Books by Ian Rogers
Books by Ian Rogers
By Lara Akhigbemen
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” – Luke 2: 10 – 12
I spent a couple of years working in the Middle East and the first six months was a shock to my system as I thought I had landed on another planet. As a woman, I wasn’t allowed to drive and was advised never to go out unaccompanied. Even if I was allowed to drive, I wouldn’t pursue it because their driving requires a whole new skill set altogether. They drive with phenomenal speed and as if their cars have no breaks, they overtake on either side of cars and cross right in front of another car with little or no warning and these are just to mention a few issues.
Visiting restaurants was always interesting. My friends and I always have ended up going through the wrong door or end up on the wrong table or section. What? We were only told, ‘it’s the men’s section’. Most times we’ve ventured into restaurants and other places just thinking - ‘that will be a nice place to relax or eat’, forgetting we don’t have the same freedom of choice as we did at home.
Another thing that caught me off guard was the prayer times. During the first few months, the call to prayer woke me early in the morning, normally around four-thirty and five. This I regarded as a call for me to talk to my heavenly Father too. However, during the day, the call for prayer meant almost everything had to come to a standstill especially shops no matter how small or big the business. In most shops, fifteen minutes to the prayer time customers were not allowed in and those inside were advised to head to the checkout to pay or to leave and return after the prayer. At that precise moment customers would start dashing around and picking items as if they were on Supermarket Sweep. I was unfortunate to be in a supermarket checkout queue once at the start of prayer, the checkout was closed and I had to stay in the queue for the duration which lasted about twenty minutes and sometimes they last even longer. It is beautiful to see people taking time out to pray, even at work both colleagues and students do it. I thank God for the privileged of talking to Him at any time and not having to follow a regimental system.
It is also a region where everyone including the children enjoy the night life which is due to the very high temperature during the day. At nights, the parks and malls come alive with people shopping, eating in groups with families and friends, kids playing until the early morning even on a school night.
Above all the one thing I couldn’t believe wasn’t celebrated or acknowledged was Christmas.
Christmas has always been the best season of the year for me. I love the festive atmosphere – the presents, the decorations both at home and in the streets, I look forward to seeing what the high street decorations for the year will be like. I cherish the family gatherings and I can’t forget the food; I love preparing and eating it. Moreover, the weather in the western part of the world – cold and snowy - gives the season a special ambience which I adore.
However, the last two Christmas have been spent in a country where Christmas and Christ are not acknowledged. Before then I never perceived that such places and countries existed on earth. Over the years, I’ve spent Christmas in various countries in Africa, America and Europe and the season has always been treated the same. With reverence and respect, with joy. laughter and music in the air. So being in a country where these weren’t happening was upsetting, and quite strange. Above all, I was working like it was any other day in the year.
Having pondered on this, a truth I knew deep down became real. Christmas isn’t about the gifts, the commercialisation, the festive season and all the other things that come with it nowadays. It’s about Christ, the beginning of God’s redemptive work for mankind because without the birth, the death of Christ on the cross would have never happened. The birth of Christ shouldn’t be remembered only at Christmas; it should be remembered daily with gratitude. Gratitude that God sent his only begotten son to be born like humans, to live and experience what we go through and then die like us but his death is different, it was a cruel one on a Cross. The Bible says, ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth’ – John 1:14. All these were done so that I might be saved from the clutches of the enemy and eternal death.
I’ve learnt, no matter where I find myself at Christmas whether it’s celebrated or not, I will celebrate it and remain grateful to God for the process He went through to save me. This last Christmas, I got through the season by reading my Bible, playing carols, reflecting on God’s gift to mankind and meeting up with friends after work. For me, it’s not a physical experience, it’s a spiritual one deeply ingrained in my heart. So no matter where I am and the time of the year – It’s always Christmas.
Lara has been a member of the ACW for a few years. She is an experienced FE tutor who has taught both in the UK and aboard. She has completed her first novel – Facing the Truth (Available on Apple books, Kobo and Nook) and is working on her second. Based in the West Country, she is a wife and mother.
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