Ulusumo lunulo, lwangila kuli munhu uyo uli mulugendo, ilina lwake Nsimizi. Nsimizi agandwa lugendo lokwe gufumila Ng’watuma guja Badi, iyo ili muwilaya ya Jishabu, Nkoa go Shinyanya, musi ya Tanzania.

Olina bhusiminzi bho masaa atandatu, umulegendo lunulo. Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agasiminza mpaga agati gati ya lugendo lokwe,  ugashiga hi bara ilo inzila yakwe jigabhiza ibhili. Nsimizi agalondeja nzila iyo iganchala Iboja badala ya Badi. Kubahati ya wiza, agatung’wana na Matogoro, uyo oli umo o bhanwani bhakwe bha kale.

Matogoro agamuja, “Nsimizi, ujile heyi?” Nsimizi agashosha, “Oh! najile Badi.” Matogoro agayomba “Loo! Ojimilaga inzila kunguno ijiniji jili chalo ja Iboja.” Nsimizi agabhuja, “nalondeje nzila ki iyo igunisha Badi?”

Matogoro agantongela bho guyomba, “Iki ojimilaga inzila, ugubhiza nhuguku noyi gwandija haha na guja bhutongi, kulebha umo oli igwandya. Londeja inzila iyi iyo ijile limo na limo mpaga Badi.”

Nzimizi agashosha, “Obheja noyi nwani one Matogoro ugunambilija. Lyehaga nailondeje inzila yiniyi bho nduhu uguileka mpaga inishishe Badi.”

Matogoro agashosha, “obheja gulumba, siminzaga na lubhango.”  Nsimizi agaja limo na limo gufuma Iboja mpaga ushiga Badi bho nduhu uguijimiza inzila yakwe imhya yiniyo, kunguno agapandika nzila mhya iyo ili ya ng’hana na yunshisha mpaga Badi. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, “guhubha nzila hugumana nzila.”

Ulusumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gubhiza na bhidohya bho gubhuja kubhichabho imihayo iyo bhadayimanile, umukikalile kabho, kugiki bhadule, gubhupandika ubhung’hana ubho gubhashisha uko bhajile, umuwikaji bhobho.

Yohana 14: 6:

Yohana 12:24:

1Wathesalonike 5:10:

Luka 15: 11-32.

KISWAHILI: KUKOSEA NJIA NDIYO KUJUA NJIA.

Methali hiyo hapo juu ilitokea kwa msafiri ambaye jina lake aliitwa Nsimizi. Nsimizi alianza safari yake kutoka Mwatuma kwenda Badi, ambayo inapatikana katika Wilaya ya Kishapu Mkoa wa Shinyanga nchini Tanzania.

Ilibidi atembee kwa masaa sita katika safari yake hiyo.  Mtu huyo, alipotembe karibia nusu ya safari yake, alifika mahali ambapo njia yake iligawanywa katika njia mbili. Nsimizi alifuata njia iliyompeleka Iboja badala ya Badi. Kwa bahati nzuri, alikutana na Matogoro, ambaye alikuwa mmoja wa marafiki zake wa zamani.

Matogoro akamuuliza, “Nsimizi, unaenda wapi.” Matogoro akajibu, “Oh! Naenda Badi. ” Matogoro alisema, “Loo! Umepotea njia kwa sababu hiki ni kijiji cha Iboja. ” Nsimizi aliuliza, “nifuate njia gani itakayonifikisha Badi?”

Matogoro alimwongoza kwa kusema, “Kwa kuwa umepotea njia, utakuwa makini zaidi kuanzia sasa kuliko vile ulivyokuwa hapo awali. Fuata njia hii ambayo inaenda moja kwa moja hadi Badi. ”

Nzimizi alijibu, “Asante sana rafiki yangu Matogoro kwa kunisaidia. Ngoja niifuate barabara hii kwa umakini nishikamana nayo hadi nitakapofika Badi. ”

Matogoro alijibu, “asante kushukuru, uwe na safari yenye baraka.”

Nsimizi alienda moja kwa moja kutoka Iboja hadi Badi bila kuipoteza njia yake hiyo mpya, kwa sababu alipata njia mpya ya kweli iliyomfikisha hadi Badi. Ndio maana watu husema kwamba, “kupoteza njia ndiyo kujua njia.”

ULINGANIFU WA KIBIBLIA

 Yohana 14: 6: “Yesu alisema:‘ Mimi ndimi njia, ukweli na uzima.’”

Yohana 12:24: “Amin, amin, nawaambia, mbegu ya ngano isipoanguka ardhini na kufa, hubakia kama mbegu peke yake. Lakini ikifa huzaa mbegu nyingi.”

1Wathesalonike 5:10: “Alikufa kwa ajili yetu ili tuishi pamoja naye.”

Luka 15: 11-32 “Yesu akaendelea kusema: “Kulikuwa na mtu mmoja aliyekuwa na wana wawili. 12Yule mdogo akamwambia baba yake, ‘Baba, nipe urithi wangu.’ Hivyo akawagawia wanawe mali yake.

