<p>Then comes the most dangerous part of the track.</p><p>A steep, tricky uphill stretch, rising like a final testālying in wait just before the finish line. Anyone who survives this section cleanly will most certainly win the race.</p><p>Paschal sees greets the hill with a smirk on his face.</p><p>His foot stays down.</p><p>The engine screamsālouder now, strained, angry. The speed that had thrilled the crowd begins to feel heavy, almost uncontrollable. The steering stiffens in his hands, but he presses on.</p><p><em>Almost</em> <em>there</em>.</p><p>The song is still on his lips.</p><p>Then his car hits the climb.</p><p>Metal groans.</p><p>The tires fight for grip.</p><p>The engine begs for mercy.</p><p>For a split secondājust oneāhe realizes what he has just done and considers easing off.</p><p>Too late.</p><p>The front lifts.</p><p>And ZOOM!!!</p><p>The car leaves the ground.</p><p>Just as he had been singingā¦</p><p>āThe hand of the Lord⦠is making me fly.ā</p><p>The car flies.</p><p>But this time, not by God.</p><p>But by reckless speed.</p><p>Time slows as the car descendsānot down the hill, but free-falling through the sky.</p><p>The crowd gasps as one.</p><p>Silence swallows the scream of the engine.</p><p>The car tilts.</p><p>Control slips.</p><p>Gravity takes over.</p><p>It crashesāhardāskidding, spinning, coming to rest only a few meters away from the finish line.</p><p>For a heartbeat, the entire track freezes.</p><p>Then a cry pierces the silence.</p><p>ā Eii! Chinekeeee š«!My son! Paschal!!!ā</p><p>Somewhere in the crowd, his mum is already on her feet, clutching the now-empty bottle of anointing oil. The same hands that had anointed him hoursĀ ago now tremble uncontrollably.</p><p>āThe blood of Jesusā¦ā she mutters again and again, voice breaking, eyes locked on the wreckage. āGod, pleaseā¦ā</p><p>Officials restrain her as she struggles forward, tears soaking into her wrapper. The crowd that had laughed moments earlier now stands stillāhumbled, silent.</p><p>Her proposed song melted into prayers filled with fear.</p><p>Paul, yet unaware of what has just happened, approaches from far behind and decides to face the same hill differently.</p><p>He applies the necessary force on the climb, then eases offāallowing gravity to assist him on the descent, carefully regulating control. The hill resists him, but he listens. And the car responds.</p><p>Moments later, Paul crosses the finish line, cruising past the wreck of Paschalās car.</p><p>The crowd eruptsāthis time not in shock, but in absolute admiration for Paul, the emerged winner.</p><h3>Time to receive the cash prize.</h3><p>Earlier that day, the NGO had gathered just ā¦500,000 as a surprise cash gift. But after witnessing Paulās disciplined victory, donations began to pour in. By the end, the contribution totals ā¦536,000.</p><p>Paul receivesĀ a whooping gbemu of ā¦31,536,000 in total.</p><p>As for Paschalāhe did not die. He recovers, only with scars and bruises. And as compensation, he is granted an automatic ticket to participate in the next race.</p><blockquote><span style="background-color: transparent;"><strong><em>THE ILLUSTRATION_ TWOCENTS TAKE AWAYĀ </em></strong></span></blockquote><p><strong>PASCHAL</strong> represents <strong>PASSION</strong>.</p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;"><strong>PAUL</strong> represents </span><strong style="background-color: transparent;">PURPOSE</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;">.</span></p><p>The car represents <strong>YOU</strong>. š«µ</p><p>In lifeāespecially as you set goals at the beginning of a new seasonāthe question is :</p><blockquote><strong>ARE YOU DRIVEN BY PASSION OR PURPOSE?</strong></blockquote><p>When driven by passion alone, we may move fastābut we risk crashing at the end.</p><p>When purpose is the driver, we know when to accelerate and when to slow down. Purpose understands that there is a time to apply passionāand a time to regulate it.</p><p>And that ā¦31,536,000?</p><p>It mirrors the approximately 31,053,600 seconds in a year.</p><p>Every second counts. Use them with purpose. There is a reward for every well utilized time.</p><p><br/></p><p>And If you have ever crashed beforeāif passion has once led you into scars and bruisesāthere is still hope. Just like Paschal, you may have paid a price, but the chance to try again is always open. Take it!Ā </p><p>But this timeā¦</p><blockquote><strong><em>Let purpose take the wheel.</em></strong></blockquote><blockquote><strong><em>Here we go and .....</em></strong></blockquote><blockquote><strong><em>Again...</em></strong></blockquote><blockquote><strong><em>The race begins....</em></strong></blockquote><blockquote><strong><em>šļø.........šØvroom!</em></strong></blockquote><p><strong><em><br/></em></strong></p>
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