I do hope you are intrigued by this title. What do they call it now? Oxymoron, right? How can a compliment be derogatory or vise versa? Read on and you will soon discover why I considered it so on this particular occasion. Hear me out.
It occurred several years after I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. But you see, I had a long-standing very close friend (another one) for years before then. So, while this relationship dates back, like the previous case, to campus days, the event did not occur until many years later. In other words, a friendship that has survived for long. As a matter of fact, we remain friends till today.
Since we became friends, this friend had almost always been avidly religious and the older she grew, the more stock she put in all the orthodox Christian religious ceremonies.
I, on the other hand, had stopped going to Church since I left secondary (high) school boarding house when I had no choice in the matter. Since then, I only attended on special occasions like weddings, funerals etc. when I felt obliged to do so.
What this meant was that church tradition, observances and ceremonies meant nothing to me all though our friendship up to the event twenty years later that I shall be sharing with you.
As you can probably imagine, over the years, she had been the one to urge me and other friends to become more religious. I always resisted all her attempts although I unashamedly enjoyed the sumptuous healthy food she offered when breaking Easter period fast whenever I had the opportunity!
Let’s now fast forward to many years later when I had become a fully committed Bible believing follower of Christ. Everything had changed for me. In retrospect, I wonder if I could have been somewhat of a fanatic then. But I believe I already established the fact that I am a reasonable person in the previous Case of the Nail Polish Crescent. Reasonable people do not become fanatics of anything, do they? Or at least, not easily, right?
Anyway, you won’t believe that I actually cannot recall what the conversation that led to this was all about. But using my knowledge of the protagonists and the context, I suspect it must have had something to do with the the Bible and Christian tradition. The argument dragged on unrelentingly with no side giving way, and finally ended when my friend mockingly cried out: You’ve gone mad!
My, was I stunned! Not stunned to hear that from her. I was well used to her style and it was not said to hurt but basically to shut me up. Strangely enough, what coursed through my mind and gave me great pleasure was the Bible passage with similar words under similar circumstances!
For those of you who know your Bible well, I need not go further, but for those who do not, let me explain.
A certain in the book of Acts 26: 24 was mocked in a similar manner by a certain Governor in that passage. His words were more like: Paul, you are out of your mind! Too much study is driving you mad.
Well, okay. In my case, no mention was made about my ‘spiritual academic prowess’. But one thing I can assure you is that my understanding of the Good Book at that time was much, much more superior to my understanding the last time I was with this close friend and it should have been obvious to her! Why she forgot that part I cannot explain. But guess we can’t have it all.
Anyway, I knew enough of the Bible at this time for that phrase as expressed by Governor Festus in the first century to register on my mind immediately. I fell silent. The argument ended suddenly.
Till today I still wonder if my friend knew why the argument ended right then. But just picture this.
Instead of the reaction she probably expected, a wide smile brightened my face and loud laughter erupted from my mouth. I myself was amazed at my delighted reaction for it came spontaneously from deep within me. Those words, You have become mad! felt like the oil of anointing flowing down my whole body! It tasted like nectar to my palate. Me, honoured with the exact same words that a big man used to describe Apostle Paul! How can I be upset with that.
I do not quite recall what I said, but it must have been something like , Yes I’m mad about Jesus! You see, I am still mad about Jesus. Still crazy about my Lord. And any type of adjective I m qualified with in pursuing His Agenda here on earth is okay with me. It is an honour to bear the cross of mockery, misunderstanding, misinterpretation, misinformation, and what have you, with Him today and always. If that makes me opinionated. So be it. I shall always be opinionated about Jesus and His Love… and His Cross…
LOOK OUT FOR YET ANOTHER CASE IN THE NEXT EDITION