on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw a nurse. The pace of his heartbeat increased.
Nurse: Baba, please are you the father of the woman you brought here?
Baba: Well, somehow. She is my spiritual daughter.
Nurse: Please, where is her biological father? Or her husband? We need them to be here.
Baba: You can tell me anything you want to tell them.
Nurse: Okay o. No problem. That is what they always say. I am asking for her husband because he would most likely be a young man with stamina. We don’t want double trouble in our hospital.
Baba: What is that supposed to mean?
Nurse: I am sorry, but we have had so many cases like this in the past. Two weeks ago, one of our doctors was beaten by relatives of a patient. About three months ago, the father of one of a patient fainted after he was told that she had died. Six months ago…
Baba: Nurse! Stop the stories! How is my daughter? What happened to her?
Nurse: Well, Baba, I am sorry.
Baba: You are sorry, what? Nurse! You are sorry that what?
Nurse: I am sorry…
A doctor emerges from a room and stops the nurse.
Doctor: Nurse Titi. How many times have I told you not to break such news like that. Haba.
Nurse: I am sorry, sir.
Doctor: You keep saying that. Baba, I am sorry sir. Please come with me to my office.
…
Episode 7 ends.
…
Iremide: What do you do when the next steps are undefined? How do you react when there is no clear path for you to take? Maybe you have tried several businesses with no success, and you are wondering what to do next. Or you might have applied for a job for years, with no positive feedback, and everyone is asking what you want to do next. Your case might have to do with relationships. You have been turned down by several potential spouses or heartbroken by a fiancé or fiancée. You have taken steps that have led to dead ends, and you are worried about your next steps.
Ebenezer is at a difficult point, faced with so many decisions and unsure of the next line of action.
If you are like him, the words of Isaiah 30:21 are for you. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” And although it might be difficult now, God has promised to guide you along the best pathway for your life. Relax, God will lead you. You will make the right decisions. Your confusion will give way to clarity. Worries will turn to worship. Praise will fill your lips. It is well with you in Jesus name. Amen.
…
By the grace of God, we will be having the concluding episode of Stirred Waters next week. It has been an exciting journey with so many twists and turns. We kicked off with Ade disgruntled and in need of a miracle, and here we are, with Pastor Ebenezer dejected and weary. We also have the Chief Priest who is looking forward to seeing his daughter after so many years, but with the expected news from the Doctor to Baba Alade, would she be alive when he arrives?
There are so many questions, and we trust God to help us with answers as we meet next week Friday, for one final time on the Stirred Waters train. See you next week!
