RECKLESS LOVER

People say that love is not meant to be motivated; but what if my lover is the motive?

It was daybreak when I raced to the taxi rank as late as I was for Anatomy class to catch up with time before Dr. Aidoo kicks me out of his class. Not only is Dr. Aidoo principled enough not to allow me in, but we also had a test to write within the same period. Gosh! You're doomed again, Pearl, I said to myself. Why did I allow myself to sleep? The coffee I took to make sure I stayed up to cover the slides is wasted. I imagined this quiz as my redemption. Oh!  What a waste. It already seemed to be a bad day. The agony of my imminent torment was not to be the last 'wahala,' but I noticed that there was only one taxi and a lady ahead was just getting in. I looked so pathetic at that moment. The late bell had been ranged, and it was 25 minutes ago.

At this particular point, my future was very much on my mind. On my side, I felt a touch. 'Who's that', I said to myself. It was a face of a dark guy who looked at me with sympathy, and said, 'You can have my place please.' Without a second thought, I jumped into the car. As I saw my seatmates come out with their monies to pay for the fare, I realized I had left my purse in my room. This is not happening! Again, the same guy tapped the driver's shoulder and paid for me before the car set off. At that moment, I could not take note of this guy who was at my rescue. Expecting the worse, I headed straight to the lecture room as fast as possible once I alighted. And of course, I had anticipated the looks my mates will give me for coming in that late.

To my surprise, Dr. Aidoo, our ever punctual and time conscious elite professor, was not in class. I recalled his famous statement 'Teachers aren't supposed to be late!' Dr. Aidoo has the rule to never, ever be late for class.  I was surprised and also happy so I finally got myself a seat. Waiting for what would happen next, a gentleman walked to the class, sat on the seat beside me and greeted. I've heard this voice somewhere today, I said. He smiled, and I quickly remembered he was the good Samaritan I met a few minutes ago. I had several questions in mind at that moment. We’ve been in the same class for three years, and I didn't know? Why would he risk his comfort and his future for me? Why isn't he angry when I couldn't say 'thank you' after all his sacrifices? I felt so ashamed and embarrassed at that point. He looked calm and handsome; I think that morning all of his charm was wrapped up in my disappointment. As I gained momentum to apologize and express my most profound appreciation, Dr. Aidoo walked in with our quiz papers, so I had to postpone whatever I had to say to him.

Fast forward, we were done with the lecture and our quiz as well. When we all made our way out, I saw Mr. Good Samaritan leaving the lecture room, he must be a very private guy, I thought. No wonder I didn't know him even though we had been in the same class for three years. Wasting no time, I rushed to him, asked for his name, and expressed my gratitude and apologies. Later within the semester, Terry and I became really good friends. He was the guy every lady would want as a friend. He was polite, compassionate, loving, smart, godly, purposeful, cute, sincere, a good listener and with a catchy sense of humor. A day wouldn’t go by without me missing him when he wasn't around. Whenever I got myself into trouble, he would be the best person to talk to, and his words are so liberating and full of the right soul-relieving phrases I needed. I recall the time he walked through the rains to the hospital for my sake. The many nights he had to doze off on that dilapidated chair because I couldn’t sleep after my surgery. Can I also forget that special moment he had to skip writing a quiz to come to the burial of my kid sister? I had found a friend in Terry.

Everything was fine, till one morning, as the sun glistered through the beautiful curtains of my pink room. It seemed like a perfect morning before the call came from Terry. He said ‘Pearl, I need to tell you something.’ Those words wouldn’t scare me, but coming from someone like Terry in such a trembling and shaky voice made everything stand still. I breathe in anticipation of the 'something' he was about to reveal. He said, ‘Pearl, I've got less than a month to live.’ Stunned with what to say, I found myself crying with tears running down my face.

I hurried to the hospital although it was very early. When I got to the emergency room where he was, I did not see the all smiley friend Terry even though he tried to smile. I saw, a young man with full potentials curled up in the bed in a fettle position, as arthritis had twisted his body. I knew my friend was slipping away eventually. So, Terry was dying and I didn't know? No wonder he was always in large-sized hoodies.

Moving down the Hallway, I couldn't unfold why this young man showed me this sort of love. At the cost of his life and eventual death, he gave me all the Love that I ever wanted. He didn't want his pain dissipated on me, so he preferred to bear it alone. My mood meant that sometimes my love for him was blurred, but still, he loved me wholeheartedly. The many times he could have taken advantage of my weakness, but he chose to keep me clean and whole. Can this be said as a reckless love? Am I wrong when I call him a reckless lover?

Sure, this is a pure form of love, admirable and worth emulating. Notwithstanding, this is just snippets of the Love Jesus has for us. God’s love is reckless and 'senseless' when we think about it, yet it is intentional and purposeful. It is often too big to fit into words. With the love life of Hosea and Gomer, God allegorized His relationship with us (unfaithful). God’s love for us, like Hosea’s love for his wife, looks irresponsible and reckless to an outsider looking in. This is the kind of love Christians should aspire to have. Christ leads us in the recklessness of denying ourselves for the glory of God and the good of others. Like Terry, he loved Pearl beyond what was beneficial to himself.