To start a race is easy, but to finish it is challenging. And it is of no use starting a course we are not determined to finish. The experiences of certain heroes have revealed that getting to the finishing point of our high calling will not be a mere free ride. Here is a compelling read to prove this beyond a mere theological treatise.

A well-crafted exposition, The Sojourn is an account of a black traveler, Kofi Adams, who stepped out one great afternoon in autumn to search for Paradise not minding critics, arguments and the general view that travel narrows the mind and the belief of some that Paradise was lost.

While his account touches upon all kinds of people, beliefs, reasons and philosophy, the question is did he find Paradise at the end of it all or all search only equated running a fool's errand - a figment of imagination, fantasy and illusion - if you like?

You are about reading what could have happened anywhere, but which happened in Mopedia, a little but popular town. The account was about Kofi Adams, a man who travelled out of Mopedia in search of Paradise.

Mopedia existed few centuries ago and was mainly consisted of the black, howbeit with other colours included. With respect to geography, Mopedia was founded on the plateau with her boundary stretching out in different directions. In her northern side for example, she had a renowned valley, which had generously served the land as a hiding place during wars. In the south, she had a route that led to the Fortune Island, which was then a notable centre for mercantile activities. Adventurers of the time made use of the island as a link between their hometowns and cities of the then known world. Travelling via the said route to any of the far away cities was likewise a much-desired ambition of that age. Besides, it was a custom to celebrate a native of Mopedia who was resident abroad but visited home with the valuables of those cities. Small wonder, a good percentage of people often aspired to make short trips or periodic tours southward of Mopedia.

At large extent, while the south Mopedia played host to luxury and her affluence spoke in volume, the east was busy keeping a low profile. Talking about the east proper, its topography and ideology preached moderation to the new comers, and the lives of her residents contrasted purely with the south norms. Unlike the southern Mopedians who used to labour unconstrained at scoring debating points on why the south was an emblem of modernity and a portrait of civilization, the eastern Mopedians were robed in a garment of simplicity.

It was in this town Kofi Adams lived. A man of a moderate build, he was neither tall nor short. As for age, he was a forty-eight-year-old fellow. No doubt, he already had some grey hair to nurse at the time. A man who embarked on a search for Paradise City, Kofi had lived with his wife and his only daughter in the fairly congested area of the town. He had training in music and possessed a fat measure of knowledge in the geometry of that time; the disciplines that combined to gather him accolades as one of the cognoscente of the arts of his days.

Unlike many sons of Mupedia who gave to drinking, had large families, nursed patriarchal bear and travelled out of town with their debts unpaid, Kofi Adams was somewhat different. While his friends were few, his words were not many. His conscience bared much on his actions; perhaps that was what made him labour to avoid moral contours that could dent good names.

Notwithstanding, a period came in Kofi's life when his inner man began to sense a feeling of emptiness. His heart began to pose questions about after-life. Thoughts about home after earthly...