Unlike some people who say stuff like ‘I am asking for a friend’ when seeking answers to bugging questions because they are either shy or just used to lying, I am not asking for any friend. I am asking for myself because I am just curious. I live on the mainland but not as far as Ikorodu. I have done 9-5 (I wonder why we refer to it as 9-5 though when it is actually 8 to till-God-knows-when) on the Island ‘in those days’ therefore I have first-hand experience of the cycle of waking up early to go to work and coming back late at night for those that commute between the mainland and Island. But shall we refer to Ikorodu as mainland or hinterland of the mainland? Folks there leave home as early as 4 am in order to get to work early. For the sake of those who think I am exaggerating, Ikorodu folks can I have a witness? Shout ‘ha ha han!’
Early morning devotion is an important aspect of a Christian’s life. It is indicative of a close, personal relationship with God. It empowers one to face the challenges of the day. These scriptures validate this: Proverbs 8:7: ‘I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me’, Psalm 63:1: ‘O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee…’, and to show that God is particularly near in the morning is Psalm 5:3: ‘My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up’. Even Jesus did not miss morning devotion according to Mark 1:35: ‘And rising very early in the morning while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed’.
I wonder how the folks in Ikorodu are able to juggle seeking the Lord early and seeking a BRT to work as early as 5 am. Even those that have their personal cars are not left out of the early morning rush to exit this hinterland of the mainland. My curious mind suggests to me that perhaps they have their devotion on their way to work in their cars or the buses, thanks to technology that has made us carry our bibles and devotionals on our mobile devices. If this is the case, will I be preemptive to suggest that if we have a poll in Lagos of folks that doze off during morning devotion, Ikorodu people will garner the highest votes?
Because after a barely sufficient night rest and a hectic, fast paced wake up-and-get-ready-for-work routine, it is expected that attempting to have some quiet time for devotion while commuting to work will be an invitation to sleep especially when the cool morning breeze from the BRT window is giving your head a wonderful massage.
To all those living in Ikorodu, working on the Island and still manage to observe early morning devotion punctiliously, you deserve special recognition. This post is for you. Hearty cheers, good soldiers of Christ!
P.S: if this post strikes a chord with you, whether you live in Ikorodu or anywhere else, share your experience of trying to juggle having devotion early in the morning and leaving for work very early so as not to be late in the comment section.
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