MY REFLECTION ON SEXUAL PURITY; By Ikechukwu Ogbu

When I was young, I cherished virginity to the moons. Now that I have grown even younger, I have come to treasure chastity to the heavens. In the earlier times, I could go ballistic on any flaw regarding sexual purity without minding whose ox is gored. Some people called me a misogynist, while others said I could be a prospective priest. Many others, female acquaintances gave me wide distance lest I misunderstand them and publish their names in my book. In the custody of the eyes, I was made formidably rich. During one of his sermons, Fr. Dr. J.M Chikani lamented on the right use of the senses and how we have bastardised the culture of "looking." But not for my profession whereby the hands and the eyes are constantly in war in the battlefield of a human anatomy to save and alleviate. I believe, I would be excused with this.

Until recently, I never had intimacy with the female species. And now that I have rummaged through their social web within the bounds of social decorum, and from my male counterparts, I have come to live a balanced life. This is part of my love life which is incorporated in my autobiography, "A Dangling Stethoscope." It is for the public. My love is never private because, I believe it could serve as a source of inspiration to the teeming young boys and girls whose sexuality is dangling, like Stethoscope on the neck of a physician, between who they are and who they ought to be. They could learn from my strengths and weaknesses.

Given the variegated shades of experiences and exposures, I did learn the heaving gap between the biblical historic whore, Mary Magdalene and the modern exalted virgins parading with intact hymen and vast extravaginal sexual practices. Not just this, I have come to learn, not from empirical studies but from naked encounter the existence of real chaste virgins and their sumptuous social life which is as sweet as honey. This is where the heavens and the earth is in cosmic solidarity and we could see and feel the fresh breeze. This is the kind of vocation I want to remain forever and ever.

As I type this, I am making effort to suppress the feelings of disappointment I got from a female mentee who lost her innocence with no qualms of conscience. This made me to, again engage in some blatant and "ugly" discussion to unravel the mystery in the rabid tongue of a male lover who might have seduced my girl. I wouldn't dare check whether my girl could be seductive, lest I ask the dreaded question, "Can monkey eat banana?" I feel very bad at this. I remember what my mentor, Fr. Dr. Igboamalu Philip told me some times ago when he was in Austria after I had penitently confided in him an attempt to have the carnal knowledge: "It is always difficult to be strong again after the first fall..." This is where my pain is coming from, and the fact that such guilty feelings that could push one to the confessional is lost in her.

In the words of St. John Chrysostom, "As saints feel bad about their sins, sinners/devils glory over them." In the fight for sexual purity, it's indeed a draconian war faced by all vocations: both the clergy and the laity. The clergy are as vulnerable as the laity and vice versa. No one is immune against those tingling sensations capable of luring one into an amorous bed and destroying fortunes over some pleasurable moment. The Catholic Church, Holy Mother she is, says that in the practice of sexual virtues, we are all apprentices. The Church pays specific attention not just on the sexual action itself, but on the occasions that could champion its reality. The Church calls it, "Occasions of Sins." If we are able to avoid the occasions, there wouldn't be a concomitant sexual action at the first place. For those who may wish to ride on the cycle of purity, mindless of past mistakes, we are not doomed. We can still attain the stardom. For those who Grace and their efforts too have remained steadfast in the Race, do not be proud. Remain resolute and diligent because everyone is vulnerable.

Before I go offline, I want to re-echoe the three (3) most important things in life: ~Religion

 ~Material things                  

 ~Sex

A rich mind will reflect over these three items before he condemns or commends. May the Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us as we fly to Her immaculate patronage. Msugh kpishi!

Ikechukwu Ogbu

Ikechukwu Ogbu is the Author of the Cosmic Tales of the Mind (A collection of Poems and Memoirs)

and Facing the Challenges of Life as a Youth: Tips for a successful living.

 Email anthonyikechukwu18@gmail.com

Phone Number +234814 313 6407