Nov 19 2008
Sudden Death
Fourteen years ago, I was a little younger than I am now. I recall a particular day, I was sitting in my shop, yes, my shop. Just after secondary school, a friend and I had decided to start up a business venture ahead of getting into university. The breaks in universities were usually long and unending in those days, so anything to while away the time was worth it. “Adonai Ventures”, it’s been 14yrs yet I cannot forget the office, the place and the partitioning. We were running a drycleaning agency, a barbing saloon, a card making company and a whatever else we could lay our hands on. Staying in the office was also developmental for me, as I got the opportunity to listen to tapes and read, and believe me, I read in those days!
There was a story I listened to back in those days, that made a strong impression on me. I can still see the tape, it was white. We played tapes back then in a black double cassette player, I can still remember that tape player, it was a blessing back in those days. We rocked it, and it still rocks my soul! This story is the one I want to share with you today. My hope, is that the same way it made an impression on me then, it will make an impression on you.
Once upon a time, there were two geese and a frog that got stranded in the same pond. The pond was big and vast, but was the only pond around for many miles. They had no choice, than to enjoy each others company. They were friends by circumstances, they had to make the most of the hand that life had dealt them.
It so happened that sometime during the year, the pond dried up and their supplies finished. Famine had hit the land, and like Abraham and Isaac, it was time to seek for new terrains. The geese would have it easier certainly, they could take off and fly for miles, but the frog has to hop, and hop and hop. They shared memories, had a chat together, and were going to bid each other farewell, when the frog came up with a dazzling idea.
Don’t leave me behind pls, the frog said. Why don’t we try something. Why don’t the two of you claw a piece of stick with your legs, while I wrap my mouth around the stick, and together we can fly far and long to new terrains together. That way, we retain our found friendship and you preserve my life. The geese found it inspiring, wow, that would be a site to behold, two geese and a frog, in harmony, stresslessly gliding across the skies in search of better economy. Sure why not, they decided to go for it.
True to design, the plan worked, and it was quite easy. The geese engaged their legs and freed their wings, the frog clamped the stick with it’s big mouth, and to the sky and onward they went. They flew quite stresslessly and easily and peeped down once in a while to catch a glimpse of the territory.
As they journeyed along, they travelled over the farm of an old farmer. The farmer lifted up his eyes, and say this dazzling sight! Unbelieveable, a frog in the company of geese? Spectacular! A stick clawed inbetween their legs and a frog in flight? Awesome! Out of awe and excitement, he dared to ask, “who on earth thought through this phenomenum?” The winds carried the question to the ears of the frog, and in a hurry not to let the glory drift to another, he opens his mouth and answered…”I…. and crashed into sudden death.
I learnt.
1. When you are soaring in the skies and doing the unbelievable, shut up. In the heat of the ascent is not the best opportunity for public speaking. There is a time to speak and a time to refrain from speaking – wisdom is the ability to know the difference.
2. Glory does not fit a flying frog. Humans were not made to have any use for glory. Glory belongs to God, the day we want to reach out and take some for ourselves is the day we die. It might not happen literally, but the minute the plug of an iron leaves the power is not the minute it gets cold.
3. Frogs can fly, if they rely on their relationships. You can achieve any and everything you set your mind on, you just need the right desire and a meeting with the right people or person.
4. Some of our best relationships had rough starts. Don’t dump your friends because you had a quarrel, when you identify the no go areas, or bruise the delicate spots, what you have is clearer and stronger.
5. Pride comes before a fall. That’s true everyday and twice on sunday’s. You did it, so what?
6. …. Provide it…let’s learn.
Pride comes before a fall, and glory belongs to God. There are times when to stand tall, we must lay low. Half a word is sufficient for the well behaved, when it gets into his heart it becomes full. Think before you talk. Bone glory! We’ll get a lot more done, if we don’t care who takes the glory!
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deolu,u re indeed a dedicated person!I must say u re true to what u re doing.I’m devouring some of the foods(inspiring messages) u av on ur blog and here u re with anoda.Thank you.
We’ll meet at the top of the most desirable nation,Nigeria.
Seun.
Chief Deolu,
Thank you so much and God bless.
Cheers.
Thanks Dee, nice one!
I’m inspired…I’m blessed…I have learn.t another lesson today…
… and
6. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. It might be the link to your survival or even be the difference between life and death.
Chairman,
This is a good and timely reminder.
Thanks.
Still on my mind.
baba dee,
that was a word in season… see you at the top
wow. this is incredible. inspiring
7. Never forget the power of ideas, it would have died (maybe sooner than he did), if not for that idea that afforded it an aerial view.
8. A display of wisdom does not necessarily say a man is wise, but a wise man displays wisdom. – The frog thought he was, but we know better.
Prophet Deolu!This is another word for this season!May God help us to apply wisdom at all times!
This is good, a good story indeed and a lovely lesson to learn from it. I pray whoever reads this applies it cos i wonder how much of our world would change if everyone practice this glorious teaching.
Thank you, pls what is happening again in our beloved Nigeria
Hmmmm!What a lesson! Nebuchadnezzar(the mighty king of Babylon) tried it, he became animal for seven years. May we never share what exclusively belongs to Ancient of days! Amen. Thanks my mentor.
a word at times like this!classic…stories tell it better!
