HIS PRESENCE gives LIFE.

I am Batya, a young girl in her teen age, I lived in Nain, a pleasant place, that is the meaning of my home town. Nain is located in Galilee, and am of course living with my parents. In my neighborhood, there is this young woman whose husband is late, we call her Mama Noah. Noah is the only son of his mother, and his late father. Noah's father died while he was still very young, according to the narration, our neighbors told us when my parents just relocated to the area.

Noah, comfort as the name implies is indeed comfort to his mother. Mama Noah take solace in him, and didn't bother to remarry again, because she thought it's of no use, she has her son, energetic, handsome, dutiful, homely and godly. In temple, Noah is zealous, his zeal towards God is top notch.

Brother Noah in the choir, when he sings, the whole auditorium will be electrified! He has the king David vibe, his voice is sonorous, and when he plays keyboard or guitar, congregation will fall under anointing. And in media! Oh waoh! He is so versatile in Microsoft Excel, and his graphic design touch will pull out crowd to attend service. I remembered during one youth Sunday that Noah was declared youth pastor, that Sabbath was spirit filled, he preached with all zeal and people's eyes were enlightened to the truth.

Noah graduated with first class in law, he was the best in his class, he won the vice chancellor awards and was offered employment in the law firm, he did his course attachment. And of course, you would have known Noah will be crush of many girls, I am not excepted as well, even you, if you set your eyes on him, unless you do not have eyes for good thing. I mean Noah is handsome, dark, tall, eloquent and above all knows God. Mama Noah really did a good work in bringing Noah up, because he is his comfort. The only one left, after her husband has gone to the great beyond, and her sacrifice is about to pay, she is about to start enjoying the fruits of her labour.

Noah was preparing for NYSC when the tragedy struck in. He slumped while preparing for church service that day and that's all, he was rushed to the only popular teaching hospital in the nearest town, but he was pronounced dead upon his arrival. The whole service was disrupted, when it was finally announced immediately after the recession hymn, we all ran to Mama Noah's house, the leaders in the church, women leaders, choir, youth, media team, ushering and so the crowd was too much. We go hand in hand, mourning our brother whose star suddenly went dim, and was cut short in his prime. Oh we wept, everyone cried, no one was able to console another. It was such a tragic occurrence.

In their small house, where Noah resides before his demise with his mother, the crowd that gathered there were uncountable. Mama refused to be consoled, she was wailing, because her pride has gone. No more joy again, her only reason for living had been taken away. Death came unannounced, she didn't prepare for this, oh what a tragedy. The church youth leader has make arrangements for the interment process, he was about to be taken to the cemetery, people accompanying the family were in multitude, my mum was among the women consoling Mama Noah, she kept saying her joy has gone.
The agony

The pain

The pang

The torrent

I was thinking of the solitary life that will follow this event when every body would have gone home, Mama Noah will be lonely, I was so engrossed in my thinking when Naomi my friend in the choir tap me, I looked up to see a prophet, at the sight of him though, some people's faith were restored, because I heard He is a miracle worker, He asked those carrying Noah's corpse to stand still, there was a great silent, he asked Mama Noah to stop crying, and went ahead to touch the coffin, he called out Noah, by simply saying 'young man, I say unto thee, arise!'

And that settled it, hallelujah that was our song that day, jubilation, celebration, joy unspeakable. The prophet held Noah, and gave him to his mother, he started talking... What a day! The mourning instantly turned into joy, because of HIS PRESENCE. This prophet is named JESUS. And that is my story, the beautiful story from a pleasant place called Nain.