The Sunday News
Lighterside Mzana Mthimkhulu
FORTY years after the offer, my friend Sindiso still wonders how his life would have unfolded had he grabbed that opportunity. While studying in London, Sindiso was invited to join the cast of the musical — Iphi intombi. He considered the appetising offer for two days after which he turned it down and opted to slug on with his dull studies.
Iphi intombi went on to be one of the most successful musicals at the London West End and in Broadway. Dancers who Sindiso knew to be less talented than he was, were showered with praises by critics. “It should have been me,” Sindiso winced as he read the glowing reviews.
“Did I make the right decision?” He wondered.
Have you ever wondered how life would have turned out had you made a different choice at some stage in your life? Relax. If you will make it to heaven you will not only know what joys the alternative choice held in store for you but you will also experience the joys.
First, we must appreciate that the joys of heaven cannot be experienced by all members at the same time. For instance, I love watching my football team beat a major rival. In heaven no such pleasure is possible. We will all belong to one team. Special arrangements will have to be made for football fans to pursue their passion without hurting the feelings of rival fans.
Music fans may argue that because their passion is not at the expense of anyone, they will forever enjoy dancing and singing in heaven. But will they still be enjoying music after singing for a thousand years? Check yourself. Do you still enjoy one song with the same passion you had for it five years back?
What’s more, naughty lyrics and sexy dances will not be permitted. Can clean lyrics and decent dances remain exciting forever?
Heaven is place of continuous and eternal happiness. I therefore believe that to achieve the happiness, heaven will have a dazzling variety of ways to entertain us. Take my friend Sindiso.
He will be given an opportunity to experience all the pleasures he missed out by not being part of the Iphi intombi cast. As part of his heaven reward, Sindiso will relive parts of the life that he would have lived had he taken the offer to be a dancer.
I admit the Iphi intombi choice would not have been smooth sailing all the way. It has its downside. In heaven, Sindiso will only live the happy moments of that choice. After all, heaven is for happiness only.
I sense your doubts dear reader. You want to point out that even if the dancer choice is relived, it cannot go on for thousands of years. How then will Sindiso keep enjoying himself in heaven?
Remember the Iphi intombi offer was not the only time Sindiso had to make a decision. Throughout life he has been making choices. He has had to choose friends, girl friends; sporting disciplines, television channels, political parties, churches . . . The list is long.
In fact, all of us are constantly making choices that partly affect our future. Alex, a colleague of mine recalls the time he was interested in a beautiful girl called Bongi. He did not bother to tell her because he thought she was above her league. Later, he heard from a reliable source that Bongi had been interested in him. Alex was furious with himself for not making the move. By then Bongi was married to someone else. Alex now spends his days murmuring, “if only I had . . .”
Never mind Alex. Just make sure that you get to heaven and you will experience all the joys the Bongi choice had in store for you. Thus in heaven we will experience all the joys of the choices we did not make.
These different experiences are not limited to events resulting from one’s alternative choice. If the different choice of someone else in heaven results in your happiness, then you will experience with him his good times.
For instance, I think my football team lost some matches because the coach made the wrong selection or tactics. Like all other people in heaven, the coach will be given an opportunity to live the different selections and tactics. Should these produce victory, all supporters of his team will relive and celebrate. Supporters of rival teams will also be celebrating their victories at different matches.
Even today, I still feel the pain of Mohammed Ali losing to Joe Frazier in 1971. I therefore look forward to the re-match when we get to heaven. Ali will change his tactics. Yes, he will win the bout and regain his title without having to wait for a further three years. Highlanders supporters will forget the agony of losing to Rangers at that grudge match of 1972. Why worry? Team manager, Silas Ndlovu will change tactics for the heaven re-match and we will win.
What about you dear reader? Which exciting experiences do you look forward to in heaven after different choices are made?
