Pata shida ujue marafiki goes the Swahili adage about fake friendships many can relate to.
City pastor Robert Burale in an interview with Jalang’o narrated how he got to identify between real and fake friends after he tested positive for Covid-19.
‘…DO YOU KNOW WHY I ACCEPTED YOUR INTERVIEW? I SAID THIS GUY CALLED ME AND BROKE DOWN IN TEARS… YOU WERE IN TRAFFIC. THEN I SAID THAT’S WHAT TRUE FRIENDSHIP IS,’ THE MAN OF THE CLOTH SAID.
Burale narrated how some people he called friends wished him death.
‘…WHAT HURTS IS SOME PEOPLE WHO SPOKE. SOME PEOPLE YOU’VE INVITED IN YOUR HOUSE FOR DINNER, SOME PEOPLE WHO PUBLICLY POSTED A PHOTO #ISTANDWITHBURALE AND I’VE GOT A SCREENSHOT OF THE SAME PERSON SAYING I CAN’T WAIT TO WAKE UP TO A #RESTINPEACEBURALE,’ HE TOLD JALANGÓ.
The stylish man of the cloth continued,
SOME PEOPLE WILL ABUSE YOU BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY’RE DEALING WITH, SOME BECAUSE THEY HAVE FREE WIFI BUT OTHERS WHO YOU’VE LET TO THE INNER PART AND INNER CHAMBERS OF YOUR HOUSE. YOU’VE SAT WITH THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND SAY “I CANNOT WAIT TO WAKE TO REST IN PEACE BURALE”. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CHURCH IS HOSPITAL BECAUSE SOME OF THE GREATEST ATTACKS I GOT WERE FROM THE SO-CALLED BELIEVERS. YOU CANNOT PRAY IN TONGUES FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY AND THEN ABUSE SOMEBODY ON SUNDAY AND EXPECT A BLESSING ON MONDAY.
On lessons learned
‘THE GREATEST LESSON I’VE LEARNT IN THIS SEASON AND JOWIE SAID IT THE OTHER DAY “REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CHAIRS AROUND YOUR DINNER TABLE.” I HAVE NO TIME FOR DILUTE FRIENDSHIPS ANYMORE,’ HE SAID
Adding,
‘I’ve learned the Godness of the lord and he raises strangers to become friends. How people would stand and say “I’m praying for your daughter” because they knew maybe she was going through some stress. It was bad enough the dad was in the hospital, its excruciating to hear what was being said. As a parent, you’re a hero to your child. For me, I’d rather concentrate on the God that healed me because if I concentrate on the people who said I was paid Sh20 million, I’ll miss out on thanking God because I have seen people I know personally who’ve died.’
Burale, who authored From the strip club to the pulpit book, said he has talked about his addictions, debts among other things in the book.
Burial trended for the better part of July, with many reviving his past, claiming he was a pretender.
Talking about his past, he said,
‘CAN I BE HONEST WITH YOU JALAS? NOT EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID ABOUT ME WAS TRUE ABOUT MY PAST. A LOT WAS EXAGGERATED AND BUT I’LL NOT SIT HERE AND LIE SOME OF THOSE MISTAKES I DID IN THE PAST WERE NOT THERE. I SAY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID I DID. SOME OF THOSE MISTAKES IN THE PAST WERE THERE AND I’M NOT HIDING, THEY ARE IN MY BOOK AND I’VE JUST SEEN THE GLORY OF GOD,’ HE EXPLAINED.
He added,
WILL SOME PEOPLE LOVE ME? YES. WILL OTHERS EVER LOVE ME? NO. NO MATTER WHAT I DO. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO HATE YOU EVEN IF YOU BECAME A POPE TODAY THEY’LL STILL HATE YOU.