Repentant, Forgiven and Renewed!

Lord I come to you in humility

I know not how to approach your sacred throne

For your holiness is pure and perfect

Yet my heart is corrupted in my sinfulness

Everyday have I forsaken your commands

I am a lonely stranger isolated in a dessert place

Though on my own I can never be worthy

Still my heart’s door I hear you knock everyday

Clean my house from inside out

Clean my heart and restore my soul

I bow down to repent of my iniquities

A lonely stranger isolated in a dessert place

Father of grace and mercy

You bring down all my high peaks of pride

Only by your power I admit my wrongdoing

Lift up all my depressed areas of life

For there I’ve daily tortured and punished myself

A lonely stranger isolated in a dessert place

Lord of all forgiveness and healing

Straighten my crooked ways merciful Father

I have lied and deceived; will you knit and neaten me

In the presence of your lustrous light

My guilt and shame to be atoned at last

Not any longer a lonely stranger isolated in a dessert place

In your presence you embrace me with true love

In your presence I repent of all my sins

In your presence alone will I be forever free

In your presence I am washed, cleansed and forgiven

In your forgiveness I am made new in Your Spirit

Never again a lonely stranger isolated in a dessert place

Kenyans now and Kenyans always.

Kenyans now and always…

We need to know... 

The battles to fight… 

And the battles that are not ours

The issues to confront… 

And the issues to be lull about

The hopes to place on others… 

The hopes to never peg on human shoulders

The tears to cry in earnest lament… 

The tears to let go and stay calm

The joys to share with an attitude of care… 

And those to keep to self in humility

The achievements to celebrate… 

And those realised as our deserved rights

The failures to demand explanations on… 

And the failures to universally embrace

The unreality to seek to correct… 

And the realities to face head on

The beauty of our diversities to celebrate…

And the artistry of our uniqueness to espouse

The freedom to pursue wholeheartedly… 

And the ensnaring of freedom to shun

The true peace to preach everyday… 

The fake peace to dissuade anytime

The times to go down on our knees and pray… 

and the times to stay on our feet in licit resilience

The love to practice as a one people one nation… 

And the love to forgo for it enslaves us

The justice to demand from the laws… 

And the laws to submit to for justice

The untruth to resolutely resist… 

And the truth to be ready to suffer for

The people worth dying for… 

And the people not worth fighting for

The spirit that defines us as Kenyans… 

And the spirit that skews us as a nation

...these we need to live

Fare Thee Well Val Simpson

Premise: No one can ever underestimate the power of simple acts of kindness. I met Val Simpson when I was very new in the UK having travelled from my homeland Kenya and away from my family and friends. In her home I was not only made a warmly welcomed friend but was always treated as one of her own children. Val’s tender kindness and compassion has truly touched and impacted mine and many more lives including my family. These words are not a retelling of her story but a simple tribute to celebrate a life well lived.

Bye Val Simpson!

If I could, I would draw a mega picture on a town wall,
To artistically portray how nobly you lived your life;
For the memories of the many touched lives;
Do so beautifully cast a rainbow of your true generosity,
And so we celebrate a life well lived

If I could, I would write long verse?
To share how your life moments brought hope to many;
You did not just say it, but routinely cared for others
You held so many warmly in your heart in kindness,
And so we are thankful for moments well shared

If I could, I would sing a melodious song?
To voice out how your faith lyrically inspired many to hold on
For even when you faced the toughest, you dared not to give up
Hence many will keep strong to the end,
And so we will cherish the lessons well learnt

I would, if I could but just attempt to draw, write and sing
For so wide and deep is your legacy that defines you,
You’ve left an indelible mark of goodness on the young and the old
And shared your love at home and abroad
And so we will uphold your legacy of unconditional love

Time may not grant my request to keep going on and on,
But all that which you were and did for others nothing will ever squelch,
And truly what you made the world feel
Lives forever and no one can ever steal

Val we will forever cherish the life we shared with you
Your dazzling lively smile, ever filled with a caring grandeur,
Your motherly heart that that spelt the life art in solemn acuity

Like an ant you gathered a banquet for many to dine off you the kind aunt
So your actions will forever live,
And now as you rest in the solace of the angelic choir
Till life’s destiny dawns in the eternal heavens,
Fare thee well Val Simpson