Orange is the New Knack
Have you ever heard about prison literature? It is a literary genre characterized by literary work written while the author is confined in a location against his will, such as a prison, jail or house arrest.
Counting and crossing out tally does get old.
Check out a list of books written in prison at the end of this article. I was surprised by the first one...
Have you ever heard about prison literature? It is a literary genre characterized by literary work written while the author is confined in a location against his will, such as a prison, jail or house arrest.
I didn’t know it was a thing! I guess if you’re locked up somewhere for a while, you’d maybe be forced to pen down your thoughts.
Counting and crossing out tally does get old. You’d probably write a book too or a song, like Tupac did!
Check out a list of books written in prison at the end of this article. I was surprised by the first one.
Anyway, the only Prison Lit I’ve ever read would be the books of Paul of Tarsus. He was in prison when he wrote a good bit of the New Testament. The best thing about those books was the state of his spirit. He seemed content, hopeful and joyful, probably more so than the people he was writing to. He focused on teaching them about God, with the hopefulness of his imprisoned life.
Imagine if he had chosen to focus on his problems and magnify them. We’d have something like this:
“Well guys, hey, I’m still in these chains. I keep telling these guards that I’m a citizen of Rome. I’m a real Jew. A Jew of Jews! What else do they want from me? From the tribe of Benjamin. Did I mention I was circumcised on the eighth day?
He-llo!
The press is outside, I’d like my voice to be heard about this injustice. The food is terrible and I can’t wait to be home again eating Sister Phoebe’s lamb stew.
The prison cell has mold clusters the size of Corinth.
I don’t mind being interrogated but the breath on these guards. Help!
So I mentioned the other day that Diotrephes has been acting up. What’s his deal? I don’t have time for his pettiness.
Anyway, I’m still here.
Sigh.
It’s ok that you haven’t come to see me at all. Just continue living your best life while your friend is here rotting in prison. Please tell Carpus I need my coat, the one with the invincible stitches which I left in Troas. I hope Atrius hasn’t borrowed it and gone on his fishing expedition. That’ll be gross. It’s tailored.
There’s this particular guard who seems to be going through a lot and seems interested in Jesus, but I told him, “Hey, at least you are free and you don’t have these miserable chains around your ankles.”
Am I right?
He’s here again mumbling about believing in Jesus. I should share the gospel but I’m just not in the mood, guys.
Did I tell you about the watery soup of minestrone they serve on Mondays? Not my favorite.
Guys, I can’t even in this place. Lord, help.
Stay woke. Stay ready.
The soldiers can arrest you at any time. I can testify. ”
Well, thank God he didn’t write any of that nonsense!
I say this from experience, seeing past your chains and limitations can be hard. I caught myself complaining a few weeks ago, I probably sounded like this rant above. Till date Paul is my favorite Prison Lit author.
Instead of ranting like me, he wrote these amazing verses:
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” Php 1:12-14
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice.”
Php 4:4
Perspective. Chains. Optimism. And some more perspective.
Other works written in prison:
Orange is the new black
Piper Kerman
A Prison diary
Jeffery Archer
Conversations with myself
Nelson Mandela
Pilgrim’s progress
John Bonyan
The Travels of Marco Polo
Rustichello da Pisa
Do you have a favorite Prison Lit? Which is it?
The Best Thing About Stepping into Poop
Without fail, in the last year, I've landed myself in at least 2 full, loads of glorious metaphorical shit. Pardon my French but if you knew what they were you'd say, "Oh Whao, Ike, crap!"
There I was, waist-deep, determined not to wade in this life-altering problems, because you know how these things work- wade, wade, trip, fall face-in, gurgle. In other words, moving and struggling would have landed me in deeper trouble. It could have gotten much, much worse. Right, where were we? I was in a huge poop pickle. Naturally, I panicked and then I told God, who calmed me down as always; then I told Ed, who is always very calm during the worst situations. We talked about these problems and then proceeded to find a solution-all three of us.
If you've even been in trouble before, you know how much you want to get out, right, and once you do, it's Sayōnara to that rubbish! That was exactly what I did; the moment I got out, I cleaned up quickly and I basked in the relief of the resolution of the problems and just kept going. Sigh, the delight of being free! And then one day, a metaphorical anvil fell on my head, in form of a bible verse. Here it is;
“And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail...””
I don't know about you but whenever I see that scripture, I imagine Satan sitting on an apoti* sifting garri**. Lol!
That verse caused crazy questions to float through my mind, and if you have answers don't hesitate to comment: Why has Satan asked for Simon? He prayed specifically for one person? Why? Wait, Satan can make requests?! Satan prays?
In spite of all my query, one thing was clear; Peter was in deep shit. There's just no cute way of saying it. Satan had asked specifically for him. Thank God, for Jesus who prays for us all the time and rescues us from poopy-situations. Peter still had to go through the trial though, note.
The anvil bit of the verse comes at the end...
“...When you have come through the time of testing, when you have turned around, turn to your companions and strengthen them...”
The best thing about being in deep shit is getting people out of it once we are on safe ground. We win battles everyday. Every single day and one person is still caught in the struggle. After you catch your breath (which probably don't smell like roses), reach back and help some more people out.
If you've ever been rescued from the reluctance to forgive, from malice, envy, addiction, depression, poverty, abuse, please remember that people struggle with these trials everyday. Reach out, pray for them and draw them on to clean grounds! I'm certain someone was praying for me, somewhere, somehow.
