In the time when the world was still young and the Great Creator walked among his creations, when the red earth of Africa had just received its first rains and the baobab trees were mere saplings reaching toward the endless sky, there lived all manner of creatures in perfect harmony. The Creator’s voice could be heard in the gentle rustling of acacia leaves and felt in the warm breath of the desert winds that carried the scents of wildflowers and fresh grass across the vast landscape.
Among all the creatures that inhabited this pristine world, two small reptiles had earned the special trust of the Great Creator through their devotion and service. The first was Chameleon, a remarkable creature whose skin could shift through every color imaginable from the deep emerald of new leaves to the brilliant gold of sunrise, from the rich brown of fertile soil to the pale blue of morning mist. His large, wise eyes moved independently of each other, allowing him to see the world from many angles simultaneously, and his movements were deliberate and measured, as if he carefully considered each step before taking it.
The second messenger was Lizard, a sleek and agile creature whose scales gleamed like polished copper in the African sunlight. Unlike his contemplative companion, Lizard possessed boundless energy that seemed to flow through his slender body like lightning. His quick, darting movements and bright, alert eyes spoke of intelligence and ambition, though perhaps not always of wisdom. Where Chameleon moved with thoughtful precision, Lizard raced with impulsive speed, his small claws clicking rapidly against rocks and tree bark as he scurried from place to place.
Also read: Why the Crab Lives in Water
One morning, as the golden sun rose above the distant mountains and painted the sky in shades of pink and orange, the Great Creator summoned both creatures to his presence. The air around him shimmered with divine power, and his voice carried the authority of one who had shaped stars and breathed life into dust.
“My faithful servants,” the Creator began, his words resonating like gentle thunder across the awakening landscape, “I have important messages that must be delivered to the children of men, who dwell beyond the great river where the fertile lands meet the edge of the world. These messages will determine their fate and shape their understanding of life itself.”
Both Chameleon and Lizard listened with rapt attention, their hearts swelling with pride at being chosen for such a sacred mission. The morning air was filled with the songs of awakening birds and the distant calls of elephants greeting the dawn, creating a symphony that seemed to bless their divine appointment.
The Creator turned first to Chameleon, his ancient eyes reflecting infinite compassion. “To you, faithful Chameleon, I entrust this message: Tell the children of men that death shall not be permanent for them. Though their earthly bodies may fail, their spirits shall return, renewed and eternal, to live again among their loved ones. This is my gift of hope to humanity.”
Chameleon’s skin shifted to a deep, reverent purple as he received these precious words, his large eyes blinking slowly as he committed every syllable to his careful memory. He understood the magnitude of this message and the joy it would bring to mankind, and his heart filled with the solemnity of his responsibility.
Then the Creator turned to Lizard, whose scales seemed to vibrate with excitement at receiving his own divine commission. “And to you, swift Lizard, I give this message: Tell the children of men that death shall be final and absolute. When their time comes, they shall return to dust, and there shall be no renewal, no return, no second chance at life.”
Lizard’s bright eyes gleamed with anticipation, though he did not fully comprehend why the Creator would send two such contradictory messages. His mind was already racing ahead to the journey itself, calculating the fastest routes and planning how quickly he could complete this important mission.
“Now go,” commanded the Creator, his voice carrying across the morning air like a blessing. “Deliver these messages to humanity and let their responses determine which truth they shall receive.”
Both creatures set out immediately on their momentous journey toward the lands where humans dwelt. The landscape before them stretched endlessly rolling hills covered in golden grass, rivers that sparkled like liquid diamonds under the sun, and forests where ancient spirits whispered secrets among the leaves.
Lizard, true to his nature, raced ahead with incredible speed, his small form darting between rocks and leaping over streams with the agility of lightning. His mind was focused entirely on being the first to reach humanity, driven by a desire to complete his mission quickly and earn the Creator’s praise for his swiftness. The message he carried seemed less important to him than the glory of arriving first.
Meanwhile, Chameleon followed at his own steady, deliberate pace. Each step was carefully considered, each obstacle thoughtfully navigated. His skin changed colors as he moved through different environments green in the grasslands, brown among the tree trunks, golden in the sandy areas but his pace never wavered from its measured rhythm. Unlike Lizard, Chameleon understood that the importance of his message far outweighed any desire for personal glory or speed.
