There is a popular saying that the kindred meeting is one filled with land disputes, fights, and tussling for supremacy but my first visit appeared as if I was at the wrong meeting. The population at the hall was much but it felt as if we were in the graveyard. Could it be that they are expecting visitation from the Royal house or that there is a heavy fine on noise that turned everyone into monks?. I forced myself to keep up with the meeting amidst the struggle between what I was expecting and what I am witnessing. At last, it got to the land dispute issues and I was expecting to see the once immobile hands engaging in blows, and the chairs flipped with no destination in mind but it was the best moment of the meeting. All you can see were the wrinkled hands of the aged. They were the ones who solved the land dispute while the younger ones were very attentive to their contributions.
The meeting ended just within 2 hours as opposed to the system of people leaving when the meeting is still on, due to the chaotic environment resulting from differences in opinions.
My grandfather is a man who never accepts he is old. We could have been at home in 3 minutes if he had accepted to go back home in my Dad's car but here I am almost 30 minutes after the end of the meeting. We will walk for three minutes and he will stop at some point to greet people for five minutes. Finally, we got home. I allowed him to rest for a while before going to his room. I was curious to know what made it possible for the meeting to be peaceful.
Son, you are right to be surprised after witnessing a well-organized kindred meeting against the popular kindred meeting where the bald ones always hide from the stones flying around. Your great grandfather together with other kinsmen came together to restructure the meeting procedures. The peace they enjoyed afterward was handed over to us. The kindred meeting is a meeting of brothers related by blood. All the fights and tussles that characterized it before are due to a lack of understanding and Love. We hope that the light which we received from them won't go off. Land disputes will never be a challenge again if only those after us will follow the pattern of saying no to greed and false witness, moreover, we have a journal where every land in the community and its rightful owners has been written. Differences in opinion are to be solved through peaceful dialogue. The world can be peaceful if we set our hearts to it. Jimmy Gentle answered while sipping his palm wine as if the cup shouldn't run dry.
Isn't it beautiful, Jimmy Gentle, to see how some individuals have left a mark that has not only changed the atmosphere of kinsmen meeting but has also united people together. I believe a lot of things can be changed in the world if only people can come together and agree to do what is right. No two truths go to court. If we all do the right thing today, we will build a good foundation for the future generation. I said to my grandfather who by now is pouring out the last portion of the palm wine in the jar into his cup.
Later that day, I replaced his empty jar with fresh wine. He prayed for me and went out for his daily walk. I wish to be as healthy as he is when I get old.
