Sometimes Peace Is More Beautiful Than Excitement

I haven’t written anything in a while, so this piece maybe a little different from others I have written before. Much has happened, jobs were lost, jobs were found. New friends have been made, and old friends have become strangers. Some have had children and hearts have been broken. Relationships ended, challenges were there and victories too. I think there’s a phrase or rather a word that sums up all these events and activities, its called LIFE.

I came across a story, or maybe I made it up, and if I did then let’s give credit where credit is due.

‘There was a young man in the northern part of Zambia and the region he lived in was surrounded by water and islands, almost each island had a village on it. He’s name was Muku and met a very cute lady with an amazing sense of humour called Nala. The two fell in love and before long they were married. One day the Muku went out to fish as was custom in that part of the country and he’s little boat capsized due to the strong river current. He was drowning but a lady from the nearby village island saw him, dived into the water and saved him. Nongé  took him into her village on and took care of him for a few days. Afterwards, when Muku had regained strength, he returned to he’s island much to the joy and excitement of his family and Nala. After a while, he’s wife asked if he had taken a gift to the person who had saved him to which he replied that he hadn’t. So she gave him a gift, and being afraid of the water herself, sent him on his way alone.

He returned to the island, found Nongé and gave her the gift which she loved and she would not stop stating how much she loved the gift. It was a piece of orange and red African print. The two spent the afternoon together chatting… none of them realised that the sun had set because of their excitement… Muku would continue seeing Nala each day he went out to ‘fish’ which became daily.

Nala it seemed, didn’t shine as bright as she used to and each day she got dimmer in his eyes while the Nongé  appeared to shine brighter and brighter. The two of them realised that they had more in common with each other than anyone else in their respective villages. They saw life through the same lens and in no time developed a friendship that quickly turned into something more. He could never get over her smile and she couldn’t get over the sound of his laughter, especially when it echoed through the trees.

One afternoon however, he returned to ‘fish’ but this time something was different, Nongé had tears in her eyes. She confronted him and asked if he was married, to which he admitted that he was much to his shame. She told him she could never be second to another woman and he said she never will be but he could not leave his wife. Nothing more had to be said and the two hugged for awhile, knowing that it would be their last embrace. They got to the rivers edge and  Nongé walked away from the shore, never turning back. Muku got into his boat and looked back to see if he would catch a final glimpse of her, but he didn’t. They both returned to their homes, heart broken and silent.

Fifty years later Muku left for the capital city to witness the marriage of his granddaughter. As the reception was going on, he sat in a corner all by himself. He felt a gentle tap on he’s shoulder and turned to see who it was. It was Nala and he’s soon to be son-in law. Next to them was a grey haired lady wearing a familiar orange and red chitenge. “Mr Bwalya, I’d like to introduce you to Mrs Nongé Bupe, my grandmother”…’ 

Some might say stories like that don’t happen and others that they do. Truth be told, both are probably right. One thing I do know is that sometimes peace is more beautiful than excitement, phoenixes don’t always rise from ashes and life is unpredictable. All we can do is keep trusting God.