Illustration by Mari Andrew
Every triumph is awarded with a trophy but instead of placing that on a mantle and beaming at it, like I did, please take it back to your site of victory, stretch it out until someone grabs hold of the other handle and help the person out of you-know-what.
Don't you just love the girl in this photo? I almost hugged her through the screen when I saw how her expression translates directly to the post title! Do you remember a time you were sure someone was praying for you? Do you have any answers to my questions about Peter? I'd love to read your thoughts and learn!
Page by Ike will be on a blogger's vacay in the month of September, we will be back on the 1st of October by God's grace! Great chance to catch up, right? I know, that's what I said too! See you soon!
3 Fun Things I Realized Playing Pokémon GO
I downloaded Pokémon Go, the day after it was released. I really only downloaded it as a tribute to the fun stickers I had as a child and because I like Pikachu (because it's yellow). The game is visually engaging and at the start, allows you to choose an avatar who helps a researcher on a creature-capturing project. I think. I never read the preamble before games. Ike, does this also mean you don't read terms and conditions?
*crickets* What's your point?
Anyway, your quest is to capture the creatures. The fun part- the game gains access to your smartphone camera (with your consent) and finds creatures around you, using your camera! It usually appears like you are about to take a photo of the outlandish creature which just made its way to your pillow.
Pillow talk with this angry bird
Once you've captured the creature, you collect them in a Pokéball. You then have to walk around physically to get more creatures and Pokéballs. I love that the game gets me to move and encourages me to get active in my real life. Great fitness incentive.
3 Things I realized playing Pokémon Go:
1. Canals aren't that deep (not when you are chasing this cute, yellow tubby creature, at least)
Worth splashing for.
I found one of my creatures in a canal. How delightful, I thought, this game is really putting things in virtually-realistic places. The cute creature splashed around in the canal as I was on my way to grab some tea at a local coffee shop, soon I found myself inching closer to the banister, which I believed was installed to prevent people from falling in. Next thing, I found my hand over the railing. It was then I realized...I had become a Pokémon Go zombie; my eyes riveted on my screen and completely unaware of my environment. You could have taken my shoes and my glasses and I wouldn't have minded one bit. That cute yellow thingy just needed to fit into my catcher! I leaned over...just.an.inch.moooore...
2. I can't be tricked to exercise
Nice try, Pokémon. This girl can't be tricked to exercise with virtual offerings and incentives. However, set me, please on a glorious high street lined with shops with show glasses exhibits of books and handbags. All the eye-tingling offerings. I would gladly walk 10 miles. Ask my Fitbit. It knows.
3. Pokémon can't work in Nigeria
Lol! To any African, you know how we really aren't about bats. Even worse bats that appear in our rooms at night. There I was getting ready for bed and I checked my phone for a Pokémon. Behold it was a silly black bat floating around in the dark area of my dully lit room. I'm like nah-ahn.
I don't do bats. Cute and yellow things. Yes. Black bats, no.
I eventually gave up on the game when the creatures became even more difficult to catch. Apparently, if you go up a level, the creatures become more difficult to catch and for me, that would mean- me, in a canal.
Do you have the Pokemon Go game installed? What's your highest level yet? Any misadventures like the players below? Lol
Funny stories about Pokemon GO players:
Man goes hunting for Pokemon creature at 3am, gets rounded up in a "drug deal"
This could very easily have been me, if I was hunting handbags.
Man falls into Manhole playing Pokemon Go, claims Candy crush was a safer bet
Aww, I miss Candy crush.
Fugitive caught in his pajamas as he walks to the police Station to catch a Pokemon
Is that guy kidding me right now?! Lol. Move to Brazil, man! Play Pokemon there! *Thinks Zika* Move to Alaska, man!
Woman plays Pokemon and walks right past Beyoncé as she performs. Beehive, not glad
Ok, that one cracked me up! Lol! The Beehive doesn't take kindly to anyone ignoring Bey.
Cover photo: D.H Bragdon
Foregone
Fiction
It is abominable, that which I do.
But I hurry to it anyway.
I follow the stream by the white light of the moon, stilling myself at every sound of crunching leaves or rustling bushes. I have wrapped myself in the darkest Ankara, on top of it, is my father’s hunting tunic, darker than night. I have smeared his tobacco and spice behind my ears to ward off any strangers or their dogs.
A traveling stranger is less interesting if she smells of tobacco and roots, than of hibiscus and lemons.
In my hand, is my shepherd’s crook. It whacks and chokes, whether it be sheep or person.
This is no man's land, distant from mother's watchful eye. Any assailant would be out of range of father’s arrow.
Now well into the forest, I hear the faint roar of the waters and my heart races. Quickly, I begin to climb the hill.
It is dark but I know where to place my feet, where to grip and brace, where to heave and lift. The darkness amplifies the thunder of the rushing waterfall of Arè. It surrounds, it terrifies. It is enough to fail a heart.
I remove my sandals and wade into the river, she welcomes me and draws me in along the current. I hold unto familiar stones, slippery and some tufty with growth, my feet find ground on the sandy bed. I feel for the rocks and climb out into a cave.
At last.
He is there waiting.
He rises to his feet. My heart thumps, my belly flutters.
Tórę..