LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING. APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEPTIVE
REUNION WITH OLD CLASSMATE: After about 30 years of not seeing each other, we finally crossed paths again in a hotel lobby. The Lord had been gracious to me, and as I caught sight of him, I noticed his appearance was unassuming. He had on a simple Ankara attire that touched me in a special way. He approached me with joy and eagerness, and though I was happy to see him, I couldn’t help but feel unimpressed with his status compared to mine.
We exchanged contact details, and I could sense his delight as he collected mine. I offered to give him a ride home in my brand new Range Rover, but he declined, saying he had already called for his car. As we parted ways, I invited him to lunch at my house the following day, hoping to impress him with my success and wealth.
As he drove to my home in Parkview, I noticed a hint of awe in his expression as he surveyed the area. I had taken a significant mortgage to own such an extravagant home, and I was heavily in debt. During lunch, I tried to engage him in business discussions and offered to help him secure loans, but he seemed uninterested.
I asked him how I could be of assistance, and he simply replied that he was doing well. He invited me to his home in Ikeja, and my wife and I hesitated at first, not wanting to visit someone of a lower status. However, I convinced her that we were close friends in college, and we went to see him at Wuraola Estate.
As we entered his home, I was taken aback by the simplicity yet elegance of his four-bedroom bungalow. I noticed four cars parked in front, and his wife called him Baba Wuraola during lunch. It was then that he asked about my MD, whom he said was a friend of his. I saw a company gift on one of his tables nearby, and I asked him about it. To my surprise, he revealed that he owned the company and the estate.
I was speechless and overwhelmed, realizing that appearances can be deceiving. I had been living on loans and showing off my wealth while someone who paid my salary lived a modest life. I learned a lesson in humility that day and couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by my earlier behavior.
As we drove back home, I was quiet, reflecting on the experience. My wife, who had been humbled by the encounter, sat beside me calmly. I looked at myself and realized that sometimes, deeper rivers flow in majestic silence.
