Behind Closed Doors: IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER…

THE reason why I had believed Islam to be the only true religion that leads people to heaven was because Moslems believe in one God. And that their God Allah, has his prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) in whom we should also believe. The Quran is Allah’s holy book and in it we should get to know the prescripts to inheriting Janna. So I believed them because we should all believe in one God.

When some Born-again Christians one day visited my home village in Salye-Buikwe, they asked me whether I believed in God. I answered absolutely ‘yes’ with a jolt. The second question was whether I believed in God’s Son as well. This question puzzled me so much because I was sure God does not marry neither can He have sex with a woman to produce a son. So I answered that I never believed in God’s Son. The two old ladies who were preaching to me continued to say that God does not bear children as human beings. But His children are born of the Spirit. “Do you want to mean that the Spirit is God’s wife?” I asked in a coarse voice.

“No, not really,” replied the old lady in a white blouse, confidently, “The Holy Spirit is God’s working power in us. He dwells in us and helps us to do God’s will. I suppose you’re aware that God created the world by just saying ‘let there be’ and it was. So how can He fail to say that ‘let there be a Son or Holy Spirit’? With Him all things are possible, whether giving birth or creating!”

“So do you want to mean that there are three Gods?” I asked, “Not exactly that,” the lady in a blue T-shirt replied, “But the three are one.”

“Do not confuse me ladies!” I protested, “it’s like you’re trying to mean that God is one but with three heads; God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!”

“It is unfortunate that we do not have electric power connection in this village of Salye,” said the old lady in a white blouse holding her black Bible. “You know electricity can work as a good illustration for this Trinity. For example power is generated at the dam at Jinja. But in order for us to get connected to that generated power at the dam we should first have wires stretched into our houses. And in our houses we should have bulbs fixed to the wires so that we can be able to see the light from the generated power. The combination of the dam, the wires and the bulbs enable us to have power in our houses. And we call all that electricity. We can not say for example that there are three ‘electricities’, the dam, the wire and the bulb.” Now just imagine if God the father is the dam, Jesus is the electric wires that connect us to the dam, and the Holy Spirit is the electric light that shines in the bulbs of our homes. So electricity remains electricity and God remains the same!”

The two ladies left me when I am convinced beyond dispute that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are operating in our living world in the name of the Father. And by the time I gave my life to Christ, I had been rest assured that there is only one God but He operates in different ways to show His might and power for generations.

When I had just finished my university studies which had ended in an anticipated doom, I got a chance to meet with a certain gentleman who was working with an electricity company. This was a gentleman I should say each woman would admire to be her husband. He was handsome, kind and successful. He could formulate a conversation out of the blue and make it so intriguing that one could not wish him to stop talking. The first time I met him was when I had been mentored into Cell Leadership to start having monthly meetings with the rest of the leaders. And during one get together meeting, this gentleman was the center of attention at the party. Every one wanted to be around him and at least talk to him.

When I was in a coma at the hospital after an accident, I now remember that this gentleman called David Kabwama was among the very first people who came to visit me. I started loving him so much that I began to want to find out more about him. What disappointed me most at the time was that David with all his stature was not yet married. And he behaved like he was contented and not even bothered about chasing after any one’s daughter. I had one time sent him a mail saying:

“Dear David, did you fly off to England with the “Nabagereka” of UK? Oh my God, you’re a bit rare these days. It seems those field projects are breaking your back! I opened my arms wide to embrace the Queen, but unfortunately missed her out even on TV!

“I am afraid you’re too busy to meet. But I heard that our very own Isaac was brought down to his knees to ask for someone’ daughter’s hand in marriage! And that wedding meetings are in full bloom at Sis Elfrance’s place. But for many times I have failed to attend one or dig my hand deep into my squeezed pockets and throw a dime for his wedding! I wish I had a license to print money; I would have stood with my big brother because I am soon going to face the same mid-life crisis. David I wish you well. And please pray for me that my ministry of developing Christian’s testimonies into literary texts succeeds. Nice time. God bless you. Michael”

David didn’t reply my mail. So one evening I visited him at the Green Estates in Bweyogerere Kampala and tried to ask for the details of what kind of job he had that enabled him to rent a first class apartment, own flashy cars and enjoy his single life. After pouring for me a glass of juice, he narrated to me that he works with Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).

“You know for us we are wholesalers of electricity,” he said, adjusting his spectacles, “We sell high voltage power to other countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and the rest. And we are the ones who sell power to UMEME of Uganda. It is also our obligation to carry out road shedding according to UMEME’s schedules. So my work involves too much movement from country to country throughout East Africa.

While David was still narrating to me his story, a lady called Julian knocked and entered to join us.  Julian immediately interrupted our conversation and started asking what David was waiting for to get married.

“In fact Pastor Mark asked me the same question last Sunday at Church,” Said David.

“So what was your answer?” asked Julian.

