N'Kiema Cogitations

The title of both this blog and the heading of this blogsite is “N’Kiema Cogitations” so I thought I would explain that. “N’Kiema” is a More’ word from the Mossi people group in Burkina Faso. It means “old man.” It is used to address wise old men as a respectful term. Jeremy still often calls me N’Kiema.

As for the word “cogitation,” that will take more explanation.

Dr. John G. McCall was one of my long-time mentors—for 44years! He passed away at the age of 95 years young. He had several careers. During World War II he served as an Army chaplain. He retired as  pastor of First Baptist Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi, after serving for 35 years. During “retirement” he was a professor at Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky, and afterwards he served as professor and head of the Department of Religion at Mississippi College. Finally, he served as the “interim pastor” of a church in Edwards, Mississippi, for 9 years!  Few others in our times can match that longevity for the Kingdom!

Dr. McCall was a man of small stature, but he had a healthy set of lungs to belt out a strong voice. He was a meek man, but he was a zealous preacher. He was such a gentleman. Many often said that he was the perfect example of a southern gentleman. I never once saw him miss an opportunity to hold the door for anyone near him. When a line formed to eat at church, in a restaurant or even in someone else’s home, Dr. McCall was always, by choice, at the end of that line.

I did not live close to him during his last months on earth, but frequently I telephoned him for a visit. Often when he answered the phone I would ask him what he was doing. He would give a one-word response: “Cogitating.” OK, so who has used that word in the last six months?

I recalled hearing the word used, and I knew that it meant to ponder something, but I looked it up, and in addition to ponder, it means to think deeply about something, to muse, to ruminate, to mull over and to contemplate.

I have been reflecting on when I have recently cogitated. I spend too little time just meditating and listening to the Lord.  I am so task oriented that I usually don’t think about something for a long time. I am also an activator according to Gallup’s StrengthsFinder profile. That means that I don’t like to sit in meetings and talk for a long time about doing something. I like to talk for a short period about what needs to be accomplished and then make assignments to get it done. I think we spend too much time sitting around talking about how to solve issues when we should be out there fixing them.

 I get so focused on results sometimes that I don’t spend enough time thinking deeply or meditating on what the Lord is trying to say to me. I get too busy with all the important work that needs to get done, and I do not think about the most important thing—my relationship with my heavenly Father. The Psalms have a plethora of reminders about how important it is to cogitate. Here’s one from the first chapter: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Just reading back over this, I am feeling bad about my Bible reading habits. It seems that I read the Bible like it is more important to get through a certain number of verses or finish a chapter or a book of the Bible, so I can move on to the next challenge. I read too quickly over the verses, and I miss what God is trying to say to me. I have not learned the art of cogitation, but I am working on refining my cogitating skills.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8