Watch out for those who want to harm you

I am a blessed Kenyan. We are the most peaceful nation in the region and it has always been that way despite the recent terror attacks. Never been to war, both internal and external. Never been a refugee or been forced to be on the run. Born and raised at the coast, I have always taken things 'mos mos'.

Until April, 29, when I was rudely awakened by gun-wielding gangsters. Being tired from work, I had simply hopped on to a 6p.m. Simba Coach to Kampala from Kigali and like almost every passenger, was fast asleep when I heard the commotion, five minutes away from Masaka Town.

I woke up in time to see the co-driver trying to hide what I later learnt was his precious Sh7,000 in his socks. He got a thorough beating from the shameless crooks with a sense of entitlement.

By the time they were done with us (in ten minutes), they (seven gangsters) had dispossessed us of our precious belongings, including money. But rather than count it as loss, I opted to look at the incident as gain, for is that not what the word of God says, that what the devil meant for good, He will turn to good?

And this is the good dear Kenyans. It is time we arose from our deep slumber and realised that the President was not joking when he said our security is in our hands. Well, it is in God’s hands but He also gives us the skills and wisdom to get out of insecure situations.

A Ugandan man from Karamoja said he had been in a number of such situations and has relied on God to direct him on what to do. One time, he was sitting right at the back of the bus, at the corner, so when the gangsters came to him, he was prepared with folded pieces of paper wrapped in two almost useless 1,000 Ugandan shilling notes.

How Kenya has slept! And how the enemy has come in while we are sleeping to sow tares! The harvest is now here, and quite bitter fruit it is! Spiritually and physically, we have slept.

Allow me to say this because I believe it to be the case. There are some buses that will never depart before the conductor asks everyone to close their eyes and commit the journey to the Father. That is being alert; the realisation that dangers lurk in the dark from accidents, thieves, terrorists, wild animals, and so on. I am yet to hear of incidents involving these buses.

Being alert is a serious matter to God, and He gives us His advice in several scriptures:

• We must be sober-minded and watchful because our adversary prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour. Come on folks, we cannot be contentedly drowning barrels of intoxicants and expect ourselves to withstand a terrorist attack. The terrorist is preparing for battle and not engaging in meaningless activities.

• Praying at all times in the spirit is recommended. When I saw the gun, I bowed my head and asked God to protect us. He did. Nobody was injured, raped or killed in the four buses attacked at that spot that night.

• We must prepare our minds for action. On my return journey, I was more alert. I shall always have security in mind.

• Watch and pray that we do not enter into temptation. We will continue to pray that our sons be repulsed by the allure of terrorism. At the same time, we will also continuously watch out for any signs that they are being tempted.

• Let us not be asleep as some are but stay awake and keep sober.

And on and on the word goes. We have a choice to make: whether to continue sleeping or staying alert. If we would follow the word of God, we would be a nation at peace.