Old Chief Kakande

Was born on Monday

Went to school on Tuesday

Went to work on Wednesday

Got married on Thursday

Fell sick on Friday Died on Saturday

Was buried on Sunday

While many of us remember this as our kindergarten rhyme, it’s tear-jerking to think of anyone’s life currently headed in the Old man’s direction.

But wait. Haven’t we all –at one point – bought into Old Chief Kakande’s Philosophy? I mean, we all grow up believing, life is about, Going to school Getting a job Marrying well, having kids. And then… Retire… Or let’s say,“Prepare to die- Safely.” – Somewhere in your upcountry farm in a rocking chair, cows mowing in the background and grand kids playing in the backyard. Good dream, isn’t it?

Degrees are good. Careers and families are good, so are upcountry farms, but what on earth ultimately deserves our loyalty? What matters at the end of the day? What would we like to hear said of our lives? That he lived a comfortable life,retired and died? Just? Max Lucado, author of “And the Angels were silent” made me reflect on that sometime when he wrote

“When you are in the final days of your life, what will you want? .. Will you hug that college degree in the walnut frame? Will you ask to be carried to the garage so you can sit in your car? Will you find comfort in rereading your financial statement? “

Hip-hop Artiste Lecrae has a line in his song “Boasting” ft Anthony Evans that goes like, “What’s my life if it’s not pleasing you”?

When Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 1:23 “to live is Christ, to die is gain,”

He probably knew that the only time his life made sense here was only when it was lived for Christ, no wonder he also said things like

“…the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”(Gal 2:20)

Today, looks like what started as an “American dream” has saturated the entire universe to create a chronological plan that says “this is how life happens, live by it” I enjoy the way John Piper author of “Don’t waste your life” puts it,

“Millions of people are wasting their lives pursuing dreams of happiness that don’t rise above a good marriage, nice kids, a successful career, a nice car, fun vacations, nice friends, a fun retirement, a painless death, and (hopefully) no hell. This is a tragedy in the making. We were created for joy. We were designed to have one life-encompassing passion [living for the one who gave up his life in it’s prime]. ”

On retirement, Piper notes.

“Retirement—playing, traveling, sleeping late—is “the world’s substitute for heaven since the world does not believe there will be heaven beyond the grave, most of the suggestions this world offers us for our retirement … are bad ideas.They call us to live in a way that would make this world look like our treasure. And when that happens, Jesus is belittled.

” Christ says “A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.”(Luke 12:15) “ King David writes “Earth has nothing I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25) And Apostle Paul nails it adding “I have resolved to know nothing other than Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2)

If we are going to avoid the tragic life of the proverbial “Old Chief Kakande”, guess who and what we devote our lives to in this life may just make all the difference.