Taking risks. Of course sometimes you have to take risks in
your life. In 2001 to 2003 I was working
in a mission in the suburbs of Namibia in Africa. In 2002 I got an invitation
to attend an inauguration of a school in Zambia. All important people were
there; Tribal Chiefs, Chief ministers, bishops etc. And hundreds of people from
all villages around. It is especially, to see the tribal chief. To see the
tribal chief is very important in their life. It is also to show their respect for the
person. And he was delayed a bit so all people were waiting in a field to
receive him.
I was also part of that crowd for that event. I thought let
me take a risk. I managed to get the attention of a few kids around me with
some of my small tricks which I usually carry with me wherever I go. And slowly
I saw a crowd forming a circle around me. And it began to grow further. In the beginning
it was a fun to perform tricks again and again to entertain them. But later a
sort of fear crept into my body. It also created a small panic in me. Because I
heard from my colleagues that the magicians are put into the category of
witchcraft and any time people may change their mind and blame a magician for
all bad things happening in their life and it can be same with me and my life
will be at risk. But I kept calm and tried to convince the people that I have some
special magical power.
I continued to show tricks. But I was running out of my
tools and devices to perform different tricks, they are in my room, I just need
to get it. But how? So I had to play a trick. I took out my rope and placed it
in the ground in the center of the crowd and announced don’t dare to come
anyone near to it until I return. It is dangerous, it can change into anything
and you will have a problem and I asked one person to guard the rope from a
distance that nobody comes near to it. And I ran to my room to get the rest of
my magic tools. It was a real surprise, the crowd of more than five hundred
people just watching the rope that I laid on the ground staying still in the
same position when I came back. Then I knew that I am in a safer position. Then
I started the rest of my show and continued until the arrival of the chief. Sometimes
taking risks is also funny. I call it tricks of contextual prudence!
