2 The hyena and the great king.

It was the dry season, the harmattan was blowing furiously, drying out everything in its path. Swirls of dust suddenly rose up and crossed the village at full speed. Sometimes an abandoned calabash carried by the wind would follow the procession. Everyone suffered, because no matter what kind of water you washed with, your body turned grey-white. The wind dried out your throat and nostrils. Your lips would crack. And the sky remained blue, all blue. Everywhere it was difficult, except for the animals, where there was a big feast at the lion's house, the king of the animals, on the occasion of his move.

Don't ask me why the lion had to move! All I know is that he had to. The feast was very well organised. There was everything: goat meat, mutton, beef. You can easily imagine why the villagers often complained about the loss of sheep and goats.

So there was a feast in the bush. Everyone ate, but the hyena broke the record. After the meal, everyone was given a certain amount of the remaining meat to take to the King's new palace, as the meal had been held in the old one: one got two goats, another half an ox. The hyena took charge of one ox and two goats, for it was said that whoever brought his load intact to the destination would keep half for himself.

The journey was long, the walk hard. But everyone was thinking of the reward. It was not easy! After 10 kilometres of walking, the jackal stopped and intoned:

"King of kings, great King! I can't take it anymore, great King! I will leave, great King! My burden, great King!"

The jackal dropped his load and ran off to find his freedom in the great savannah. The one who gave up was free but gained nothing. The hyena took the jackal's load. Five kilometres further on, it was the giraffe who sang the little song. It is a very pretty song that is sung in the village in the evening around the fire, at the time when Dosso the hunter is checking his traps far away in the bush. After the little refrain, the giraffe runs away, happy to be back in the fresh air of the savannah.

The hyena laughed under his breath: "What will I have to eat!

But by evening, all that was left was the lion, covered in blood and dust, like a victorious warrior, his eyes red with fatigue and anger, and in front of him, a hyena, dead from exhaustion, disappearing under his heavy burden. In truth, the hyena could not take it anymore. She wanted to sing, but... ! .

"King of the... eh... Great..." she murmured.

- What are you saying?" roared the lion.

- Oh nothing!" said the hyena. Nothing at all. I'm clearing my throat.

The walk continued, painful. Only the prospect of good food gave her the strength to keep going.

But suddenly she stopped and collapsed. Soaked with sweat, she was about to succumb. Then she decided to sing:

- I will leave, great King...

- What? What will you do?

But the hyena had already thrown his charge and was running away singing, but she was singing out of tune and in a hoarse voice: "I'll leave you, great King.

hoarse voice:

I say, great King, I will leave, great King...

As she sang she looked back, not knowing that Dosso's trap was in front of her. She threw herself into it and was caught.

This tale makes you smile, doesn't it? Maybe you don't think so! Why not? Because, like the hyena, you are burdened with worries and problems. Your heart carries heavy burdens: disappointments, betrayals, temptations, difficult life, fear, grief, remorse, what have you? To be free of them, you may have tried to be religious, to believe in God, to go to church, to read books that seemed to promise a solution. But it didn't help. So you gave yourself over to the joys of this world, to distractions of all kinds, to drink, to drugs. But your burden has become heavier and heavier. It seems to you that there is nothing more to be done to be freed from this crushing burden. Is suicide the only solution?

My friend, if you experience the same drama that I once experienced, I will tell you that there is one solution, and one only. Perhaps it will seem strange to you! The way to rest, to freedom, is in Jesus Christ.

If you ask God for forgiveness for your sins, he will remove your burdens, he will erase your sad past. Jesus suffered in our place, he took our burdens. Do not continue on a painful path with a heavy heart. Trust in God today and take all your worries upon Him, and He will take care of you (1 Peter 5:7). In this way you will become free, like the jackal and the giraffe, and you will go forward with a light heart.