SECRET OF THE WISE

The village of Masala was aglow and great excitement filled the air. The streets were clean of dirts. The trees sparkled each time light from the sun struck ribbons of various colours tied to the branches.

The people were happy to usher in "Salona" the festival of re-union. As the people rejoiced, the birds rejoiced also. Their homes, the tree-tops had been decorated and were beautiful. The birds chirped bird-songs from tree to tree in the excitement of the day.

There was an old man who was as excited as the birds. His name was Pa. Sonda. His home was usually very quiet and he was always lonely. But, with the coming of the festival of re-union, his two sons and their families came visiting and that lit up the home of Pa. Sonda and his loneliness disappeared. As his grandchildren played, ran, screamed, laughed and sometimes cried, Pa. Sonda simply smiled or laughed in the mood of the excitement that filled his once house of loneliness.

Shortly, one of his grandsons ran to him and sat on his laps. Pa Sonda smiled and took the boys left hand, patted it and asked, "Tired?" The boy nodded and smiled, "But, I want to tell you something".

"I am all ears Dera, "Pa Sonda said.

Dera put his mouth close to Pa. Sonda's right ear and whispered, "Dinner is ready".

Pa. Sonda smiled and asked in a whisper, "How did you know?"

"I heard my mother say so, "Dera whispered

"Really?" Pa. Sonda asked

"Yes," Dera answered with some seriousness in his eyes.

“That's good. What are we having?" the old man asked

"Cooked yam and vegetable in sauce", he answered

“Pa exclaimed, "Uh! I like that,"

"I like it too. It's yummy!" Dera said excitedly as they ended their Whispering game.

A moment later, Dera's mother walked in and asked Pa. Sonda and Dera to come to table for dinner. Dera gave Pa. Sonda a quick look with a smile and Pa. Sonda patted him on the head. They understood their actions but Dera's mother didn't.

After dinner, Pa Sonda and his grandchildren returned to the living room. They watched a programme on television. The programme was not interesting, so most of the children took to playing indoor games. A moment later Dera who had no one to play against turned to Pa. Sonda and asked,

"Are you enjoying the programme grand pa?"

"I don't think so my dear child," Pa. Sonda answered.

"Will you enjoy telling a story?" Dera asked

"I think so," Pa. Sonda answered with a smile knowing what would follow that answer. Thereof the other children turned their eyes on Pa. Sonda

"Please, tell us a story grandpa," Dera pleaded. Pa. Sonda took a look across the living room and found all his grandchildren gazing at him.

"Do you all want to hear a story? he asked

The children answered in unison a loud,

Yes!"

"Alright. I am going to tell you a story, he said and the children, re-acted happily," But, you must listen carefully so as to be able to understand the meaning and message of the story. It is a story that will be very useful to all of you as you make your way through life. It will expose you all to the sweet and bitter pills of life and the secret paths to greatness which everyone sees but only a few discover and dare to thread. The story is about a dwarf named Tikan. Tikan was born like every one of us and he was growing up like a normal child until the age of five when his development became very slow. By age seven, Tikan stopped growing. His parents and everyone who knew him were worried. They did all they could to stimulate his body system into action but all had no effect. Tikan had no one to fall back on, no one to hear a few words of encouragement or hope from. He was treated like a outcast. Sad and frustrated Tikan lived in hopelessness.

When Tikan clocked up to fifteen years and his situation seemed to be getting worse because some children in their neighbourhood had resorted to insulting him. He decide to leave home to seek peace and maybe love else-where. He had no knowledge of where he was going to or how far he was going. But, he decided to take the journey even if it was to no known destination.

By the following morning Tikan set out with a few handy items of his, there was no goodbyes or good wishes from anyone but silence and staring eyes followed every step of his until he was of sight.

Tikan walked through the paths that linked his village to the neighbouring village. He hid by a bush path and waited and watched. Shortly he saw some girls with water pots on their heads and he concluded that they were returning from the stream. He waited until they were out of sight then he came out of the bush and headed the way the girls came from. Although he was tired and strained, he kept on moving. After some walk, he saw the stream glowing calmly as the evening sun shone peacefully on it. He took to his heels and jumped into the water. After swimming a distance he thrust his head out of the water. He was relived and calmed from the heat of the sun that came hard all through the day.

When Tikan swam to his satisfaction, he came out of the river and sat on a log by the river-bed. As he rested, he was alert because he didn't want anyone to see him. That was because he was ashamed of his height and each time anyone stared at him he felt uncomfortable. To ensure he saw anyone coming long before the person could see him, he set his eyes on the path.