“I just told him that I am still looking,” he replied shyly, “but the Pastor said, ‘no David, you’re just looking and not telling them!’

“May be you haven’t yet seen the right lady to propose to,” I added.

“No please, Michael! You cannot just say that of all the beautiful single ladies in our Section there is none right for us. See for example Julian, Grace, Florence, Lydia and the rest; all these young ladies are committed Christians, cute and suitable for marriage.”

“So what are you waiting for?” asked Julian again, “You’re sounding like someone who’s beating around the bush!”

David poured a second glass of Juice for me, took his and then poured for Julian as well and continued to say; “You know my SISCO Networking Certification exam has been postponed until January next year, and I am planning to start my leave on Monday. This will help me to catch up with my personal life so that I can as well have time to read. I have been reading three books at a time. Now I would like to concentrate on one book before getting on with another.”

“What kind of books are you reading?” asked Julian as she poured for herself a glass of water instead.

“I use most of my books as devotionals; I make notes out of them though I am very slow at completing some. Oh, but I am still wondering why my neighbors bulbs never went off when power chucked! It seems he has a very modern converter. I am so challenged!”

He poured a third glass of juice for me as he walked around the sitting room saying; “This year I have fallen short of all my targets I set especially for Cell Ministry. I feel I should make radical changes in my life and get more focused on a particular kind of Ministry rather than running up and down in Scripture Union, Church, Cells, and everywhere. Sometimes I find myself entangled with many activities especially on Wednesdays when I should be leading my Cell. And now I have come to understand that the devil is working so hard to destroy our Cells, so we need to seek God’s face most rather than his hand to see us through. Personally I would like God to help me recognize and resolve areas where I have fallen short of His glory this year. I remember I had built a very strong personal relationship with my Cell members but I allowed myself to be so busy and the relationships ended up tumbling down.”

I poured for myself a fourth glass of juice, as Grace and Andrew also showed up for the brief meeting. David welcomed Grace with cheers and I almost thought they were dating. Grace immediately went to the kitchen with David himself and they brought more juice to our table in the sitting room. I realized that they matched and would make a very lively suitable couple in town if they accepted to marry. David came back with a box of biscuits and distributed them to the four of us. “You see friends,” he continued with his conversation, “In doing God’s work it is not all about what you can do. But it is all about availing yourself to be used of God. When I read the book of Jeremiah Chapter ten verse twenty one, where God says that the Shepherds have become dull-hearted and have not sought Him, and for that they shall not prosper, and that all their flocks shall be scattered, I feel so challenged.

“We should become very sensitive to the people we are leading. Are we as leaders seeking God in our leadership? I always emphasize that the Cell can never grow beyond the Cell Leader. Let’s consider quality, and not just mere quantity in our Cells. I mean we should know the Scriptures by heart and apply the Bible in the leadership of the lives of our Cell members.”

“For real, David,” Julian added as she poured for herself a second glass of water, “I suppose we have all endeavored to study the book of Deuteronomy. When God is calling us for a mission, He first prepares us spiritually. And that’s the reason why the book of Joshua the conqueror of the Promised Land comes just after the preparatory spiritual book of Deuteronomy. I like Verse eighteen of Chapter eleven which says that we should lay God’s words in our hearts and in our souls, and bind them as a sign on our hands and let them be as frontlets between our eyes.”

I poured for myself a fifth glass of passion juice and downed it within a minute. When I saw Grace staring at me with her eyes full of wonder, I asked David for the direction to the washrooms. After enjoying myself in David’s washrooms, I came out very eager to pour for myself a sixth glassful of juice, but  Julian suggested that we should humble ourselves and pray for our Cells. So we prayed and concluded the meeting.

However, I was still wondering why David is full of busyness all over himself! Probably it was part of the reasons why he had taken long without getting married. To my greatest surprise, he was always at the forefront of supporting younger men in their marriage preparations. He had supported one Joseph to go through the introduction of a Musoga girlfriend who later turned him down. Though David had footed most of the transport bills for the wedding, he never lost heart to stand by other young men as well in his Cell. When it came to Isaac’s wedding, David again offered his car to transport the brides, and he also played the role of a best-man. To my greatest shock, the best-man and the matron appeared elegant and well suited for one another. They almost stole the party from the bride and the bridegroom.

So when I went back home from the wedding reception, I sat down on my bed and started pondering on David’s life. I asked myself what was really going on in this gentleman’s heart. How could he be such a wonderful man, handsome, kind and successful but without a companion? Why did he stand out of the crowds in elegant dressing and command respect but still remain single and lonely. Probably he had his own ways of sustaining himself. I was really puzzled. So I sent him a message saying:

“Dear David, this is to congratulate you upon the successful completion of Isaac’s wedding. That was really very nice of you to stand by our brother. My greatest shock of the wedding was that the best-man was smarter than the bridegroom and very well suited to the matron! Oba my eyes deceived me due to the excitement? But you almost stole the show! You were so smart, goodness; I was almost propelled to start putting wedding on my new years’ resolutions! Good time dear and merry Christmas. Michael.”

