Angelus Blog

An old man in  a pensive mood  I take life in stride, Answering every "How are you?" With a simple, "Fine, thank you." Even when I'm far from fine, I hide my troubles deep within, And still respond, "Thank you, and you?" I wear a smile most of the time, Especially when things fall apart. My bank balance may not reach four digits, Yet my positive spirit makes others see A person of ten digits instead. I smile when accused of being stingy, Simply because I cannot afford The sums they ask of me. They don’t know the battles I face, Because I never show my tears, Nor let my pain surface. They think I’m cold and distant, But would they understand If I shared my true story? Would they believe me? I doubt it. Am I deceiving them with my cheerful mask, One that few have truly understood? Am I right to keep this happy facade, To stay upbeat most of the time? If I revealed my financial truth, Would anyone believe it? I fear they would not. Yet, the r...

Infidelity among married men remains one of the most hotly debated issues in contemporary society. Counselors, psychologists, motivational speakers, sociologists, and other experts have all weighed in, offering strategies to curb the trend. Yet, despite these efforts, cheating persists. Even as this piece is being written, somewhere in the world, a man is likely betraying his marital vows. It is important to note that women also engage in infidelity, though their case will be addressed another time. Defining Cheating According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to cheat means “to violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation; or to break a promise made to someone, such as one’s spouse, by having sex with another person.” Both Christianity and Islam strictly forbid such acts, emphasizing chastity and fidelity. A man, whether single or married, is expected to remain faithful to his partner. Yet, many men disregard this principle, engaging in ca...

A father Advises his Son MY FATHER’S ADVICE After completing my Master’s degree in Sociology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, I was offered a position as a lecturer at the same institution. Although I was grateful for the opportunity, the salary was modest, and commuting to work quickly became a challenge. To ease the burden, I asked my neighbor—who also worked at the university—for a ride. He agreed, but only on the condition that I arrived at his house at least thirty minutes before his 7:00 a.m. departure. I adjusted my routine accordingly, and for a while, the arrangement was a huge relief. Three months into this free ride, however, problems began to surface. Some days, he told me to find my own way home because he would be working late. While that was true occasionally, I later discovered that on other days he was simply spending time with his mistress. To avoid exposing his affair, he used the excuse of late hours. Over time, his excuses became frequent, and I realized h...