Suddenly, a tall good looking dark man, came out of another path and Tikan had no time to escape or run into the bush. On sighting Tikan, the man looked him over and smiled and Tikan lowered his gaze in shame. "Good evening sir", Tikan greeted "Good evening dwarf“. the man answered. "Please don't call me that," Tikan pleaded "Why?" the man asked

"I don't like being called that," Tikan answered

The man laughed loudly and that hurt Tikan deeply, "That is what you are. I cannot call you a tall man because you are not. You are a dwarf my friend, " As he took a look at Tikan's face, he saw tears flowing down his cheeks. Pity swelled in him but he felt he had to tell Tikan the truth and help him to realise and accept who he truly is, "Tears are not enough. Moreover, that won't change you from who you are. You must be yourself and be proud of who you are. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir," Tikan answered

"Where do you live? "the man asked

"I am from Zimo, " Tikan answered

"So, what are you doing here?" the man asked "I left home and ........ ", Tikan stammered "Why? And where are you heading?" the man asked

"People were insulting me because of my height. So, I decided to leave home. As to where I am going, I don't know. I just want to be away from home and the insult" Tikan said.

"Well, my name is Dosa. What is yours?"

"Tikan"

"It's getting dark. Let's' go home, "Dosa said and Tikan arose and followed him.

The next day, in the early hours of the morning, Dosa on waking up stretched his body a little, yawned and took some water into a cup and went outside to wash his face. When he came back he went straight to the room Tikan slept.

"Wake up dwarf“, he said as he shook Tikan.When Tikan woke up, he stretched the cup to him," Get some water and wash your face. It's a new morning in a new day. You start making hay before the sun starts shining. So get up! " .

Tikan arose, took the cup and went outside. A moment later he returned after washing his face, "Where do I keep the Cup?"

"On the table," Dosa said without turning to look at him, "Now, go and sweep the compound"

"Yes sir", Tikan answered and walke out of the living room. Shortly, he returned, "The broom is a bit tall for me,"

"Is that so?" Dosa asked with his gaze on Tikan.

"Yes sir, " Tikan answered while expecting Dosa to provide him with a broom small enough for his size.

"My dear Tikan, life is full of challenges But, thanks be to God for giving us one of the greatest tools we need to get solutions to the challenges that come our way. Do you know the tool?" Dosa asked

Tikan thought for a while and not finding an answer, said "No"

"It is the brain. Go and use your brain. Think and try many ways and you will find the same broom useful. You can go now," he said. Tikan with a frown on his face walked off. After a while, Tikan wearing a broad smile walked in and stopped close to Dosa and said," Come and see". When Dosa turned and saw the smile of satisfaction on Tikan's face, he stood up and followed him. When Dosa reached outside and . saw the work Tikan had done, he smiled," Did I do a good job?"

"A great job Tikan. Nobody amongst all those who have lived with me have swept here this clean. This is the beginning. You can do even greater things if you can think a little more", Dosa said. And as he took a look at Tikan's face before leaving, he saw the joy of satisfaction it bore, he felt happy also. For Tikan, it was indeed a joyful moment. Since he stopped growing no one's been pleased with him. He had been told how worthless he was several times and in time he believed it. So, even he accepted what other people felt about him as being true. But, Dosa gave him a knew feeling and in his heart he promised himself he was going to hold on to the new hope.

With the passage of time, Tikan's confidence and ability at carrying out tasks that were assigned to him increased greatly. But, he still had one big challenge, which was self confidence. Tikan was too conscious of his height and that made him fell inferior to people that were taller. Dosa discovered that problem and set out to correct it.

"I know you wish you were like me, right?" Dosa asked him one evening after dinner. "Off course, I do. No one would wish to be like me. Would you?" Tikan asked

"No, I wouldn't. But, there's something you can change and that's your mind. Your mind Tikan, is what is challenging you and keeping you in bondage. It shows you your short comings because that is what you want to see and keeps your advantages and abilities from you. It makes you see the dwarf called Tikan in all you do and in your relationship with people and that's why you are very conscious of yourself as a dwarf. If only you can hear and see Tikan the giant that is in you, you will make a lot of dlfference.

"Is that true and possible? Tikan asked

"Yes, every bit of it. My dear Tikan every human being carries both a dwarf and a giant in his mind. If a man fetes the dwarf, his thought, actions and end result will also be dwarfish. But if a man fetes the giant, his thought, actions and end result will be as big as a giant," Dosa said

Tikan pondered over what Dosa had just said. He seemed not to understand the statement, so he asked," How can a small man like me carry a giant?"

Dosa smiled and patted him on the shoulder, " You see Tikan, the mind is the home of ideas. The extent to which you use it and how you use it will determine if you will produce a dwarf idea or a giant of an idea. The house we live in, the car, train, airplane, the cloth we wear and every other thing made by man are products of the mind.

The men and women who made those inventions and those who will make more are just like you and I, some short, some tall. But, the difference between you and them is that while you are concerned about using the giant of ideas in their mind to make things that are of bench to us all. So, think Tikan, think and put your mind to use. Do you understand?" Dosa asked and Tikan nodded". I will tell you some more, some other day. It is bedtime".

With the passage of time, Tikan learnt more and more from Dosa. And Dosa was impressed to note that Tikan always carried out his tasks well and at the right time. Dosa also noted that Tikan' s reasonning, confidence and capacity had grown greatly.

But, there were still a lot for Tikan to learn. So, Dosa kept on teaching him, tasking him and opening him up to the great strenght that his mind holds. And like a good student Tikan humbled himself and learnt.

