The Audacity of Hope

Hello, friends!
You okay…? Please let me know ??

Okay so last Friday, I participated in a lottery. One of my coworkers emailed a group of us, asking if we wanted to take part in a lottery power-ball poll. There is a power in numbers (except of course, in the US election – yup, #stillbitter) so we did it. When we all saw each other yesterday, it was obvious we didn’t win. Someone who happened to be out on Friday gave a list of all the things that $2 could’ve bought. In fake disgust, he ended by saying “I don’t know why anyone would throw $2 away?” Before I provide my response, allow me to digress….

On Saturday, someone whom I haven’t heard from in a long while, called me, deflated. He’d been working on a deal that fell through. He lamented on the time spent, money lost and sacrifices he’d made. Eventually, his sorrow turned to straight up anger. That anger turned into defeat. I told him this too shall pass and if he’d heard of the #Hallelujahchallenge. He said he didn’t believe the hype. When I asked why he asked me if a particular area of my life had changed. I said no. Then he said he doesn’t know anyone who prays more than I do and he can’t understand how I can still pray if that hasn’t changed.

If you are like my friend or obnoxious coworker, the answer to your question as to why people do any of these things is simple: HOPE.

The people who are staying up in Nigeria, Europe and moving their schedules around in the states, to participate in this Hallelujah Challenge are not stupid. Neither are the people who spent $2 or more on a lottery ticket.

I kid you not after I gave my coworker my $2, I actually imagined what would happen should I win the lottery. Like MLK, I dreamed! I dreamed about how I will clear my family debt, create accounts with generous sums for my parents and siblings. I’d set up college funds for my niece, nephew, and Godbabies. I will set up my foundation and give scholarships to girls in Enugu and pay for food for the boys in the St. Vincent de Paul’s Seminary school in Ogwu. Fly my friend’s family in and pay for someone else’s surgery. I dreamt of how I will ask for a leave of absence from work and fly to Enugu to surprise my mom. I even planned to have pammy udu bunch waiting for me at the airport and we will dance from Bisala to my mom’s house.

For a few minutes, I had a chance to escape my reality and just dream… Trust me, $2 is more than enough to pay for that.

We all have our individual “Egyptians”  (pain-bodies or things that are holding us back) and it sucks. But we all, have heard stories of people who HAVE won the lottery. We are constantly reading the testimonies of people who are partaking in this #Hallelujahchallenge and are experiencing breakthroughs.

I guess the simple reason we won’t give up is because we believe I’m next, my time is now.

Thank you so much for reading. I really do want to know how you are doing and if you are okay ?.

Love always,

The Wawa – New Yorker

P.S. –  It just dawned on me that I never explained what the #Hallelujahchallenge is?. I’m sorry?!!! The #Hallelujahchallenge is an hour long praise and worship online revival lead by Pastor and Songwriter Nathanial Bassey. It is from 12am – 1pm (Nigerian time), 7pm (EST), 6pm (CST) and 4pm (PST). It is 30 days long (scheduled to end June 28, 2017). To tune click on Nathanial Bassey’s inta-live-story. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

P.S.S – Please keep your opinion to yourself if you are not into this sort of thing….?