‘‘Baada ya muda mfupi, yule mdogo akakusanya vitu vyote alivyokwa navyo, akaenda nchi ya mbali na huko akaitapanya mali yake kwa maisha ya anasa. Baada ya kutumia kila kitu alichokuwa nacho, kukawa na njaa kali katika nchi ile yote, naye akawa hana cho chote. Kwa hiyo akaenda akaajiriwa na mwenyeji mmoja wa nchi ile ambaye alimpeleka shambani kwake kulisha nguruwe. Akatamani kujishibisha kwa maganda waliyokula wale nguruwe, wala hakuna mtu aliyempa cho chote. ‘‘Lakini alipozingatia moyoni mwake, akasema, ‘Ni watumishi wangapi walioajiriwa na baba yangu ambao wana chakula cha kuwatosha na kusaza, bali mimi hapa nakufa kwa njaa! Nitaondoka na kurudi kwa baba yangu na kumwambia, ‘Baba, nimetenda dhambi mbele za Mungu na mbele yako. Sistahili tena kuitwa mwanao, nifanye kama mmoja wa watumishi wako.’

Basi akaondoka, akaenda kwa baba yake. “Lakini alipokuwa bado yuko mbali, baba yake akamwona, moyo wake ukajawa na huruma. Akamkimbilia mwanawe, akamkumbatia na kumbusu. “Yule mtoto akamwambia baba yake, ‘Baba, nimekosa mbele za Mungu na mbele yako. Sistahili kuitwa mwanao tena.’ “Lakini baba yake akawaambia watumishi, ‘Leteni upesi joho lililo bora sana, mkamvike pete kidoleni mwake na viatu miguuni mwake. Leteni ndama aliyenona, mkamchinje ili tuwe na karamu, tule na kufurahi. Kwa maana huyu mwanangu alikuwa amekufa na sasa yu hai tena, alikuwa amepotea na sasa amepatikana!’ Nao wakaanza kufanya tafrija. “Wakati huo, yule mwana mkubwa alikuwa shambani. Alipokaribia nyumbani, akasikia sauti ya nyimbo na watu wakicheza.

Akamwita mmoja wa watumishi na kumwuliza, ‘Kuna nini?’ Akamwambia, ‘Mdogo wako amekuja, naye baba yako amemchinja ndama aliyenona kwa sababu mwanawe amerudi nyumbani akiwa salama na mzima.’ Yule mwana mkubwa akakasirika, akakataa kuingia ndani. Basi baba yake akatoka nje na kumbembeleza.

Lakini yeye akamjibu baba yake, ‘Tazama! Miaka yote hii nimekutumikia na hata siku moja sijaacha kutii amri zako, lakini hujanipa hata mwana mbuzi ili nifurahi na rafiki zangu. Lakini huyu mwanao ambaye ametapanya mali yako kwa makahaba aliporudi nyumbani, wewe umemchinjia ndama aliyenona!’

“Baba yake akamjibu, “‘Mwanangu, umekuwa nami sikuzote na vyote nilivyo navyo ni vyako. Lakini ilitubidi tufurahi na kushangilia kwa sababu huyu mdogo wako alikuwa amekufa na sasa yu hai, alikuwa amepotea naye amepatikana.’ ””

MATUMIZI YA KISASA NA MATUMIZI YA KIDINI

 Methali hiyo inafundisha watu juu ya kuwa na mnyenyekevu wa kuwauliza watu wengine kwa ajili ya kuwafahamu yale ambayo hawajue. Hivyo, wakipotea njia, lazima waulize kwa wale wanaoihamu njia hiyo. Ni vizuri kuingalia hali hiyo na kufanya utafiti wakati umekosea kitu fulani maishi au umekoteza lengo lako. Usione aibu kwa kukaa kinya wakati haujui kitu.

Methali hiyo, inatumika kuwaelewesha watu ambao wamefanya makosa katika maisha yao, ili wawe waangalifu zaidi hadi kufikia hatua ya kutorudia kile kilichowasababisha kufanya vibaya. Hivyo, watu hao, wanapaswa kudumisha hali yao mpya ya maisha siku zote za maisha yao.

Methali hiyo hutumika kwa kuongeza ubunifu katika kuishi maisha mapya, ambayo mtu alipata baada ya Ubatizo na kupokea Sakramenti ya Upatanisho.

Kabla ya Ubatizo mtu huwa anaishi njia ambayo inaongoza kwenye upotevu isiyokuwa na uhakika. Lakini baada ya Ubatizo Mkristo hupata njia ya kweli ya kwenda kwenye uzima wa milele.

Kumbe, tunapotenda dhambi tunapotea njia; tunapokiri dhambi hizo, tunaipata njia ya kuelekea kwenye uzima wa milele.

Methali hiyo, hutumika katika kuongeza ujasiri kwa wale ambao wanakatishwa tamaa na kushindwa kwao kwa hapo awali, kwa kuwakumbusha nafasi yao ya pili ya kufurahiya maisha ya furaha kupitia toba.

