The Lizard Who Carried the Message

When the first people were created, Ruwa had to decide if they should live forever or die. He decided they should live forever. He sent a messenger to tell them the good news. He chose the slow, careful Lizard to carry this important message. "Go to the people," Ruwa said, "and tell them that when they grow old, they will shed their skins and become young again." The Lizard set off. But along the way, he stopped to eat some delicious insects and then took a long nap in the sun. During this time, a different spirit, one who was jealous of humanity, sent his own messenger, a fast, flighty bird. The bird flew quickly to the village and delivered a different message: "Thus says the spirit of the earth: All men must die and be buried." The people heard this message first and accepted it as their fate. Much later, the Lizard arrived and tried to deliver Ruwa's true message of eternal life, but it was too late. The word of death had already been accepted, and it could not be taken back. This is why humans are mortal, all because the first messenger was lazy and slow with his good news.