Frederick Kwesi Great Agboletey

Gift of Life

When man’s heritage was prepared for him

It was a haven of joy unending

Manifold in its engaging possibilities sustained ad infinitum

A place given by an all knowing Father

That His favoured creations', man indulge his senses

In discoveries broad and wide

Man had no impositions other than to exercise total authority over pleasant heritage

Maintaining a close link with Creator through simple acknowledgement

Of gratifying praise -

Jehovah gave man mastership over all

In a place where everything was set in order for man’s benefit,

Man stood master over domain; grand and extensive
Here, in earthly domain, a place custom fitted for his gentle indulgence

Abiding in pleasantness of orderly existence -

Man favoured, had been given stewardship of paradise

A garden of delight, no demands imposed, just appreciation expected

For it was to man's own interest to maintain his spiritual integrity with its source

Acknowledging his Maker in thanksgiving, praise and worship

Holding by obedience to Source of all things good and worthy

From where in these orderly arrangement did chaos arise? -

A message stood as clear as voice of creation spoke first words

Words that brought into being things those hitherto were not

The voice of the Lord Jehovah is majestic

The voice of Jehovah is powerful

The voice of the Lord Jehovah is over all waters;

From one Source comes all, unto same all shall surely return

What is there that stands between Source of origin and what are?

Who is he who stands against mighty Creator?

Who raises self against awesome God of wonders before whom all creation bow in astonishment? -

Were disobedience a slip on a perfect walk through park of life

Can a sane man given reason for standing against mercy?

How can sin be an act of awareness condoned?

Can a man living in light beseech darkness?
How can darkness enter light of life and find expression?

Sin like stagnant marsh

Awash with debris and flotsam deposited

Of life cargoes at one time of great value destined for a port of joy

Lost in some far off oceans far from protective anchor of home port

Cargoes destined to be of use

Caught in spiral of strong currents underlying twirling sink pools

Strong currents beneath calm waters

Ensnared, snarled, twisted and flung helter-skelter in these oceanic depths

Of seeming evenness -

In aftermath of fiercesome turmoil imposed as it were

On inflexible flesh tearing, shredded by these ripping spirals

Of agonised descent

caught amidst riveting twisters fleecing

strewn in these desolations underlying pleasant gardens

Sun strewn grounds of green fields innocently hiding these marshes

Where lost and broken life cargoes gone amiss are deposited

and left rotting; in these marshes

Alive with futility of unwholesomeness unimaginable -

Deception of futility that feeds of its despair

Grotesque obscenities of sarcasm run awry

How far can man run from his origin

When very existence finds expression

Within its origination,

Little children lost in momentary fit of inappropriate rage

Biting at breasts that feed them

Bruising their gums and turning obdurately into passing winds;

Where can man flee who is incapable of standing on his own? -

Life is a gift

Existence is an ennoblement

Earthly existence is a disposition of grace

Like objects set in prepared grounds who are enabled, so is man -

Man walking across picturesque terrains of nature’s art form

Given expression by a loving creator

Every now and then missteps and gets stuck in marshes

Sucked into marshy waters grappling

Alive with debris rotting -

Momentarily, man makes a misstep into these marshes underlying green fields

Sinking slowly in mud gripping with greed at weakened ankles

Till reason and cold still waters alive

Push forward natural momentum to withdraw and escape

Stranglehold most strange, captivating

Least unwary of souls thus become mould amidst rotting marshes -

Disobedience’s dismal consequence plunged man

For long years into darkest despair

Till salvation came to redeem man from fallen state;

Sturdy gentle arm did glorious Lord of Creation

Extend to man, weakened man crying for help -

For whence does help come from?

"I lift up my eyes to the hills —

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." -

He, humble Lamb of God

Walking in gentle sobriety

Spreading his message of love and obedience

Healing hearts barely alive

Filling creation with surety of eternal life

A gift of grace for all willing obedient to take -

Creation bore a smile of joy recovered

When Creator's Son walked Nazareth's timeless streets

Seeding hungry universe with wisdom's seed

Spirit filled words bringing forth life

Bearing fruit in faithful obedient

Who grow like cedars of Lebanon planted by streams of water

His grace overflowing and filling creation with renewing essence -