MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

SCENE ONE:

I picked up the call.

“Good morning, Sir! Haruna Daniels?”

“Yes, Please.”

“I am calling from the Head Office of… (she mentioned the Bank). You have an interview by 4 pm today; can you make it?”

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

I was on a site in Lekki. The venue for the interview was in Victoria Island, it wouldn’t be a problem getting there on time, I reasoned.

I got there on time, only to find out we were 17 other young men for the same interview!

And the Bank needed just 5 architects!

Interesting…

I noticed everybody else was in dark suits, white shirts and neck ties. I was in jeans, boots, a t-shirt and a face cap.

I decided to get interviewed first, so when the panel was ready, I went in.

They eyed me, wondering why I was dressed so casually.

One asked, “Why are you not dressed for the interview?”

I replied, “I AM dressed for the interview, Sir. I am an architect, I am working on a site. I came here from my site in Lekki…”

“It doesn’t matter! Did you see how the others are dressed?”

“Ah! Those guys in suit and tie? You must know that any monkey can wear suit, sir! I had assumed you wanted to employ architects with BRAINS, not architects in SUITS. If you want architects in SUITS, you can hire any of those guys. But if you want architects with BRAINS, call me.”

I got up and walked out.

SCENE TWO:

Prophet Samuel was SURE the young man standing before him was the Chosen One.

He had the aura.

He had the build.

He had the mannerisms.

He had the carriage.

He LOOKED the part.

The Prophet was CONVINCED.

He brought out his vial of oil.

He asked the young man to kneel as he opened it…

Suddenly, he heard The Voice: NO! He is NOT the Chosen One!

Samuel was surprised!

He is NOT?

How so?

He LOOKED like it!

“From miles away they judge from my expressions
And it looks to them that nothing could be wrong…”

Bebe Winans sang.

People are generally fixated on the EXTERNAL. We easily judge based on SIGHT!

That is why people build careers on modeling: the EXTERNAL. You don’t have to be intelligent, just have a pretty face and a nice body, wear good clothes and voila! You’re good to go.

But the EXTERNAL is superficial, folks…

“But you know and I know
Yes, you know I'm crying
You know and I know
And you know I'm dying
You know and I know
Oh, when no one else can see
What's going on INSIDE”

Bebe concluded (“You know and I know” lyrics).

It is ALWAYS about the INTERNAL AFFAIRS, folks. The worth of a man has absolutely NOTHING to do with how he looks or dresses. Indeed, ANY MONKEY CAN WEAR A SUIT. The robes don't make the monk; external appearance can't be an indicator of someone's true value or worth.

So many times I hear young folks discuss their ideal partners. I hear “he must be tall, dark handsome…” or “she must be fair, pretty…” I just smile. They have no idea! But with time, they will learn that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is more important than the Ministry of External Affairs. The latter has to do with the EXTERIOR, which is more of make-believe than reality: “Fake It Till You Make it”; the former is the Real Deal, the real VALUE.

The irony is, you can NEVER judge anything by APPEARANCE. You don’t judge a book by its cover. Tattoos and dreadlocks don’t make him a fraudster: Even Satan appears as an Angel of Light!

Scripture puts it succinctly:

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” -Revelation 3:17.

“I am rich, wealthy and have no need”: Ministry of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

“You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”: Ministry of INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” -2^nd Corinthians 4:18

The SEEN (External) is TEMPORARY.

The UNSEEN (Internal) is ETERNAL.

The EXTERNAL is brief, the INTERNAL lasts forever. The one you are fixated on determines if you are wise or foolish.

Shalom,

Haruna Daniels.