Imagine forests are ruled by two kings: the lion and the giant boy. One thing stands out: no prince or princess is crowned to take over, and so anybody who becomes gigantic can automatically become the king.
In my course of becoming the king, I sustained two fractures: radial and clavicle fractures. And when I became the king, tens of boys suffered, with some being tortured by me myself and others injured in the fights I sent them to as a king.
Having been born during the time when boyhood was measured by the number of fights a boy had caused and won, the number of boys he had wrestled down, the common grazing lands he had taken his cattle to, and other practices for fame, I had suffered repercussions of these practices.
My father became a regular passenger to Yirol Market to buy medicines for treating the boys I used to injure, some advertently while others inadvertently. Parents of these boys hated me, and I hated them back. When initiated, I managed to drop some crazy thoughts that would cause disunity among people, and when I was moved to Yirol for studies, I updated my version of fame into overlooking criticism, egoism, sectarianism, and solitude, while keeping my rural behaviors for a last resort.
Because I used to be among the top 10 students in the class, I overlooked my classmates behind me and almost called them my tail. Whenever there was an argument, I could criticize as if I wasn’t born but just fell down from heaven. I used to praise myself. I used only to help those who hailed from where I hail from, and I preferred to stay alone.
A few friends who drew closer to me tried their very best to make me a people person, but I was rigid. Every day, if I wasn’t the first subject of discussion, then I couldn’t fail to be the second. As an adolescent, I courted my girls and young women, and I was then hated more than I was hated before. One good thing in all this was that I was very smart in the causation of these troubles, in that, up to now, a few people are aware that I was such a naughty young man.
Fortunately, age and studies never skip a day, converting me into the enemy-free Malek Arol Dhieu I am today. Studies taught, and keep teaching me, that success is neither measured by intelligence in the class, how one criticizes or praises him/herself or stays alone, but by how one commits to the course he/she has chosen in life.
When I learned and believed in this, I realized that I was critically ill, and so I travelled to India from within South Sudan for treatment. Having been treated successfully to love my neighbors more than myself, I regretfully went back to plant friendships wherever I had wronged and sacrificed myself to irrigate them to make sure none of them died off.
Then I turned to follow God by working for Him as He works with me for the betterment of mankind. Two years later, my friendships grew healthier and more extensive, and it was during that time that I started receiving medals of honor for the great changes in me.
Where I hail from, I’m always observed performing ambassadorial activities in peacemaking and consolation to make peace and friendships exist among the people. I’m happy to be the current Malek Arol Dhieu, as what I do seems to benefit a considerable percentage of people. I have only remained with one enemy, and this enemy is failure. I swear by God that I will never accept reconciliation with failure, although IGAD intervenes for mediation.
Presently, I have grown to love humanity more than I’m required to love it in that, when I find people whose survival challenges have maimed them for life, my heart pours out in grief and sorrow to such an extent that I always aspire to give a helping hand.
Thanks for reading “Sowing the Seed of Truth.”