I will tell you one story which happened long time ago as a thief and killer who met a wise man completely changed his life and became a great man. It happened in a village in the East African country of Kenya.
Once upon a time there lived a robber who robbed people and killed them without doubts if they resisted. At the same time there lived a man called Matai. He was a musician. And he was famous for his deep wisdom. People loved him for his good advices, good temper, his jokes and charming music which he played on his instrument.
The wise man made up his mind to visit the neighboring village. His path went through that very forest where the robber operated. And people tried to persuade the wise man not to go on that path as it was very dangerous. But Matai just laughed, “I want to look at the man who beget fear in your hearts and made you cowards. He is just one man but he stopped the traffic on the whole way.”
Matai turned back and went to the forest playing music on his instrument. Soon the robber heard the music and went out to the path. He was surprised to see an unarmed man who seemed to be happy playing his melody. It was first time in his life that he felt doubts inside. And he addressed to the musician, “Don’t you know that it’s dangerous to go on this way?” Matai didn’t stop playing, turned off the road and took his place near the robber who was sharpening his sword all this time. Having finished his melody, he asked the robber, “What are you doing alone in this forest?”
The robber answered, “I rob people. And I will take now all your riches.” The wise man said, “My riches is different, it’s a spiritual one. And I would be happy myself to share it with you.
“I’m interested only by material riches,” declared the robber.
“Material ones, you say?” asked the wise man and taking a handful of soil he scattered it. “But it’s only dust, illusion which disappears immediately. This is nothing comparing to the spiritual eternal values. Tell me, why do you need it?”
The robber answered, “I do it for the sake of my family: my mother, my wife and my children. If I don’t bring them money, they will starve. And I can’t do anything else.”
The wise man inquired him, “Have you asked them whether they need such a sacrifice? Are they ready to share the responsibility before God for your sins?”
It was first time in his life that the man making his life with robbery thought about it.
“I don’t know. I didn’t think about it before.”
“So, go and ask them,” proposed the wise man. “And I will wait for you here.”
“And he played again his charming melody.
The robber followed his advice. He came back home and asked his mother. The old woman replied him, “Why should I share the responsibility with you for your crimes? I’m your mother and it’s your duty to give me food.”
His wife said, “Why should I be responsible for your sins? I have not done anything and I’m pure before God. I don’t know how you get your bread. It’s your own matter.”
Having looked at faces of light-heartedly playing children, the robber didn’t even start to ask them. With a sunk heart he came back to the wise man.
“Nobody wants to share responsibility with me. Whatever I do for my family, it will turn out that I will be the only one responsible for everything. It happened that I’m alone. What should I do now?” And he looked with dolefully at the perfect face of the wise man. The latter answered, “Take away the mask of the thief and burn it the flame of good deeds. Redeem the evil done by you. Change yourself and become a Human.”
This man left this dark forest of delusion together with the great wise man…and he became famous and successful in following centuries in all his endeavours.
Kingsley Osajie 