Flashlight Moments In The Dark Presents: Yejide Kilanko

Hey! And we are back with another edition of Flashlight Moments in the Dark.  I hope you are caught up. If not, you really need to check it out.

Today however, I want to introduce you to my sister scribe. My aburo (sister) Yejide Kilanko. I met Yejide over the world wide web and we clicked almost immediately.Distance, she lives in Canada, didn’t even make a difference. lives in Canada but over the net we just clicked. Then God made it possible for us to met when she visited the U.S some years ago. It was awesome. I cant wait for you to read her story. Unlike my past guests, I didn’t do an interview, I just allowed her to tell you her story. Read. Enjoy and Be Blessed.

*************************************************************                     My name is Yejide Kilanko. I’m a writer. I still smile at my computer screen whenever I type those words. It’s a beautiful thing when your passion and purpose fuse.
I was asked to share a ten-word quote which describes me and my purpose journey. It’s an “Imperfect woman navigating a life powered by God’s amazing grace.”
Without a doubt, I have been the recipient of God’s unmerited favour. If you were to ask me to identify my life’s driving force, I would say it’s the desire to be obedient. Less of me, more of God, as I grow my faith and find balance in all I do.
Thanks to my stubborn personality, I tried to do it all on my terms. The word ‘tried’ captures my repeated failures. One thing about failure is that it makes you feel vulnerable. In my case, that sense of vulnerability makes me receptive to direction. God’s direction.
This series is about challenges and flashlight moments. I’ve certainly had both. The big question from our host is, “What was the single most devastating experience/challenge in your life and how did you overcome it?”

Those who know my story would probably say it must have been the cancer diagnosis. It is not.
The challenge I’ve lived with since I was a little girl is anxiety. You can call it worry, fear, unease, agitation or angst.
I see your frown. Yes, I just said anxiety is more devastating than cancer. The key thing here are the words, for me. Anxiety induces a sense of panic, magnifies every problem and messes with my heart and head. Above all, it erodes my faith. And since I can’t please God without faith, that makes it a huge challenge.
Now that I’ve told you about the challenge let’s talk about the flashlight moment. I hope you’re not claustrophobic. I need you to lend me your imagination as I walk through an underground cave.
Deep breaths. Here we go.
It’s a ‘you can’t see your hand in front of your face’ kind of dark. It makes me grateful for the silver flashlight in my grasp.
I scrunch my nose at the rotten egg smell in the air.
As the shadows around me transform into seven-foot giants and carnivorous dinosaurs, I feel the rocky ground tremble.
With every step, my shoes sink into a carpet of bat droppings. I’m yet to run into one. But I can hear the flapping sounds of their wings. The thought of them coming close to my face makes my heart race. I feel like screaming. I don’t. I know that if I were to scream, the echo would only come back to haunt me. I clamp my lips and move only as far as the range of the flashlight’s bright beam.
When something slimy falls off the cave roof and lands on the back of my neck, I don’t lecture myself when I pee a little.
Remember that I’d told you fear messes with the heart and the head? Unfortunately, the bladder doesn’t get a pass. If you let fear take over, it will affect every part of your life.
I’m sure you think that this is the point where I’ll tell you how I overcame this debilitating challenge. I can’t because I haven’t.

My flashlight moment isn’t one where I’ve made it out of the cave into the sunshine. I’m still walking this journey on a daily basis. But, instead of relying on manmade batteries to power my flashlight, I’m relying on God’s word, His grace, to lead me through.
Sounds easy? It’s not. You still have to walk through the pile of bat droppings and any other thing life throws in your path.
You know those annoying co-workers whose constant humming forces you to play a game of Name That Tune at your desk? Well, I’m one of them. As we say in Nigeria, I can sing for Africa. It’s not even important that I know the right lyrics or can carry the tune. #SnapAndWhistle
So, here I am, right in the middle of the junk, building up my confident expectations, my hopes, as I hold on to the flashlight and sing “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” at the top of my voice. This is my Ms. Mahalia Jackson moment. I’m elated when those fierce shadows transform into harmless butterflies. Joy turns my timid steps into a swagger.
No matter the challenge you’re facing today, the season of life you’re in, please, hold on to that flashlight, to God’s word. It is a shelter. Keep taking those steps. Because God is with you, there’s the assurance that you will make it back into the light.
And when you get out of that damp cave, your loved ones will be waiting with spicy Jollof rice and fried chicken. As a food lover, I had to add that.
Don’t be afraid to get close to your search party. Their noses would not care about the whiff of you know what when they give you big hugs and say, welcome back, we missed you.
I’m going to let you walk ahead now. Thanks for being such a great travel companion. See you out there.
Take My Hand, Precious Lord.
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.~ Yejide Kilanko

Wow! Did you enjoy that as much as I did? So much emotion, I was brought to tears, the depth of description is only a tip of the iceberg, you should read her books. They are fantastic. There is nothing more I can add that would make this post more effective so on that note I will sign off. Please leave Yejide a comment and she will answer each one of them. Also please use the buttons below to share. Here’s a little more about Yejide

Bio:

Yejide Kilanko was born in Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a writer of poetry, fiction and a therapist in children’s mental health. Her debut novel, Daughters Who Walk This Path, was first published by Penguin Canada in April 2012. Her novella, Chasing Butterflies, was published in March 2015. Yejide currently lives with her family in Ontario, Canada. If you’re interested in knowing more about Yejide’s work, please visit http://www.yejidekilanko.com or https://www.facebook.com/YejideKilankoAuthor/

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Be Blessed

Unoma