A singing bird flew
into a forest and sat on the branch of a tree. The bird sang with a melodious voice. Every animal in the forest
listened spellbound, appreciating and admiring the music of the gifted singer.
Animals from nearby areas rushed to the scene, lulled by the sweet sound of the
song. A worm was seated on a leaf of the lowest branch of the tree on which the
bird rested. With all its strength the worm crawled into a crevice from where
it could not see the bird.
Seeing this rapid retreat, a rabbit asked the
worm, "Why do you go away from the singer, while all of us are watching
the bird and listening to the song with ardent admiration?" The worm said
in a soft voice, "I saw the bird staring at me. After finishing the song the
bird would feel tired and hungry. Most probably the stare was to identify
me as a tasty snack. So I moved away to
this safer place."
Virtues and prayer serve as our armour in the
fight against temptations. We must be alert to avoid even minor causes of temptations
to sins which are obstacles to a pure and peaceful life. We can gain the power
to resist massive temptations if we practise resisting minor temptations of
life regularly and constantly with the power of prayer and faith in God's
infinite grace. God will grant us the strength to resist temptations.
A wise retreat from dangerous temptations
may save one’s life and sanctity.
.....................................................................................................................................................
© By Prof. Dr.
Babu Philip, 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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