David was never good at replying to mails. I kept waiting but doubting to receive any feedback from him. It was until one of my workmates and relative called Taib pressurized me to visit David and borrow some DVDs about best friends from him. When we went to his place, I was shocked to be welcomed by a young gentleman who seemed to be taking care of David’s home. He told us that David is too busy to be home and the only way of hearing from him is by calling his mobile phone direct. But I decided to send him a text message requesting him to offer me a morning lift to Kampala city to deliver our Cell’s Christmas gifts to the Watoto offices before the deadline. I again waited for his reply in vain until the following day when I had fluked Dr. Mulongo’s lift to deliver the gifts just in time. On my way out of the Watoto offices, my phone alerted me of a received message. I immediately scrolled down and read:

“Good morning Michael. I am sorry that you bounced yesterday. I came back late. I have some kind of training today, so I am going to be at All Saints Cathedral the whole day. I am just waiting for someone to give me a lift to town. Sender: David.”

The message did not only intrigue me, but it shocked me as well. How could the David I know also just wait for a lift? I thought he owned at least two sleek cars! Could all of them be in dangerous mechanical conditions? Or he was just taking me for a ride. It really beat my understanding but I believed him because I was truly convinced he was a good Christian. So I responded to his text saying:

“Thanks David. I was able to deliver the gifts in time. However, I also wanted to copy your DVD episodes of Best Friends on my laptop. But it is hard to find you home! Merry Christmas dear. Michael.”

One of the things I came to dislike about David was that he never replied mails. Sometimes he could frankly tell you that he received your mail, but even if it required a reply, he would never. I could sometimes see him drive off past my Uncle’s home in Bweyogerere in his sleek green car as if he never read my mail. My mission in life was to enable all Christians write their lifetime testimonies before leaving for eternity. So my interest lied most in people who could manage to write back one sentence or two in reply to the questions I asked them via e-mail. But David had proved to be full of hardness and unconcerned. Yet, he was generally an outgoing kind of person when talking face to face.

I remember in another of the Cell Leaders’ meeting, David told us that he knows that his home village is Entebbe and Entebbe is not a village.

“I hear that my grandparents came from Ssese islands in Lake Victoria and settled at around Entebbe,” said David, “And I remember my grandfather died in 1979. He was a very harsh man who could not tolerate anyone lazy. He forced my real dad to attend school when he tried to dodge around.

“My granddad was an Assistant Medical Officer in Entebbe Hospital and when he forced dad into school, dad opted to go for engineering.”

As David was still telling us his story when we were at Julian’s residence, I reechoed my life. I remember my grandfather worked in Forestry and he really had a successful life in Mbale. But when he tried to send his sons to school, they all messed up the gift of education which they substituted with putting several school girls in a family way; my mother inclusive. They dropped out of school and began living a dog’s life. I ended up being born in a family which was seriously struck with biting poverty and wretchedness. If it wasn’t my grand mum Gertrude Kayinza who vowed to take care of me in Buganda and sent me to school, I would have been gathered to my ancestors in abject wretchedness. But it looked like David had had good innings.

“Some of the programs that have tired me a lot include being on people’s wedding organization committees,” David continued to say, “I am really fed up with being people’s best-man. I remember one time in 2003 I took long to propose to a girl who was a very good friend of mine. To be genuine, I really loved this girl but I had not told her about it. To my greatest shock, I later received a card inviting me for her wedding to another guy who was indeed also my friend. To make matters worse, I was appointed to be the guy’s best-man.

“When I later asked the girl why she decided to marry my friend yet I too loved her, she frankly told me that, ‘David, I also loved you deeply, but when you didn’t tell me anything, when this guy proposed to me, I had to marry him because I thought that probably you’re not interested in me.”

All of us in the meeting seemed like we were observing a moment of silence for our unlucky friend David. But eventually we all broke into a terrible uncontrollable laughter as I pat on his shoulder to show some pity.

“So is it the reason why you’re still taking your time to marry?” asked Julian.

“Not only that,” replied David, “I remember even way back in my ordinary level in Senior Two I fell for a beautiful girl in our school. So I went with my buddies to a florist and bought a bunch of flowers for her.

“When I called her to my table and gave her the flowers, she simply said ‘thank you’ and continued with her other businesses. She was later called by someone else and went leaving the flowers right there in front of me, and never came back.”

David is a man of stories. Sometimes I am tempted to think that he specialized in a wrong profession. He would have been a very good salesperson for leading corporations or a mass communicator. I later got a chance of my life when he finally accepted to tell me his life story. If you enjoy fun and love to go through laughing sessions as you learn, I strongly urge you to read David’s story: