Kissed by a Killer!
Roman 16:16
Salute one another with an holy kiss.
Corinthians 1:16:20
Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
Corinthians 2: 13-12
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
Thessalonians 1:5:26
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
My 21st century Prince of Preachers once said, "it is not the silences of our friends that kill us; it is the kisses of an enemy who comes to us as a friend ."He said this within the context of how Judas kissed Jesus to single him out to those who would kill him. Yet it seems interesting that what Jesus rebuked his disciples about before this time was not giving him kisses. "Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet"(KJV). As a curiosity junkie, I wanted to know the kiss Jesus was angry they did not give him. A french kiss, or which type? Not that I could kiss anyone at the time, but as I said, I have a curiosity problem. What distinguishes the kisses of a killer from that of a friend?
If there is an area I need deliverance, it is in the area of curiosity. The angel working with God on the day I was created probably gave him too much dose of curiosity. I started reading about all kinds of kisses online. One day a friend caught me reading online and asked why kissing was vital since I used to refer to kissing as two adults pouring saliva into each other's mouths. After I was caught, I stopped my research quickly.
Years later, I was part of this undergraduate group of students called the orphanage support team. We do all kinds of services for the less privileged. At one weekly meeting, Wole asked me to prepare a word to share at our meeting. Because I hold myself accountable for what I say, write or do. I decided to reflect/pray on what was appropriate to share. I wasn't doing anything spunky. Sitting down with a bowl of indomie(onion flavor) spiced with Cameroon pepper, crayfish, egg, and garnished with corn beef, I had a thought I should tell volunteers to "give each other a holy kiss. I jumped up, and I started speaking in tongues in my pentecostal rascality. I told myself village people would not get me after all the years I spent before getting admission and deciding to come to this school.
I abandoned my bowl of indomie and decided to take a walk. Then it occurred to me that Paul the Apostle ended most of his epistle with this admission before sharing the benediction. I know the church does the blessing, which I could say well but the kissing part, no. I knew I would not do it even if Jesus came down and said this scripture in the way we think about Kisses today. I will ask Jesus, please, what kind of toothpaste they used, what mouth wash, do they pay attention to gut health?
People who know me can tell you how selective I can be, and honestly, I am not ashamed of this blame biology teacher that creates a phobia about germs in everything. Given my selective preference and thinking of kissing as it is known, Holy Kiss was not comfortable, especially for health reasons. Still, I went to the meeting and told them what I understood from reading the scriptures above. I told them KISS, as I know it, stands for
(K)Kindness
(I) in
(S) Selfless
(S) Service
I said so much about my understanding of KISS that almost nearly 100 people who were at that meeting when they saw me on campus will say KISS. I became scared if my message was understood or if someone was going to start a Kissing challenge, which may be traced to me. I was afraid of expulsion. Thankfully, my fears did not materialize.
After graduating in 2010, I started working toward making something big out of it, from writing books to starting an NGO. Somehow both did not work. Someone how I have turned what was my fear into a principle for living. To sure, I am not giving KISS every day, but I am trying. Like when I forced my BFF in 2011 to bring all her valuable books and clothes, including underwear, to add to my birthday outreach to female inmates in Uyo.
I started thinking about this recently and wonder if you will consider giving HOLY KISS, no matter how small. Little acts of Kindness can make a whole lot of difference. Begin by giving yourself that Kindness in Selfless Service. Recently, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, " omo lo dun to yi" As you give and receive a holy kiss, beware of the kisses of enemies that are couched as a friend. This is what you can call Kindness in selfish service (KISS). Know the difference and know peace.
Happy Sunday!
Posted on Facebook on July31, 2022.