As the days passed, Lizard’s lead grew ever greater. His competitive nature drove him to push harder and faster, covering vast distances while Chameleon was still methodically making his way across the earlier portions of their route. The swift messenger’s heart pounded with excitement at the thought of delivering the first divine message to humanity.
When Lizard finally reached the human settlement beyond the great river, he found the people gathered around their evening fires, sharing stories and songs under a canopy of brilliant stars. Without pausing to catch his breath or carefully consider his words, he immediately called out to them in his high, excited voice.
“People of the earth!” Lizard announced, his scales gleaming in the firelight. “I bring you a message from the Great Creator himself! He has declared that death shall be your final fate when your time comes, you shall return to dust with no hope of renewal or return!”
The humans received this news with great sorrow and lamentation, for the finality of death filled their hearts with fear and despair. They wept and mourned, for Lizard’s message seemed to doom them to lives lived in the shadow of inevitable, permanent ending.
Many days later, when Chameleon finally arrived at the same settlement, he found the people still deep in mourning over the harsh message they had received. His large eyes took in their sadness with infinite compassion, and his heart ached to see their despair.
“Children of men,” Chameleon said in his slow, measured voice, his skin shifting to gentle, soothing colors, “I too bring a message from the Great Creator. He has declared that though death may touch your earthly bodies, your spirits shall be renewed and eternal. You shall return to live again among those you love.”
But the people, already committed to the first message they had received, shook their heads sadly. “We have already accepted the message of permanent death,” they told him. “The first word spoken cannot be unsaid, and we must live with what we have been told.”
From that day forward, the natures of both creatures were forever changed by the consequences of their divine mission. Lizard, realizing the terrible impact of his hasty delivery, became eternally restless, constantly darting about as if trying to outrun the weight of his actions. His quick movements now spoke not of joyful energy but of guilty agitation that would never allow him peace.
Chameleon, witnessing the sorrow his late arrival had caused, became forever cautious and deliberate in all his actions. His skin continued to change colors, but now each shift reflected his careful consideration of every situation, his determination never again to let haste override wisdom.
Moral Lesson
This profound African tale teaches us that truth delivered with patience and care is infinitely more valuable than lies or hasty words that cause harm. Lizard’s speed meant nothing when his message brought despair, while Chameleon’s deliberate approach, though too late in this instance, represented the wisdom of thoughtful action over impulsive haste. The story reminds us that our words carry weight and consequence, and that taking time to consider their impact is always preferable to rushing ahead without thought for the results. In life’s most important moments, careful truth serves humanity far better than quick deception.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What special abilities distinguished Chameleon and Lizard as divine messengers in this African tale? A1: Chameleon could change his skin to any color and had large, wise eyes that moved independently, while Lizard possessed incredible speed and agility with gleaming copper-colored scales.
Q2: What contrasting messages did the Great Creator give to his two messengers? A2: The Creator told Chameleon to deliver a message of hope that death would not be permanent, and spirits would return renewed, while Lizard was told to say that death would be final and absolute.
Q3: How did the different personalities of the messengers affect their journey? A3: Lizard raced ahead driven by competitive desire for personal glory and speed, while Chameleon traveled at a steady, deliberate pace, understanding that the message’s importance outweighed personal recognition.
Q4: What was the tragic consequence of Lizard arriving first with his message? A4: Humanity received and accepted the message of permanent death first, filling them with despair and sorrow, and by the time Chameleon arrived with the hopeful message, it was too late to change their fate.
Q5: How were both creatures permanently changed by the outcome of their divine mission? A5: Lizard became eternally restless, constantly darting about in guilty agitation over his hasty actions, while Chameleon became forever cautious and deliberate, determined never to let speed override wisdom again.
Q6: What does this African origin story teach about the relationship between speed and wisdom? A6: The tale demonstrates that hasty action without careful thought can cause irreversible harm, while patient, deliberate wisdom even if slower serves humanity far better than quick but thoughtless decisions.
