In the novel Assegai by Wilbur Smith, a group of
men are tracking a bull elephant that is running away from them now aware of
their presence. The elephant can walk faster than the men can run and unless he
stops, the elephant will out pace them and arrive in a place the men cannot
follow. The old man in the group warns of this probable future. The young
native Loikot has a different perspective.
'Do not listen to him, M'bogo,' Loikot advised. 'It is the
habit of old men to be gloomy. They can smell shit in the perfume of the
kigelia[1]
flower.’
I’m going to have to remind myself of this parable. Is what
I see as a probable future colored too darkly by my aged perspective?
However, this parable has a deeper meaning. The fruit that
comes from the flower is poisonous to humans.
Does living in the present and enjoying the beauty of the
moment, the fleeting instant of the now, leave you blind to its poisonous
fruits?
[1]
Kigelia Africana is also know as the sausage tree. The sausage tree boasts
long, open sprays of large, wrinkled, maroon or dark red trumpet-shaped flowers
that are velvety on the inside and that virtually overflow with nectar. The
unique fruits look like giant sausages! http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/kigeliaafric.htm
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