A gifted painter was putting
the final, finishing touches on his painting on a piece of canvas on an easel
in a picturesque spot in a mountainous terrain. His students were assembled
near the easel, keenly watching the beauty of nature depicted in the
masterpiece with appreciation, admiration and adoration. Having completed his
work, the master placed the palette with paints on the ground and slowly moved
backwards to assess the painting meticulously. Suddenly one of the students
turned back and was shocked to see that the master had reached the extreme edge
of a cliff and the next step backwards would lead to a fatal fall into a very
deep valley. He did not dare to warn him by shouting for fear of hastening his
master’s fall by the shock of his shouting.
He quickly took the palette and
threw it at the painting, splashing the paints all over the painting. Shocked
at the sight, the painter leaped forward to nab his student who destroyed his
masterpiece. He shouted violently and abused the student for causing
irreparable damage to his painstaking creation. The student silently suffered
the humiliation. When the master had calmed down slightly, he requested the
master to turn back and see the dangerous brink where he had reached just
before the incident. He explained that his action was the only option to save
his master’s life.
Everyone turned to see the spot and praised the
intelligent and timely action of the student which saved a valuable life. The
master embraced the loving student, begged his pardon for his reckless reaction
and thanked him for saving him from a tragic death.
Pain, poverty and illness, ordeals, ridicule and loneliness may cause agony
in our life. God provides each of us with the best environment required for optimum
spiritual growth. But some experiences may appear to be bitter and unpleasant
to us and we may even complain to God about our plight.
The following lines are translated from the famous
poem “Dukhathinte paanapaathram” (Malayalam):
“My
father will never offer
Anything
that is harmful I’m sure.
He
may give me moments of pain
Still
He loves me beyond measure!”
These were the spontaneous words of the
great poet and preacher Sadhu Kochukunju Upadeshi when he witnessed the unexpected demise of his
beloved son.
God is our loving father who has a clear plan for the welfare of every
one He created. He may expose us to hardships and painful situations in life
with a noble intention which we may fail to realize and recognize.
……………………………………………………………………..
© By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip,
Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former Professor, Cochin
University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala,
India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St.
Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St.
Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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