D' Sea Publishers: THE REALITIES OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND THE FUTURE

P.A. to VC, CU.

The stark realities of life are often lodged in phases - the past, the present and the future. While the past is mostly incorrigible, the present executable, and the future plannable; all three still maintain mutual exclusivity.

My past, for instance, cannot be divorced from my present while, at the same time, dovetailing into the future. The more reason the very first step in life has a cumulative effect on the future. Of course, it is an embraceable possibility that misaligned steps of the past stand every chance of being corrected in the present or being employed as stepping stones for the better. Nevertheless, why should one leverage on a slim possibility of a "second chance" when such is avoidable. It is advisable to work out one's future so painstakingly that all errors that could eventually be begging for redress would have been avoided.

The "present" can be likened to a window that periscopes the future and recalls the past. It occupies a central and significant position of a go-between. It is what you are as opposed to what you were and in comparison with what you want to be. It is a yardstick or a gauge to some people to weigh or evaluate their journey so far as against the "ideal" or the desired future-band goals.

The "future", humorously, assumes a "dodgy" kind of status. One seems to always be in pursuit of an "unending" future until it all "ends". It is an ever constant phenomenon that seeks being continuously coveted and keeps being focused like an interminable eternity. To me, the future is eternal. Therefore, eternity is the future.

The Journey is still FAR!

While my own past has been interesting, it, still, could have been better planned. This underscores the constant fact of the "Second Chance" syndrome. Everyone seems to beg for it. But in all things, the good book urges us all to give thanks because it is not of him that willeth, neither is it of him that runneth but of the Lord that showeth MERCY. And "except the Lord builds the house, he labours in vain that builds it"

Quite honestly, there are bouts of finger-biting, teeth gnashing and regretful events that proliferated my past which could have called for scampering for refuge in a non-existent "second chance", the fact remains that undoing what has been done, in most cases, is nothing but a mere wishful thinking best classified under "fantasy".

CMD Workshop-2009

Ascending the 40th rung on the ladder of my sojourn here on earth has been so wonderfully loaded with breath-taking events, life-threatening stunts, fun-filled moments, praise-worthy episodes and sober moments. But in all of this, I'm full of thanks to the Almighty who has been full of GRACE and unrivaled in compassion.

Many, definitely, must have been hurt by my actions, thoughts and even in-actions. From this category of people, I earnestly seek forgiveness. Many, also, have consciously and unconsciously hurt me by hurting my past, present and future. Many others have succumbed to the whims and caprices of the devil by being used to plague and roughen my path to greatness along my academic endeavour and carrier paths; yet am still GREAT! Because greater is He that lives in me than he that is in the world. To such people, I say "father forgive them, for they know not what they've done."

To all my friends, colleagues, families and loved ones, I say a very BIG THANK YOU for their support towards becoming what I am (my present) and what I'll become (my future). I appreciate you all.

At this juncture, I pray for God's immutable wisdom, grace, strength and favour to finish the second lap of this race that takes me to my glorious future and indeed eternity!