Hivi ndivyo hadithi ya Mwana Mpotevu inavyotuambia. Methali hii ya Wasukuma inahimiza watu kuwa na nguvu ya kutosha kutimiza malengo yao ya kiroho kwa kutumia talanta na miradi yao licha ya shida zao ambazo zinaweza kupatikana maishani.

Methali hiyo inahimiza watu kuanza miradi mpya ya kiroho, kiuchumi na kijamii ambayo inaweza kuwapa mahitaji ya kiroho, na yale ya msingi kama vile chakula, malazi na nguo, njiani kuelekea kwenye ufalme wa mbinguni.

Inatukumbusha wanadamu kuwa majaribu na makosa yalisababisha uwepo wa Watakatifu katika Kanisa. Waanzilishi wa mashirika ya kitawa walitumia talanta zao kiasi cha kutosha kumchukua Yesu na kumpeleka kwa wenzao kwa kuiishi imani yao kwa vitendo na kutuonyesha mifano mizuri ya kufuata.

Methali kama hiyo inatumika pia katika uvumbuzi wa kisayansi wanauweza kuupata wanadamu. Maendeleo ya kilimo, magari, ndege, meli, uvumbuzi mpya na kadhalika, ni matokeo ya majaribio na makosa ambayo tunaita “majaribio ya kisayansi.”

Kwa hiyo, ni kweli kwamba kupotea njia ni kujua njia, kwa sababu maisha yetu ya kiroho ni mchakato endelevu wa kurekebisha maisha yetu ili tuweze kuishi kulingana na mapenzi ya Mungu.

KUMBUKA: Methali hii ya wasukuma ni kwa heshima ya Padri wa kimishonari wa shirika la Maryknoll, Don Sybertz, MM. Alikuwa akitafuta maana ya methali hii kabla ya kifo chake mnamo 19 Aprili, 2020.

ENGLISH: TO LOSE THE WAY IS TO FIND THE WAY.

The above proverb originated from a traveler whose name was Nsimizi. Nsimizi started his journey from Mwatuma to Badi that is found in Kishapu District of Shinyanga Region in Tanzania. He had to walk for six hours.  Half-way he reached a place where his way was divided into two ways. Nsimizi followed a way that led him to Iboja instead of Badi.

Fortunately, he met Matogoro, who was one of his old friends. Matogoro asked him, “Nsimizi, where are you going.” Matogoro replied, “Oh! I am going to Badi.” Matogoro said, “Oh! You have lost your way because this is Iboja village.”

Nsimizi asked, “which way should I follow to Badi?” Matogoro directed him by saying, “Since you have lost your way, you will become more carefully from now on than how you were before. Follow this way that goes directly to Badi.”

Nzimizi responded, “Thanks a lot my friend Matogoro for helping me. Let me seriously follow this road by sticking to it until I reach Badi.” Matogoro responded, “you are welcome, have a blessed journey.”

Nsimizi went straight from Iboja to Badi without losing his new way because he found the true new way to Badi. That is why people say, to lose the way is to find the way. Or losing the way is finding the way.

Biblical Parallels

John 14:6: “Jesus said: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’”

John 12:24: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

1 Thessalonians 5:10: “He died for us so that we may live together with him.”

Luke 15:11-32: Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Contemporary Use and Religious Application

Be humble and ask other people. If you lose the way, you have to ask. Check out the situation and do research when you are wrong or off target. Don’t be disappointed when you do not know something.

It is applied to giving awareness to people who have done mistakes in their lives so that they become more careful to the point of not repeating what caused them to do wrong. They should maintain their new status of life throughout their lives.

It is applied to increasing creativities in living a converted life that one got after Baptism and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Before Baptism one lives a way that leads to uncertainty After Baptism a Christian finds the true way to eternal life. When we commit sins we lose the way; when we confess those sins, we find the way to eternal life.  It is used to increase confidence in those who become discouraged by their previous failures, by reminding them of their second chance to enjoy a happy life through repentance. This is what the Prodigal Son story tells us.

This Sukuma proverb encourages people to be strong enough to actualize their spiritual goals by using their various talents and projects despite their difficulties that can be found in life. It encourages people to start new spiritual, economic and social projects that can provide them with spiritual needs, as well as their basic needs such as food, shelter and clothes, on the way to the heavenly kingdom.

It reminds us human beings that trials and errors led to the presence of the Saints in the Christian Churches. The founders of religious congregations applied their talents enough to take Jesus to their fellow human beings by putting their faith into practice and expressing good examples to us.

Such a proverb is also applicable to scientific discoveries of human beings. Agricultural developments, cars, airplanes, ships, new inventions and so on, are the results of trials and errors that we call “scientific experiments.”

Therefore it is true that to lose the way is to find the way. Or losing the way is finding the way because our spiritual life is a continuous process of adjusting our lives to live according to the will of God.

NOTE: This Sukuma Proverb is in honor of Maryknoll missionary priest Father Don Sybertz, MM. He was researching the meaning of this proverb before he died on 19 April, 2020. See more information on the:

Maryknoll Africa Region Website
https://maryknollafrica.org

Similar examples can be found on the:

African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories Website
https://www.afriprov.org

Text by:

Rev. Donald Sybertz, MM (deceased)
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.