Tribute/Reflection
"Never send to know
for whom the bells tolls;
it tolls for thee." - John Donne
"Let me lie in stretch with you. Let me be buried with you, Oh! Lord. That l may rise with you, to die no more." Anonymous
The service of songs for the late Sylvanus Chikadibia Nwosu was on Friday, December 11, held at the St. Leo's Catholic Church compound, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria. "Brother Nwosu," as he was fondly known and called, was a consumate charismatic minister, a compassionate leader, a prayer warrior, healing minister and counselor. He was a personal close friend, a co-worker in the Lord's vineyard and a brother in Christ.
He breathed his last in June. He was 64. He had just lost his mother, few weeks before his own exit! He was the only son! It was such an unfortunate coincidence that both mother and child would depart almost at the same time! Perhaps, it points to one thing: the umbilical cord that bound him to the mother was never really severed at childbirth! Philosophers say, "Mothers hold the hand of their children just for a while. But they hold their hearts forever."
Brother Nwosu has proven that he was inseparable from his mother. Both mother and child would be committed to mother earth on 7th and 8th January, 2021, respectively in their country home, Abajah Nwangele, Imo state Southeast Nigeria.
Yours sincerely had last chatted with the brother three days before his exit. He had consoled me on my mother's transition. Both of us exchanged sympathies and prayers. I asked him the plans for his mother's burial. He told me he had not traveled yet, because he took ill and was hospitalized. "I will travel soon when l recover," he said to me.
I prayed with him for his quick recovery. I assured him he would recover to give his mother a befitting burial. I never knew it was our last conversation. I didn't really understand what he meant by "l will travel soon when l recover." Did he later recover, and traveled? Where has he gone?
Any man's death reminds us of our own death. When a man lies in state, it reminds others of the fate that awaits them. I shudder to think that brother Sylvanus Chikadiba Nwosu is no more! A man once visited a morgue. At the entrance, he saw a notice bearing, "We were once like you." On his way out, after his visit, he saw another inscription saying, "You will soon be like us." Earthly life is really short and brief. No wonder the Psalmist prayed, "Teach us, Oh Lord, to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart" (Psalm 90:12).
Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, it is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of merriment, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart. Remembering our mortality helps us to understand that we have only a short time to live on earth. It helps us to realize the urgency of the need to work out our eternal destiny now. "God created us without us. But he does not intend to save us without us," so says St. Augustine.
Life is short! But it could be as long as a hyphen that separates year of birth from year of death! For instance 1956-2020. The little dash in between is all the longevity of man on earth. It is the length of his hard suffering, joy and happiness on earth. Soon, it is over! One of the most beautiful prayers of the Church, also short and direct, says, "From sudden and unprepared death, Oh! Lord, save us!" Death is a mystery; but a mystery already dymystified in Christ. In Christ, there is hope of life-after-life.
Delivering a short exhortation during the Christian wake, Rev. Fr. Wilfred Nwachukwu, priest in residence, St. Leo's Catholic Church, Ikeja said, "We should pray for our late brother, Sylvanus Chikadibia Nwosu. He needs our prayers to reach home." "But while we pray," he continued, "we should also remember that this world is not our home. When l see how people live life today l just wonder whether they realize at all that this world is not our home."
He maintained that the most important thing in life was to die a good death. And dying a good death means dying in Christ. "Nothing goes with us when we die", he said "but the good deeds that we do." Incidentally, "it is only when we put to good and positive use of all our possessions of time, talent, and treasure that we can achieve the desired good deeds," he concluded.
Bearing testimony on the person of his late father, one of his sons said,
"My father hardly talked. But he applied wisdom in all situations. His life was characterized by prayer. All through his life he prayed. He died holding the crucifix! He died holding the rosary! My father prayed even unto death. He knew he was going. He kept telling me, 'Chidozie, I want to leave.' God really blessed us with my father."
It was not only his immediate family that is blessed. His greater Christian family and his town community are blessed. His friends are blessed, also.
Today, the bell tolls for Sylvanus Chikadibia Nwosu. Tomorrow, it could toll for you, or for me! John Donne was right! "Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." Indeed, it tolls for us all!
Good night, brother Sylvanus Chikadibia Nwosu until we meet on resurrection day! May your gentle soul now rest in peace with the Lord. Amen.
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