I met Matshona Dhilwayo through another book, Lalibela's Wise Man, which I thoroughly enjoy. When I posted my review, I bought this book and think many of you will find it as inspiring as I did. I read many books related to the work environment when I began working many years ago, but had never studied King Solomon. Spending time with him at dinner was a wonderful experience that I highly recommend to each of you...
Kevin peered out his driver-side window. The new owners of his beautiful home appeared to be happy. The young children were playing on the lush, green lawn that he had meticulously maintained for the past twenty years to please his ex-wife Dianne. Sitting in his parked car, he realized he would give anything to spend one more day in that house with her, living their old life. Memories of the good times they had shared were all he had left now, but the more he held onto them, the more it hurt. Life had been too cruel to Kevin—it had plunged a knife into his heart that twisted with every passing minute of the day, reminding him that pain was his new existence. Oxygen had been replaced by despair.
What am I going to do? Kevin thought. At forty-five, he had lost everything: his successful business, his wife, his two children, and his reputation. Everything he treasured had been taken from him. His business partner had swindled every single one of their customers and disappeared, leaving behind debts Kevin couldn’t pay in two lifetimes and a reputation that he couldn’t restore in three. Kevin knew he had reached the noose of his rope. He had no one to turn to; all his friends deserted him. Those he’d supported during times of trouble were nowhere to be found, and his own family no longer returned his phone calls. They were too ashamed to be associated with him. “They love you when you’re up,” he mumbled to himself, remembering how they would beg him to come to every party and event. Now, he was sure they wouldn’t notice, or even mind, if he changed his last name...
Kevin slowly climbed out of the car and scrambled over to the edge of the bridge. A few wispy clouds interrupted the blue sky, and a flock of birds flew near the horizon. The clear waters below were calm. Everything, except him, seemed to be at peace. As Kevin looked down, he remembered what his mother always used to say: “Everything happens for a reason.” Could this be why I ran out of gas? he thought. Maybe this is a sign. What have I got left to live for? If I were gone, wouldn’t everyone be better off? I could finally rest… Kevin shut his eyes and spread his arms to embrace his fate. A gentle wind blew his hair away from his face. Kevin leaned into it, gathering his strength. “This is it,” he said, as he began to take one last step.
“Excuse me, sir?” Kevin opened his eyes.
“Heaven?” he whispered in hope.
“Sir, are you looking for this?” Just like a moment ago, the sky was blue, and the clear waters below were calm. Kevin was confused. His surroundings looked more like Earth than Heaven. He turned around to find out he was still on the bridge.
But... I jumped... Perhaps the angel behind him would explain why he wasn’t wet. He turned around and squinted at the figure in front of him. It was no angel. The little boy standing in front of him was no more than nine, short and skinny without any wings or a halo. Kevin stretched out his hand, hesitantly accepting his car keys from the boy’s outstretched palm. “Thanks,” he struggled to say, confusion clearly written across his face. “I must have dropped them.”
“You’re welcome,” the little boy replied. With a big smile, he ran back to the Dodge van, which had pulled off to the side of the bridge. His mother smiled at him, and the little boy waved as they drove away. Kevin looked around, re-examining his surroundings...
Death is never around when you need it, he thought...
Kevin had reached his lowest point and could see no way out, no future for him that could be worked out. His partner had betrayed him as well as their customers and he had no way to pay back what had been stolen. This family, ashamed, turned away from him...
He tried suicide, but, somehow, he even failed at that...
So he went home to his depressing apartment...and began to try again... He was interrupted again by someone knocking on his door, and kept on knocking until Kevin answered... King Solomon introduced himself and wondered if Kevin would invite him to have dinner with him...
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“No, we have not,” the man replied.
“I was just in the middle of something. What can I do for you?”
“I have come to ask you to invite me to dinner.”
Kevin had some time before his dinner was scheduled with King Solomon and he decided to learn enough to be prepared to talk with him in an intelligent manner...
The meal was going well or, at least, Kevin hoped it was. He watched throughout to make sure that King Solomon was enjoying his dinner, but remained uncertain. He wanted to know more. “Time travel is impossible, so how are you here if you lived three thousand years ago?”
King Solomon sipped his fruit juice simply. “What is impossible for man is possible for God. God can make even the heaviest object travel at the speed of light,” he said.
Kevin was amazed.
“Don’t be surprised. Angels travel faster than the speed of light. They are everywhere around you but too quick for the human eye to see.”
“To be honest, I have a hard time believing anything my eyes cannot see,” Kevin admitted. “I guess I’m just not spiritual enough.”
“How can you not be spiritual? Is it not your spirit that makes you who you are?...
~~~
What would you want to ask of King Solomon? Of course, one of the first questions in most of our minds is why so many bad things happen to good people... Many hours go by as Kevin learns how he can turn his life around...
I couldn't help but think that God puts many people in our lives with wisdom, sometimes specifically sent to help, others sharing their own experiences of what happened in their lives. We may not often really get to meet an angel or King Solomon, but writers such as Dhliwayo, a philosopher who works to inspire and share, can help you better understand written texts that can be applied to your own life... just as Kevin was able to do after spending time with King Solomon and the God who had sent him...
This was inspirational to me, as I learned more about the application of King Solomon's wisdom. It was said that only God was wiser...Solomon was just a man, but we can also learn from our fellow man with God's discernment and guidance. In that light, I recommend you check this one out, especially if you might need life guidance at this time...
GABixlerReviews
Matshona Dhliwayo is a Canadian based Philosopher, Entrepreneur, and author of books such as The Art of Winning, The Little Book of Inspiration, 100 Lessons Every Great Man Wants You to Know, Dinner with King Solomon and Lalibela's Wise Man. He is a regular contributor for The African Leadership Magazine, The CEO Magazine, Health Magazine, The African Union, and other internationally renowned magazines.
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