DISTRACTED (I)

 Daniel happened to be extroverted. His personality was so awesome that people easily find themselves attached to him. His dental always sparkled when amongst everyone. He smiled so much it was contagious. He'd often make jokes and have his audience roaring with laughter. Daniel as an usher in his church was the best at it. Never for once has he led someone to sit in church, and they wouldn’t follow. His heart-warming smile showing all of his 32 seemed magnetic. Immediately he sees someone come in, he'd broaden his smile and beckon on the person to go with him, and no matter how hard the person's face looks, they'd follow.

Daniel wasn't just good at smiling and making people laugh. He was a diligent minister of God. Who served God in his youth and was humble in all doings. His personality drew people to him, believers and unbelievers. He was everyone's amigos. As charming as he was, he had a special relationship with some sets of individuals. Most were believers, with which he discussed things about the scriptures and regarding the things of the Spirit. They had times they prayed, times they would share the word of God, and moments they go out on outreaches. To him, it was a supernatural relationship, and he kept them well.

But he also had his natural relationships. Friends he discussed natural stuff with, like career, business, money, and things related. He made sure he made friends with those whose knowledge was vast in these matters. And as a result, he was able to make lots of investments and make good money and career moves. He made sure to separate his spiritual life from his career. He believed having believing friends meant they only had to do things spiritual together, and nothing more. He made sure to put a barricade between his spiritual friends and natural friends.

He missed it at some point. He started paying more attention to his natural growth, far more than his spiritual growth. He'd often miss Bible study meetings with his friends, including outreaches, all in the name of he is busy. He made sure to be consistent with the prayer meeting because he felt it was more important than other spiritual activities. He was missing more and more group meetings. Therefore, he couldn't usher on some service days. On days he'd make it for meetings, he'd come late for service itself. When confronted, he'd often reply that it was necessary to work, the work of the Lord needs financial help, and he is working hard to contribute to that work.

Meanwhile, he was working because he wanted to own the best things in life. He wanted to travel out, go on vacations, and just as his natural friends called it, he wanted to enjoy life. He had paid so much attention to them and let them get into his head that the first thing he did in the morning was to communicate with his business associates. He was beginning to forget what mattered most, his fellowship with God. He only prayed when he needed a business deal to click, and that was after he had tried all of his human power, and it looked like it wasn't going to work. Those who cared tried reaching out to him to explain how he was losing his sight of God.

As time rolled by, his beautiful personality started fading away. His face was beginning to get bland. His attendance in the church fell drastically. All attempts to bring him back by the church failed. But there was something his friends never stopped doing for him, praying! They never gave up on praying as he stopped picking calls and communicating with them altogether. His natural friends were more important to him as his business kept booming and was making it big.

His dreams of traveling the world were starting to fall in place. He had gone on a trip to South Africa for a two-week vacation with his friends who taught they should have some fun. It was a beautiful experience he wanted to relive. It gave him that abroad feeling. If he could have that much fun in an African country, he's going to be blown away when he eventually travels overseas. That dream came to life in some months' time. It was everything he ever wanted. He wasn’t going for a vacation though. He was going to have a business meeting with his partners who requested that they meet in person. All he needed to do was travel. They had everything prepared for him over there. Even a ride to pick him from the airport to his hotel. It was scheduled to be a week-long meeting. He had planned two weeks for himself. He wasn't just going to leave the country without touring.

He got to the airport beaming with a smile wider than his face. He got on the plane, and that was the most majestic feeling he ever had. He sat beside a certain man who had his head buried in books all through. He read the Bible first for a couple of hours, prayed thereafter, and continued with a spiritual book "How You Can Be Led By The Spirit Of God" by Kenneth E. Hagin. Daniel couldn't help staring at the man. All he had done on the plane was take pictures, upload on social media, eat everything he had been offered and sleep. These he did while the man was still reading. He had only requested water, and he looked like he was in his 50s. The man was aware that his seat partner's eyes were all over him and he'd often look up at him, and Daniel would immediately look away, but he wasn't fast at the time as their eyes would lock. But no one said anything.

4 hours into the flight, Daniel was just waking from 5^th nap and opening his eyes, he saw the man staring at him. He jerked.

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

Daniel was mute but was staring at the man, and his eyes looked like they were going to jump out of their sockets.

"I noticed your eyes were all over me while I was reading, so I decided to stare at you while you sleep," he flashed his teeth thereafter.

 Daniel thought it was creepy. He stared so intently his eyes hurt.

"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't watch you sleep. But I was waiting for you to wake up. I guessed you either want to ask questions or you want to have a conversation. The way you wouldn't stop looking at me, I perceive you have some things bothering you. You can talk to me. I'm taking a 30 minutes break from reading," he checked his watch, "We have about twenty minutes more".

“Who said I want to talk to you?”

“Your eyes”

“My eyes…?”

“Look, if you don’t want to talk, it’s alright. I might have misunderstood your staring at me, or you weren’t staring. But I wouldn’t appreciate it if you keep looking at me while I’m reading. It makes me uncomfortable”

The man leaned back on his chair and wore his sleep mask to take a short nap.

Daniel sat up. He could feel the words in his throat. It was either he presents his speech now or he might never get a chance to speak with the man. He felt the words in his throat begging to be let out.

"Are you a Christian, sir?"

The man took off his sleep mask. “What?”

"I asked if you are a Christian, sir"

“I heard you the first time. I’m just baffled. You saw me reading the Bible, right?"

Daniel all of a sudden felt comfortable, and he adjusted himself to have a better view of the man.

"Well, you could be an atheist. And you’re just reading the Bible so you can find something to argue about”

“But I prayed,” the man looked genuinely confused.

“You’re good at praying quietly so I couldn’t tell if you were praying to the true God”

The man let out a small laugh, "I guess you also thought I was also reading Kenneth Hagin's book to find something to counter, right?"

“Most probably”

“Frankly speaking, that wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought you were going to say something like I look familiar or something. Though I expected questions on why I’m reading the Bible on a plane, but not the way you asked. I…”

“Yes, and that too. You look familiar”

“I’m Frank Edafe, founder of ireels consult”