Fellowships, Prayers, and Evil Water from Above.

By
Obododimma Oha



 Some human beings are holding an open air worship to thank God for sending his son to die and save the world. One of the worshipers goes to the bush close by to urinate. His urine unfortunately descends on a congregation of other smaller life forms (for instance, the type usually described by human beings as “insects”) who are holding a special service to thank God for the completion of their new temple. The urine – diversely perceived by these life smaller life forms as endtime deluge, a natural disaster, a satanic attack, a consequence of bad leadership, etc. kills many of many of the “tiny” worshipers and destroys their temple. Many of the smaller life forms are killed by some other human worshippers who step on them as they try to escape from the “evil water from above.” Some prayer warriors among the small life forms manage to re-organise and start praying to their God (or gods) to deliver and to forgive their sins.

In another neighbouring smaller life country affected by the flood, citizens gather to witness the execution of someone accused of using witchcraft to invite the “evil rain.” None of the smaller life  forms affected by the flood is aware of that it is another bigger life form that is called a “human being” that is producing the fluid which has ruined their communities and that this bigger life form is even involved in kind of religious activity.

 Is existence not very complex? We are concerned with our own affairs, sometimes impervious to other realities and planes of existence. Our innocent acts as life forms could disrupt the “civilizations” and pursuits of other life forms that may not even be aware of our existence. Maybe right now there are some worms or bacteria that that are making an extensive tunnel through your flesh to connect two cities and to launch their fast trains. You are not concerned or aware of this project, rather you are more concerned with stopping the project and saving your life; maybe running from India to Cuba or leaving your miserable country now and then to travel to London to involve those who may have a better understanding of the geography of human body, searching for this external help especially when a huge probem arises in your country. You do not know that you are stalling progress here and there, and, if you die, it is perhaps a calamity for a country of smaller life forms building a tunnel, for there is a total demise of Atlantis, what more its extensive tunnel project.

I am worried about this tunnel project, especially when the landmass it passes through is attending a religious worship and is asking to forgive sins done through omission and commission. If God grants the request of this landmass and ends the tunnel project, is that not gross injustice? Has God not sinned against these smaller life forms? It becomes a bigger problem when those smaller life forms are also praying for the success of their project. Which prayer will God answer? If he answers the prayer of tunnel project fellows, there would surely be a funeral somewhere else, in another world. There would be an obituary which reads: “In gratitude to God for life well spent, we announce the untimely death of ....” That is, if the obituary does not continue with euphemisms to wipe away our tears.

John Stenbeck was perhaps right when he stated that the prayers of various interest groups wrestle and fight on their way  to the throne of God. Honestly, it is not easy to be God. It must be rough and busy. I wonder how he resolves contradictions and conflicts. Every second, every minute, every hour, everyday ... must be very hectic! How does he do it? Automatically? ọ dị egwu! It is bewildering!

Well, in my own world, may all tunnel projects going on inside terrible people succeed. If a whole country or continent perishes after that, that is only collateral damage. May all tunnel projects going on in an unwanted landmass, which the prayer warriors of the smaller life forms are seriously praying about in their fellowships, succeed exceedingly.

Maybe if they fail, some might say it was because of the contractors handling the job. Should they not find good contractors? Maybe Julius Berger! Citizens in the smaller life form country may allege that the contractors used substandard materials or that the party awarded the contract to a non-existent company – which could be true. Whatever may be their thinking, it is the desire of a smaller life form country that its projects should succeed.

Now, when I say my prayers, I know that it could stand against another prayer, even without my knowing it. And so, I push the problem over to God to resolve. That is why God is there: we even create our shit in our shithole and ask him to pack it and he obediently does it. We can elect a blockhead or an evil person and still turn to ask God to remove him. What has happened to human sense of volition, of choice? If I were God, I should be upset when you  approach me again. I am NOT your domestic servant! Sort yourselves out.


I am on my way to a community prayer after Christmas. I promise that I won’t stop on the road and emit “evil rain.”

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