THANK YOU. PETER PARKER in Nigeria

GRATITUDE : WHERE DO I FEEL THANKFUL? THANK YOU. PETER PARKER

“If you haven’t all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don’t have that you wouldn’t want.” – John.

In Life, I comprehend that life is full of gratitude even when you are grievance. Destiny can not be thwarted, some people are destined to influence your life and they will surely do no matter the circumstance. I was on an itinerary some months ago to the Eastern part of Nigeria for a 10km road race competition. I had woke up as early as 5.00am and set for the journey at 6.00am which took me about 11hours. I took the public means of transport as my choice because it was the cheapest. The journey started and everyone that were in the bus together consolidated to pray for a journey mercy.

Two hours after reaching another state of the country, the bus stopped at the bus stop and the passenger departed. But for me I still needed to take two or three bus before getting to my destination. I got another bus traveling towards the direction of my destination, thus another journey started which was took about 5hours before reaching another bus stop. But while on the road, we were stopped and scrutinized by the police men. When the policemen requested for the particulars of the bus from the driver, he wasn’t able to provide any. Therefore, they suspected and stopped us. We were delayed for almost 3hours before the driver could provide an evidence of ownership of the bus. When we were freed by the police men, the driver discovered some fault in the engineer of the disenchanting bus. Before a road side mechanical engineer could be called upon to resolve and reinvent the disenchanting bus engineer, another 3hours was wasted.

My parent have been calling sporadically since the journey begun to know how the journey was. They were disillusioned when I told them about my ordeal on the road not knowing that a devastating one is still coming ahead. Finally, we reached another state(ONDO STATE) and the passenger alighted. But for me, I still need to take another bus that same night to my final destination which is dangerous at night in the part of the country. But with courage and faith, I board another bus going in the direction to my final destination. The journey continue and we enjoyed the breeze of the night as music is being played in the bus. Not long, the bus is out of the state into a thick forest, some were sleeping while some were having fun. After traveling about 50km, the driver discovered some adept gentle men of the highway who barricade the road. Before the driver could do anything, we were stop.

Those sleeping are already awake and those having fun are already agitating. All our money and valuables were confiscated from us which does not exclude me. I was extorted of my purse which contained some money, my a.t.m card and my phone. I suddenly became a wandering and hopeless little boy in the middle of the night because they had also collected the bus convening us. After trekking a lots of miles with fear gripped heart hopelessly without sighting any human. I saw a bus which was on top speed and I tried to stopped him that eventually alighted. After narrating my ordeal to the driver succinctly, he was passionate and willingly helped me. He told me that God was the one that salvage me. If I had spent 30minute more in that area, I would have been used as ritual because there was a curfew and they use human being for sacrifice yearly in that environment. He took me to his house, fed me and I rested in his house over night. The next day was the competition day which I explained to him. He took me to the bus stop but there were no bus traveling in that direction early in the morning leaving me with no option. I relinquished when no other option was available.

But how would I get back to my state when I was confiscated of my money and valuables? The same man who told me his name was PETER PARKER was a driver who is relatively poor. But with pity he went and gather up to $25 to bolster my transport back home. I recounted what he did as something great, grace and I am using this avenue to express my gratitude to him again where ever he is. He salvage my life, my destiny, my great future, and even out of having nothing he took care of me, but surprisingly, he didn’t know me. This kind of man is not common in Nigeria. Sincerely, I am grateful.

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