#ObiomaTheTailor walked over to #TheOldManInTheMolue and whispered in his ears.

#ObiomaTheTailor walked over to #TheOldManInTheMolue and whispered in his ears.

How he reminded me of my Dad - who whispered louder than he spoke: I loved that man my Father Edward - he went much too soon.

"I will like to speak about the evils of Conspiracy Theories To The House" he whispered.

"What exactly about Conspiracy Theories?" The OldMan whispered back.

“That it is a black art - on the same level as Witchcraft - can I?" Obioma who now called himself Timothy St Paul implored.

The old man looked askance at him and replied "I'm not sure.... talk to us about it first”.

So we left our seats and went to the back of the Molue and spoke in whispers.

"Give us a dry run Tim, what exactly do you mean?”

“I’ve been thinking” he said “That those who spread conspiracy theories which they cannot themselves prove, are engaged in the black art of witchcraft”

“Oh dear” The #Old Man chuckled “What is your argument? Speak to us as you would the HOUSE

Clearing his throat he said to me “Wish me luck” then laughed.

I felt genuine warmth towards him.

Clearly out of his comfort zone, he never gave up - always trying to contribute to the culture of learning he’d met in this Molue - which we call ‘The House’. He was a thinking man and so was gloriously alive!

“Good luck” I said. He smiled then launched: ”None of the 10 commandments specifically tells us to avoid the practice of Witchcraft yet we know it is abhorrent to God…..forbidden by…”
“Start again” the Old man said curtly, Put it more elegantly - you have a point - drive it home intact!”

“Thank you Sir” Obioma said. Clearing his throat, he started all over again:

“Failing to follow any or all of the ten commandments leaves us open to all known….” stopping himself, he said “Let me take that again - let me say it in a more positive manner”

He raised his voice then launched forth:“If you follow the ten commandments, there is no possibility you will fall into the practice of necromancy - the use of the dark arts to cause harm, control, or even death to others….”  He looked at the Old man who nodded his approval, and continued”

“When we bear tales or spread conspiracy theories - to harm others by destroying their reputations and controlling they way they are perceived or en-graced by others, we practice dark arts! Simple!” 

Have you spread conspiracy theories? Have you destroyed the reputations of people you dislike or envy? Do you devoted your precious time manipulating the way others are perceived in order to damage and deny their being en-graced by others? Do you… have you hastened the death of others with your malice?

Heaven forbid that you have!
Holy man or woman that you are?
Prayer-warrior awaiting the second coming of The Lord?

Heaven forbid….. You who spread malice do you consider yourself a Christians still?” 

His sounded angry - very angry and seemed to be out of breath at the end of each sentence gulping air just before the next - whooping they called it - you didn’t whoop in some churches, behind your back, it was whispered that you weren’t yet filled with the holy spirit!

“Hey” The Oldman interjected “You’re doing alright - but don’t get your emotions caught up in your argument!”

“OK” he said then taking a deep breath, he continued:

“For the sake of the sacrifices of Christ that they may not have been in vain - on your behalf, repent….” 

Looking beyond me, (I sat with my back to the front of the bus), he said “Turn your bibles to Ephesians 3:16” 

I turned to see everyone in the ‘House’ - the occupants of this rickety bus had been listening in…

“Obioma” I dead-panned “I beg you - where did you learn to string all these big-big words together…. to speak so elegantly….”

“He’s a Priest” The entire House responded “PhD Theology!”

“Wha-a-at? Art Thou a Priest? A Catholic Priest?” I half-stammered

“Would Thou take it upon Thyself to call me Timotheus St. Paul henceforth?” He said laughing

“I verily would dear sir if you would oblige this old adversary an answer” I said

“I am indeed a Priest” he said smiling “I’ll explain later how I came to be here”

“Oya everybody come closer” #TheOldManInTheMolue turned and said to the House “Tim, address everybody! The sermon is good enough. They were listening anyway…” turning to me he said “I thought we were whispering!”

I laughed “You know we weren’t!”

“All together now!” Obioma said “Ephesians 3:16.. Let’s go!”

And so we read these words in Chorus - calling the numbers before each verse.

“16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”

“Thank you” Dr. St. Paul said “Thank you!”

Then for some reason, we all clapped

The #OldMan got up, raise this hands and we stopped clapping. “You see,” he said “You owe all those who despoil you… that is steal or violate that which you consider sacred… you owe them prayers”

“Yessir!” Someone responded - just like we were in a proper church

“Prayers - that out of his glorious riches he might strengthen them.. and dwell in their hearts!”

Nodding at Obioma he said “Continue my son!”

“Thank you Sir” He said “Now say after me!”

“Now Say after me” they echoed
“No be serious!”

“No be serious!”

We were an unruly bunch - the Molue!

So he carried on - and they echoed his words:

“So I pray that you being rooted in knowledge”
“So I pray that you being rooted in knowledge”

“Will come to the full knowledge, together with all”
“Will come to the full knowledge, together with all”

“Who themselves bear false witness against others”
“Who themselves bear false witness against others”

“And Understand - how profoundly unworthy”
“And Understand - how profoundly unworthy”

“As vessels for the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit we make ourselves”
“As vessels for the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit we make ourselves”

“And thats the end of my sermon…”

“And thats NOT the end of your sermon…”

Even the #OldManInTheMolue cracked a smile. Was fun always in this Molue - the driver Laughed out loud and long… even the Molue I’m convinced jiggled side ways more than was usual…

“How blessed, this vehicle was,” I thought “To be the platform of these life-changing discourses!”

“You must,” The House protested “Explain to us, which of the ten commandments if broken, leads us directly to Witchcraft”

“HE will” The Old Man interjected. “Right now the next item on the agenda is food. We will stop at Ore to eat, and welcome the caravan coming from Benin and proceed Via Ondo to Ore”

“Who seconds this motion?” The OldMan asked

“We do” the house chorused

“Me too” Moses the Driver said

“Oh shut up and drive” someone said and we all laughed!