By Debbie Ogunjobi
There are many theories of evolution and creation. Scientists believe life as we know it started with the big bang, Charles Darwin puts forth a convincing argument but like all scientific theories it loses ground the more we research and discover more.

People of faith however have their own beliefs; being of the Christian persuasion I believe that God created everything in 6 days and rested on the 7th as stated in the bible. I believe evolution began in the garden of eden; that man went from being a pampered being to a creature struggling to exist and survive after his fall from grace.

I further hold the view that man has adapted to many situations just to survive and may have severely mutated to conform to his new reality of strife. I don’t think the first man bares any resemblance to us at all; over the thousands of years of man’s evolution, we have lost the right to be called anything like the ideal creature that was God’s image. Man has one religion, regardless of what is professed by any and all of us and it is Preservation; preservation of self first and others next.

Preserving a life and a way of life is the beginning and end of all ambition and inspiration. We do whatever we need to do to survive and from birth we begin to worship at the altar of self preservation. Religious fervour has its root firmly entrenched in identity, security and a sense of belonging. Religion gives a sense of purpose, and makes us less insignificant.

The truth is that life is more bearable if we are persuaded that our failures and disappointments will be compensated by heaven when we die. So we throw ourselves into religion and get the validation we don’t always receive from our work, our spouses and ourselves. The essence of devotion is preservation and validation, it is the root and reason for all religions and passions.

The honest truth is that most of us are more disappointed in ourselves than in others; we know that no matter how successful or great we are; we could be better. I used to be a hard task master and I pushed myself more than anyone else did. I always seemed to fall short before my self. No matter the applause and acclaim, I personally felt a failure and I second guessed everything and everyone.

My faith has been a fountain of redemption. I came into the realisation that I was where I was supposed to be doing what I was supposed to be doing. If anyone asked me what role my faith plays in my life, I’d have to say it was a release of all pent up tension and pressure; embracing it has been the greatest act of preservation of self and all else.

If truth be told we all carry a burden of shame from some of our poor choices and religion grants us the forgiveness to move on if not restitute. I am at that place in my journey where I know God doesn’t need me but I need Him. I need the fervour of worship and structure of religion to get some meaning to all these! There’d be little reason to muster enough energy to wake up every morning without the hope my faith gives me. I cant imagine what life would be like if i didn’t have the refuge of prayer. Fear is a constant reality for us all; there is evil every where we turn; so we preserve ourselves by finding meaning that what and who we don’t see is better than what we do! Psalm 91 says it best

Someone once said that religion was for the lily livered and weak hearted and I guess they may have been talking about me. its my survival tool; without it; life is empty!! I am fully persuaded by the truth that I am fearfully and wonderfully made; that there is a supreme being who is all powerful and loves me no matter what. I cant say for a fact that anyone I know and have ever met can fill those shoes and I doubt any would even try. I have a self defence mechanism that kicks in when I face adversity and I had been explaining that to a friend. I’m like a child who gets beaten by a bully and suddenly remembers the safety of her mother’s arms. I run to God!!

Lately I have had to shed some scales of innocence when faced with situations and tribulations that would challenge anyone’s believes and my answer has been to centre on my faith and find strength at the altar of preservation. its that place where I am broken open and receptive to grace.

I hope that someday, the eventual readers (hopefully my children and grandchildren) of my memoirs will find and build their own altars of preservation. It will be that place in their hearts where they draw strength from the Lord; Knowing that He alone is the author and finisher of our fates!!!