The photo posted below is that of my son, Ogotomide Ronald. I took this picture of him when he was five. If you are wondering what is going on in that little head of his, let me help you out.

I believe Ogo is working here solving a great mathematical problem in his head, probably one that the great mathematicians of ages past failed to solve before they left. Ogo is a great mathematician, as you shall soon see.

Years ago when he turned five, he joined our family tradition of fasting one day a week. Ogotomide was excited as he believed he had finally come of age. His own style of fasting wasn’t as ‘hardcore’ as ours. He broke his fast at 12.00 noon. He could take water whenever he felt like. He could also decide not to fast if he didn’t want to. My little boy loved God, so he almost always fasted on Fridays.

Ogotomide Ronald

One day the little boy came to me and his mother. ‘Daddy, I want to be breaking my fasts at one O’clock.’

Really? My boy loved food, and it showed in his chubby looks. Why would he add one whole hour to the time of his fast? Had he experienced an epiphany? Was the Holy Spirit moving powerfully on him? We didn’t want to put him under unnecessary pressure.

We tried dissuading him, but he insisted.

Well, the following Friday, he broke his fast at 1.00pm.

And the next Friday. And the next after that.

But I wasn’t comfortable with this. I felt there was a hidden reason that I needed to dig out. As it turned out, this boy definitely hadn’t become more spiritual than before. On the days of the fast, he would keep asking everybody around if it was one o’clock yet. (He hadn’t learned to read the clock yet). He kept strolling in and out of the kitchen and kept opening the fridge every ten minutes.

So one day I called him and we had the following conversation.

‘Big Boy, why do you think you must keep breaking your fast at one o’clock instead of twelve?’

‘Well, dad, it is easier to break it at one than to break it at twelve.’

‘How?’

‘You know, dad, that I’m very good in math.’ Yes you are, at your kindergarten level, I thought. But I still couldn’t see where this was going.

My boy confidently continued. ‘You see, dad, it takes much time to count to twelve, but almost no time to count to one.’

What a mathematician, I thought,

In the mathematics of life, only the Giver of life can give the shortest formula to the true answer. The process might seem too long for us, but any other way is much longer, and mostly leads to the wrong answer.

‘So, daddy, I want to finish fasting much earlier and eat my food. I know that figure ‘1’ is closer than figure ’12’, so I decided to be breaking my fast at one o’clock instead of twelve o’clock. That way I can eat my food earlier,” he said in a tone of mathematical finality. He might as well have ended with a QED.

I laughed and rolled on the carpet. I called the whole family to come and hear the mathematician. Everybody joined me to have a good laugh. Even the mathematician joined us to laugh, although he didn’t really understand why we were all laughing.

I shared this story to illustrate something important.

In so many ways we become a victim of our ignorance, which usually masquerades as smartness. We think we are smart, only to find out down the line that we are victims of our smartness. My mathematician boy sincerely believed that he had figured out a way to make things easier for himself. He did not ask for greater understanding. He relied on his own limited understanding of time. He misapplied his knowledge and added to his burden while thinking he had removed part of it.

God is a Father. He guides us by instructions. (Psalm 32:8). We are clearly told that “His commandments are not grievous.” 1John 5:3 (KJV). Whatever He allows or forbids is for our own good. His yoke is easy, and His burden light. When we learn of Him, we find rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:28-30).

In matter of finances, marriage and everything else, God knows the outcome of every decision before it is taken. It is wise to know His mind first instead of playing the smart mathematician like my boy.

But so many times we want to move according to our limited understanding. We let pleasure or pressure determine our decisions. We look for shortcuts to success only to find out later that we have actually made our journey much longer. If my son had asked me about time, and not come to me with a pre-determined decision, I would have explained to him that in this particular case, twelve o’clock is closer than one o’clock.

He believed he was a great mathematician just because he was the best in his kindergarten class. He knew a lot for his level, yet he hadn’t learned to read the clock. You may be the best among your peers, but there is wisdom beyond that level.

I used to be amazed at the pompous pontifications of disrespectful, inexperienced youths who think they know everything just because they are surrounded by those who hail their bombastic expressions — expressions that are mostly devoid of substance. Now I’m no more amazed, but rather amused.

It seems some people must go through the crucible of harrowing experiences before they learn that life is not limited to the little space within their mind.

In the mathematics of life, only the Giver of life can give the shortest formula to the true answer. The process might seem too long for us, but any other way is much longer, and mostly leads to the wrong answer.

The Word will always save your world.

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12 (LITV)

In Christ does all wisdom dwell
By faith we all must surely tell
That not our will, but His be done;
If the whole world in folly does live
In His life we live, and His Word believe.

Amen.

:: Deon Akintomide