The Man Outside The Village

There was once a poor man who lived in a small hut outside the village. He grew his own vegetables and had a few fruit trees in his garden.

He was happy and content despite his solitude. He didn't really get on with other people.

He felt that others didn't really get him and so he was better off away from everyone else.

He also felt that he had nothing to offer the community and so it was best that he lived alone and away from everyone else.

Sometimes the children would come and spy on him. They may throw stones at him.

They did this out of fear because they didn't understand why this man would live alone and not be part of the village.

They would tell each other tales of how he was scary and ugly and would eat young children for dinner.

The children conjured up this image of the man who was happily living alone and not bothering anyone as some kind of monster.

Their parents, who really didn't understand it either did nothing to dissuade them. The irony was, that some of the parents were jealous.

It was often hard work living in the village, having to do loads of work and feed their family.

They had screaming kids and many other daily challenges to deal with. They often wondered if living alone outside the village was actually the answer to a happier life.

However, despite these thoughts, they still condemned the man outside but it mostly came from a place of jealously and not understanding.

Often they would imagine the strength it would take to simply move out the village and create a life for yourself away from everyone else.

But they made up excuses for themselves. They did like others around them and they imagined the other man was probably very lonely.

Slowly, the children became more curious about the man who lived outside their village. They began to dare each other to go to speak to him or get closer.

But they were fearful of the unknown. Were the stories true and would they be killed and eaten alive. One day, a young boy, only 5 years old decided enough was enough.

He was going to be the one to go up to the man. He would walk with his friends and then sit about 50 metres from the man's hut.

He would watch intently and then edge closer. He friends would stay back, thinking he was mad.

But he persevered until his courage gave out and then he would run back and they would try again the following day.

Eventually, he got to within 10 meters of the hut. Suddenly, the man came out. He didn't notice the young child as he was busily picking pears from his trees.

When he did see him, he proffered the young child a large, ripe pear. The young boy was frozen in terror but at the same time curious and also hungry.

The man realised the young boy was not going to come any closer and that he was scaring him and so he put the pear down on a rock and went back inside his hut.

The boy made a run for the pear and grabbed it but as he did, he slipped over and hurt himself. He sat their crying while his friends where simply too scared to help him.

As the young boy sat there, holding his bleeding knee, he heard a soft but strong voice behind him.

"Don't worry little one, let me look at that for you".

The boy was no longer afraid as now he was in pain and so he let the man help him. He bathed the scrape and patted it dry and wrapped it in a small, clean bandage.

The boy was still clutching his pear and the man indicated he should eat it. He sat there munching his pear and explaining how everyone thought he was a monster but he wasn't so bad.

The man smiled and explained how people feared the unknown. They had to know how it was and so they made up stories to satisfy their ego.

The man then gave the little boy a small wood carving of a horse that he had whittled. It was beautiful and realistic and the boy clutched it gratefully while still eating his pear.

The man sent him on his way before the other kids and his parents began to worry. The boys friends wanted to make up a story that he had been kidnapped and tortured.

And that he had to fight for his life to escape. But the boy refused. The man was kind and gentle. He was peaceful and happy and wise.

It was not good to condemn such a man for acting out of kindness and it was not good to condemn a man, purely out of fear.

Instead, the boy suggested that they all go and see him the following day and talk to him. Reluctantly, the others agreed.

But when they all went to visit him the next day, they too realised the truth of their friends words. He was indeed kind, generous and wise.

He would talk to them in parables, teaching them how to have happy and fulfilling lives. He would teach them about their ancients and how they lived their lives.

How they were connected to nature. How they gave thanks to the animals for feeding them and helping them thrive.

How they understood the importance of clean water. The importance of looking after their environment and ecosystem.

The importance of ensuring that everyone thrived in their village, not just a few. He spoke to them about relationships.

With their parents and one day with a loved one. How important respect was. How important it was to be kind to everyone you meet.

To understand that those that are angry and unhappy are suffering inside. That they need our love and kindness, not our rejection and anger in return.

By teaching all these young children, the man was creating a generational change in the village.

Teaching them to be responsible for their lives. In turn, one day they would teach the same thing to their children and so on.