When Tikan clocked up to twenty year of age, Dosa received an emissary from the king of Zimo. The king had sent him on an urgent and special mission.

"How is my friend?" Dosa asked

"His highness is well and sends his best wishes," the emissary answered

"Thats kind of him, thank you," Dosa said

After exchanging the usual pleasantries, they got down to serious discussion, "Wise one, his highness, the king of Zimo had a dream two weeks ago. The dream has remained a puzzle to date. The king called all the Wise men in Zimo together, still none could unravel the puzzle or dream. So, he decided to send me to you, to seek your help and wisdom, "the emissary said.

"Please, narrate the dream, "Dosa said. Meanwhile Tikan sat at a corner and listened "Wise one, can you send the youngman away?" the emissary asked

"No. He is my ally," Dosa answered"

Alright. The dream goes like this, the king found himself on an Island, beside him was a goat, a tuber of yam and a lion. A little away from where he stood was a small boat.

A voice echoed, saying "The boat can only carry you and one of those things beside you at a time. After that, the echo-ceased. When the king arose, he summoned all the wise men but none has been able to tell him the meaning of the dream. So, he asked me to bring the message to you," he said.

Dosa heaved, then turned to the emissary, "Tell his highness that within seven days we shall tell him the meaning of his dream". The emissary arose and returned to Zimo to a very worried king and community.

"I believe you heard everything? Dosa asked

"Yes sir," Tikan answered

"This is your opportunity to become a champion, a great man amongst your people. Put on your thinking cap and unravel the meaning of your king's dream. If you are able to do that, you will begin to dine at the king's table. I give you three days for that assignment, "Dosa said. Then he got up and left.

The assignment put Tikan on his toes. Added to that was the glory and recognition it would bring him. He had always desired friendship, recognition and equality, so now that he had the opportunity to get them, he promised himself he would not let that slip by. He set his mind to work.

By the third day, Tikan got the answer to the puzzle or rather unravelled the dream. When he narrated it to Dosa, he listened attentively. By the time Tikan finished his narration Dosa was all smiles and jumping about. He was so elated that he shook Tikan’s hand and embraced him.

"You are right Tikan. You have become a wise man. You have learnt enough, Your people are waiting for you. This time, they are not going to look at your height, they are going to listen to and learn from what you are going to teach them. You will return to your people tomorrow

"So soon?" Tikan asked

"Yes, so soon," Dosa answered

Tikan smiled. He missed his home and now that the opportunity to see his home has come, it would be great to see the motherland once again.

The next day Dosa and Tikan arrived Zimo and were immediately ushered into the palace of the king. The king on seeing Dosa smiled and embraced him,

"Welcome to Zimo my friend", he said "Thank you, your highness, "Dosa greeted

"Please take your seats, the king said "Thank you, Dosa said

After the pleasantries and a bit of eating and drinking of water, the king turned to Dosa, "You must have come because of my dream I hope?"

"Yes, your highness," Dosa answered

"Without much ado, fan I hear your wise insight into the dream?" he asked

“Yes, your highness. You will, but it is not coming from me. It is coming from one of your subjects," Dosa said

The king looked around those seated in his presence, then fixed his gaze on Dosa, "My subjects? If the wise ones amongst them could not offer me any insight into the puzzle who whould amongst the rest?"

"He is with us. Tikan, tell his highness all he needs to know," Dosa said

When Tikan arose, all eyes fell on him and the king wondered if Dosa was playing a game, "Who is wiser than the wise Dosa. A man with great wisdom, who does his job without a smile. Games and jokes are not play or made when the heart is troubled," "Your highness, this is not a game or joke. It is not about the height of a man but about the largeness of his heart. Be patient your highness for the answer to your puzzle or dream is with your subject Tikan. Please Tikan talk," Dosa said

"Thank you your highness, here is the breakdown of your dream and its meaning. Your highness, the only way you can ferry the animals and the yam without losing any is, firstly, ferry the goat and leave the yam and the lion behind. Lions do not eat yam, so your yam will be safe. On dropping off the goat return and ferry the yam across. When you keep the yam, put the goat into the canoe and ferry it back-Secondly, leave the goat and ferry the lion to where the yam is. Thirdly return and pick the goat and ferry it to where the others are. That way, you would have secured the life of the animals and kept the yam from being eaten by the goat, and the goat from being eaten by the lion,” Tikan said and the king and everyone present clapped for him. Dosa beamed with smiles.

"Please, tell me the meaning of the dream,” the king requested

"Here is the meaning, the lion is the strenght of the kingdom, which you represent. And the goat is the meekness of your people.

While the yam and river represent the strenght of the soil that provides mankind food and water. Finally, the canoe is our greatest source of travel and fishing and the Island is Zimo. All in all, your highness, you are to take care of all that. Thank you," Tikan said and everyone applauded him.

"Youngman, you have broken the jinx. Henceforth, you are to work in the palace as my chief adviser. And you are to eat and drink with me at table. You have saved me from an agony that held me captive. And Dosa my friend, thank you for making one of my own as good as yourself. You are welcome into my kingdom always.” the king said.

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