About a year ago a young man was isolated from a transit queue on his way to Accra from Cape Town.

Three days earlier he stood at Kotoka International Airport and swapped his bag with that of a colleague who had a back-pack. After all, it was more comfortable using that. Weemptied both bags; swapped them and off we went our separate ways.

Today, he was standing at the O.R Tambo Airport, waiting for fate to take its course. His bag was scanned six times for very good reason, however scary it was. He looked around to see all the other passengers looking on as other security personnel joined to review the content of his bag as indicated on the scanner.

"Blade! Blade! I can see blade! It is concealed in the bag!" One of them said...Who wants to be arrested with a "weapon" during a time when the world is on high alert for extremist activities?

At that moment he thought about all the possible things that could go wrong. How news would trend at home. How he might be bundled away. How would the officers believe that he had no knowledge of the blade? He could do nothing but pray.

After the first scan, the bag was taken out and searched. Physical search revealed nothing. In went the bag for the second scan. This time around, he was called to see the scan. It was there; he could see the blade; they all knew exactly where to search inside the small school bag.

Out came the bag, officer went to the same corner of the bag to retrieve the blade and there was nothing. Then the cycle began again - 5 more times

Three things were evident to him duringthat period. 
1. Security personal increased
2. Blade was evident on screen 
3. Physical inspection showed nothing

All he did at that moment was pray. Believing the same God who grants mercies and walks us through troubled waters would get him cleared.

He was cleared with so much hesitation and allowed to travel back to Ghana. At the airport he was met by Eric Sarfo (the one with whom he had swapped bags). He told Eric what had happened but he did not act surprised. "Aarrrr makai, minim bebia esher. eyer midia" (I have remembered, I know where it is. It is mine)

Eric picked the bag, opened the same small compartment the security personnel had searched for half an hour and the blade was there. What?! Yes!

I am that young man who made that silly decision. Although I have been shaken by the incident, nothing has been scarier than how the blade mysteriously "disappeared"

On many of my speaking engagements, I have been asked about fears and disappointments. I believe they will come. They are things which will shake your foundation - those caused by our own foolishness or by another.They will come.

Believe in God to save you but you should be very careful in the calls you make. The next time you are in doubt, think of The Blade and what He did for me.

All the best to you all.

The author