Hello, my friend! I’m Dr. Charles Apoki, and today I want to share something life has taught me—life moves on without you. I stay in hotels often, and every stay reminds me of this truth. You might have enjoyed all the comfort, care, and relationships you built in one place, but a time will come when you have to check out and move on. That’s how life is.
No matter how connected you feel, no matter how strong the relationships, religion, or routine that hold you in place, a moment will come when you must move on to fulfill your destiny. Don’t ever let these things hold you back. I remember when I had to move away from Aba. It was a tough decision to sell my hospital. My dear friend, Barrister CHM, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, asked me if my decision could be reversed. My answer was, “No, it’s not reversible.”
The truth is, if you knew how quickly you could be replaced, how fast you would be forgotten, you wouldn’t stay stagnant. As the earth revolves and rotates, we must also learn to keep moving. The moment I leave this hotel room, someone else will take my place. The same thing happens with any position in life—whether it’s your job, your role in an organization, or even public office. Life moves on.
This is something Governor Obaseki or any leader will realize when they leave office. The day of the Thanksgiving service after their tenure, the church will barely be filled. People will move on. Even in sports, life teaches us this lesson. I was watching football the other day, and one of the players got injured. His teammates called for the stretcher, and just like that, he was replaced, and the game continued.
It’s the same in life. When you fall, make a mistake, or fail to meet expectations, life doesn’t stop. It continues. Even in marriages, I’ve noticed that when a pastor’s wife passes away, another woman quickly fills the role of “Mama.” But if a pastor dies, the wife often remains unmarried—it’s unfair, but that’s life.
So, what do you do after life has “stretchered” you off the pitch? It’s important to plan for that moment. When people stop inviting me to speak, what will I do with my life? When I retire from work or if my messages lose their relevance, how will I handle that? Always have a plan for what you’ll do when life moves on without you.
Now, this reflection brings me to a pressing matter. There’s a man, Pastor It’s Wella CH, from Inyi, Enugu State. He was a missionary in Ayama, Bayelsa State, when he had an accident that broke both his thigh bones. For 10 years, he has been bedridden, abandoned by the church. It’s heartbreaking. He was a fine man, newly married, and now he lies on a bed, while his beautiful wife has aged from the stress of caring for him.
He reached out to me, and I couldn’t sleep after hearing his story. His hospital bill for the three surgeries he needs is 21.4 million naira. I’ve paid 6 million so far, but we still need around 11.4 million to complete his treatment. This man has been in bed for 10 years. Imagine that—10 years of pain and neglect by the body of Christ. It’s a shame.
Please, if you feel compassion, donate to this cause. Let’s not use people like tissue paper and throw them away. You can send your donations to:
Account Name: Dr. Apoki Charles
Account Number: 7472 3950 13
Bank: FCMB
If you donate, kindly send the receipt to +234 705 213 6763. God bless you for your support. Let’s make a difference in this man’s life.
I am your friend and “grandfather,” Dr. Charles Apoki. Keep moving on and making a positive impact wherever you go.