Hello Deolu,
One amazing thing I appreciate about your blog is the story telling. They have a way of making issues interesting and topical.
This is indeed a word for all seasons.
The Lord bless you real good.
Thanks.
God will never share His glory with anyone. In Him we live, move and have our being.
This reminder is timely for me.
Thanks.
What an interesting story, insightful. What a pity for the frog he couldn’t manage simple success, he lost his life to self glorification.
Yes all Glory belongs to God but as this story is concerned, a small sense for the frog to acknowledge that the Geese is the major contributor to his success could have save his life, because his idea rest on the ability of the Geese.
9. Esteem others better than yourself, seek not your own but others.
I’ve been stirred up. God Bless you
Nice one and very instructive. Really ministered to me and this one, “the minute the plug of an iron leaves the power is not the minute it gets cold”, a food for thot.
10) Always stay focused. If the frog had, he wouldn’t have heard the farmer’s voice or be distracted by it.
Deolu, this is a wake up msg.
May we never share in God’s glory.
nice one, God bless u real good.
Deolu,
I have been following your write ups with keen interest and i must confess that you are simply AWESOME.
Pleaseee keep it up.
Cheers
Stories still remain the best way to learn.
Thumbs up!
I love it and i learnt something, not really new but emphatic.
Thanks alot.
I now know how you get to have many stories to tell and so much to share.You have filled yourself up, you are not empty.You have read far and wide! That my brother, sure makes a lot of difference.
Profound!!! I especially love the wisdom part. And the word for me is “shut up!!!”. There is time to talk and time to refrain from talking, and time to say just a little. Wisdom!!!!
deolu,u re blessed beyond measure, i admire humbleness.more grease to ur elbow.
Thanks deolu for this pieces.Its a good one
Nice one baba D.. Lesson learnt
“Bone glory! We’ll get a lot more done, if we don’t care who takes the glory!”
We all shouldn’t forget that part at all
7. Parables r one of the best ways to learn (and remember)…esp when I see a frog or goose again!
an invaluable reminder
true talk pride kills. thank you, what a great post.
…Every praise i receive
Lord i give them all over to you
Every song that song that i sing
All my trophies i bring
Lord i give them all over to you (2ce)
Over to you
Thank sir,all glory be to God
This is amazing,interesting and very educative
Thanks Deolu, God bless you for blessing thousands of pple.
This is definitely a word for me. Thanks for this over and over again…God Bless
Relationships are key in life. But we must not glory at an inopportune time least we dash to sudden death.
A very key lesson, thanks CM!
“Frogs can fly, if they rely on their relationships. You can achieve any and everything you set your mind on, you just need the right desire and a meeting with the right people or person.”
This is the point that struck me the most…
Thanx
This piece is quite instructive for me. Thanks for sharing the story.
Thank man I’m lifted.
Even a fool is termed wise when he holds his tongue, sometimes we need to learn in silence.
Thanks Deolu.
http://www.undergraduatesinbusiness.com
My brother,
This is a wonderful piece. A very important lesson to learn here. Lesson 1-6, all very improtant. Would get to see you soon.
Thanks
I really appreciate this story and i learnt a lot from it, all glroy belong to Him alone. may God bless u and increase ur knowledge
“Bone glory! We’ll get a lot more done, if we don’t care who takes the glory!”
This is the the key to achieving success in teamwork approach to problem solving.
Thanks Deolu for this piece.
some cold facts of life are simply portrayed in this story.
Great piece!
On spot for me… thanks
…There is a time to speak and a time to refrain from speaking – wisdom is the ability to know the difference… I ask that God grants us the understanding to walk with this wisdom…Thanks Deolu
Yes o! very well said.
pride will always go before a fall.
Thanks deolu.
What a story,
Got me really enlightened and thinking that i could have done thesame thing the frog did,thanks .Ure going places anyway,uncle deolu.Bye
thanks ,deolu it is really educating
Deolu,you are indeed a source of blessing to my life. Good people like you are rare to find. Keep up the good work. I am confident you will not regret serving humanity. I wish the best in all your endeavour. Thanks for your visit to UNAAB last month, i was blessed. You are a city set on the highest elevation, the cynosure for all eyes to see.
BULLEYE! God bless you for this, right on target.
This is wisdom! You’re a great man with a great mind and with great thoughts. I admire a lot of things about this mighty man. Keep up the good works, you inspire me.
Deolu I must not read this alone, i must put it on my blog for others to read and share the story with as man people as possible around me
deolu, ure just it. i love you brother.
this was just great!
hmmmmm………. oro!
Great words!!!
old things make sense always. like i said… they are new every morning.
i talk a lot but i see anew dimension of talking….talk to yourself. i imagine how many of us have crashed just because our mouths are too serious to be closed.
thanks for showing me another point where i need to make adjustment. mo dupe o. i appreciate
what a story! the story just emphasises the point that there is no selfmade made. every great man today relied on somebody greater than himself to achieve so he should learn to humble himself inorder for his end not to be like the frog. great words sir. God bless you mightily.
i meant that there is no self made man
a proud man has already created obstruction for himself. the word of God says: God stands in the way of the proud…” examples are numerous in the scripture.: Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, Micah (David’s wife, and lots more). God please humble me