Being Good Citizens

It was some minutes past seven; the music of the morning was of different honks and drivers hurling insults at themselves. The air was thick with smoke from bad silencers of ‘molue’ and other cars and trucks. I sat in the back seat of the cab I called and I could feel the coarseness of the worn leather that covered the chair around my knees, I was running late for a job interview but I knew there was nothing I could do about it. The cab man kept sighing, I could sense he was also mourning the amount of fuel he was losing due to the snail pace we were moving at because of the traffic.

Beggars were tapping at the car window and looking at me pitifully hoping for ‘a little something’. A small boy was pushing his wares through the driver’s window. Impatience was written on the faces of the pedestrians as tiny drops of water started dropping from the skies.

It was indeed a Lagos morning.

The news on the radio was same as yesterday’s; death and corruption.  This gets to me more than anything else. I imagine what it feels like being in the shoes of those affected. The news all around reminds me how starved the world is of Love.

For want of something to do, the cab guy started a conversation with me. It was one that was so familiar that I felt my replies might have sounded rehearsed. I have been there many times, same old story of corrupt government and situations crying for help.

However, I still listened with rapt attention as he detailed the woes the average man goes through because of our bad leadership as a country. I understood him and could feel his pains but I felt the need to correct his line of thoughts.

I asked him about the different law enforcement officers and the bribes some of them take, I asked if those are the leaders he was referring to? He answered in the negative.

We approached a very rough patch and he complained as his car made a thumping sound from the uneven road. I decided to tell him a story I have shared with quite a number of people.

I told him of a cab guy I saw, that parked his car by the road side and started picking stones from all around to fill up a ditch most people run into and do nothing about. I learnt from his honourable act and I was ministered to. I share his story with almost everyone I meet because I think if we all had his attitude; we would be living in a better country.

I reminded him of the part we had to play as individuals in the society.  The situation is very bad because the average man has no values. We need to look past ourselves and remember the scripture said we should love our neighbours as ourselves.

Before peeing at the side of the road, think about all the diseases that could come to another from the pungent smell of accumulated urine.

 Before stealing that public fund, think of all the lives that were supposed to be changed as a result of the new school that the money was meant to be used to build.

Before doing any act, ask yourself if you would want such to be done to you.

Vote for a candidate you feel right about. don't just sit down and complain.

Being a good citizen is part of keeping God’s commandments.

Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. 2 If you're irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Romans 13:1,2 (MSG).

Let us bear in mind that we all make up this community, do the good you can, you would be surprised who is watching and how much you can change.

Stay blessed.