Back In Time

Ted sipped his fourth bottle of beer, drunk in lost hope that very night wondering how everything ended up this way.

Winning the best student of his graduate year with a strong first class degree just five years ago made him very confident. That's the dream of every well meaning student. Ted's confidence level of finding a reputable job by just the snap of his fingers was a hundred and one.

But when reality struck in, he found himself in series of exhaustion coupled with frustrations from rejections and scorn faces from interviewers.

Ted felt his last chance had come when the biggest company of his time "Polar" began recruiting one fifty personnel. Sadly, not even a call came after him hearing; "Hey man,I think you should leave now, you've had enough already and we are about closing up".

A little scuffle between some dudes in the bar brought him out of his thoughts. He turned and looked at the bar tender scornfully as he struggled to get up and find his way back to the world of nothing.

Drunkenly, he forced himself to sit in his small corner under the mulera bridge - where he apparently stayed. There he began questioning God;

"Do you really exist? You allowed my mama,a faithful follower of you to just die. Then you trick me by bringing me to the university to pass excellently only to mock me by making me go through this. Are you really a God of love? Maybe I should just end it all by taking my life. After all what I have is not even life, I'm a walking dead. I feel betrayed by you, I trusted you."

At this very point, he couldn't control the warm tears that kept dripping down. Letting himself fall to the ground and desperately cried on his knees for death to come.

There and then, he heard footsteps, his heart continued to miss a beat as they drew closer and closer. Although it was dark and his vision was blur, there stood a short half skinny folk. Out of fear, he panicked and tried crawling away from what he supposed to be a dwarf.

"I thought you asked to die, you don't look like you are ready considering the fear written all over your face right now?", this unknown creepy folk chuckled as he asked.

He attempted lifting Ted up to a standing position. Even though Ted protested - his body was too weak to resist. With a shaky voice, he asked; " Who are you?"

The minute fellow looked at him with a slight smile and began responded.

Well that isn't necessary now, is it?
All I know is, I heard you cry and complain so much that I decided to help you figure your way out. Things don't always have to be the way you want it to be pal.

Sometimes we just need what we get but don't want. Its sad that you judge your Heavenly Father too quickly when things go wrong.

Ted, I'm not saying its easy to be at the point you are in right now. Who would even wish to be in this your state?

Your problem is - You lean on your own strength too much pal and when it doesn't work out, you begin cursing God. Ever cared how God feels when you get like this? When you start to lose faith in him while He's had so much faith in you even when you faltered?

At this juncture, this creepy folk paused and gazed intently into Ted's eyes saying; "Go back in time and do what's right".

He jumped out of bed as he heard his phone ring and lazily picked up the call.

"Hey man, where are you? The list is out am getting ready to go check, hurry up and come check if you are in the employed list?"

In responding to what happened to be the most realest dream he had ever had, he prayed;

"Dear Lord, its another nervous day in our lives, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I still love you and I won't let go off your hand". He smiled at himself as he gently stood up full of fresh hope.

....... 48,49,50 he scanned through the list of names numbered but his was clearly not written. He smiled and whispered "Thank you Lord, now let's go home so you show me what to do next".

Ted's friend stood looking at him amazed and enquired; "Dude, are you seriously smiling for not seeing your name here? Are you kidding me?"

He looked at his friend and shrugged, saying;
"Yes man, am not happy because I didn't see my name here. I just feel complete knowing the Lord still has me and I have Him. Knowing I have faith is one of the best gifts of happiness I can receive. Its more than riches to me. I trust the Lord fully and that's enough for me to see bigger things in a larger perspective.

.........2 years later.........
Ted walks out of the office with his short skinny boss as they rush to the airport for a trip to London. He was employed as a personal assistant to his boss.

This happened, the very afternoon they met a year back. After thanking God for another failed job hunt - he bumped into this stranded short man with a broken down car.

He offered to assist the man. Funny enough his battery had only been disconnected and he was surprised the folk didn't realize. He helped fix it back and accepted the folks offer to have lunch with him. He also gave the folk accurate direction to a very classy yet simple eatery in town with generously affordable yet great food.

Ted also helped him know his way around town since he was on a short business trip to the town and knew nothing about the place. Ted was giving a card when the was about leaving the town.

This man happens to be a multi-billionare in dollars and it is he who employed Ted in one of his super great companies.

Till date, Ted always thinks his boss looks familiar but couldn't pin point where exactly they met. He smiled and said a short thanksgiving prayer as they sat in the private jet to the next destination.

Stephanie Ackah Blay
Media & Creativity Department
Sweet Breath Ministries