Values

va l u e s

STORIES FOR RADIANT LIVING Scars of Love

O

nce a little boy went to swim in a pond. He jumped into the water and as he swam towards the middle of the pond, a crocodile came towards him. His mother seeing the danger ran towards the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he was about to reached her, the crocodile snatched his legs. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms and started pulling her son to the shore. The crocodile was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A hunter who happened to pass by heard the screams of the desperate mother came to her rescue. He took his gun and shot the crocodile. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn’t let go.” You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars too; scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unpleasant and have caused us deep regret. But, some scars my friend, are because God has refused to let go. He’s been there holding on to you in the midst of all your struggles.

Three Fishes

T

hree fishes lived in a pond. One was named Plan Ahead, another was Think Fast, and the third was named Wait and See. One day they heard a fisherman say that he was going to cast his net in their pond the next day. Plan Ahead said, “I’m swimming down the river tonight! Think Fast said, “I’m sure I’ll come up with a plan. Wait and See lazily said, “I just can’t think about it now!” When the fisherman cast his nets, Plan Ahead was long gone. But Think Fast and Wait and See were caught! 32

Think Fast quickly rolled his belly up and pretended to be dead. “Oh, this fish is no good!” said the fisherman, and threw him safely back into the water. But, Wait and See ended up in the fish market. That is why they say, “In times of danger, when the net is cast, plan ahead or plan to think fast!”

The Star in the Window

D

uring World War I, families with a son in the war would place a star in the window. A man was walking along with his grandson when his grandson asked “Why do all these homes have stars in the windows?” The grandfather explained to the grandson what the star symbolized. They walked along and every time they passed a home with a star in the window the boy would smile and clap his hands together. Then the boy pointed up to the sky and pointed to a star. “Look,” he said. “God must have given his son too!” Many gave their lives for their country, but God gave his son for the world.

The clever astrologer

A

n astrologer predicted that the daughter of the king would die within a week. When the prediction happened to come true, the king ordered the astrologer to be brought to him, intending to hang him that very day. As soon as the man came, the king said: “Since you are so perfect, how about predicting when you will die.” “Sir” replied the astrologer, divining the king’s intention, “it is written in the stars that I shall die three days before you die.” The king was so taken aback at these words that he not only spared his life, but ordered that he be protected to prolong his life as much as possible.

Don bosco march 2009

va l u e s

Sympathetic Oneness

The Horse

father and son were walking together, enjoying the early morning breeze. They had covered a good distance when the father stopped suddenly and said, “Son, stop!”

cosmic god had a horse. The horse was beautiful and also it had many good qualities. But it wanted to be more perfect in every way. It especially wanted to become the most beautiful beast in the world

A

The son said, “What’s wrong?” The father said, “Nothing in particular, but let’s not walk any farther on this road.” “Why not?” asked the son. “Do you see that elderly man coming toward us?” the father asked, pointing down the road. “Yes, I see him,” replied the son. “He’s a friend of mine,” said the father. “He borrowed money from me and can’t pay it back. Each time he sees me he tells me he’ll borrow the money from someone else and give it to me. This has been going on for a long time, and I don’t want to embarrass him anymore.”

A

One day the horse said to the cosmic god, “0 Lord, you have given me beauty. You have given me other good qualities. I am so grateful to you. But how I wish you could make me more beautiful. I would be extremely, extremely grateful if you could make me more beautiful.” The cosmic god said, “I am ready to make you more beautiful. Tell me in what way you want to be changed.” The horse said, “It seems to me that I am not well proportioned. My neck is too short. If you can make my neck a little longer, my

The son said, “Father, if you don’t want to embarrass him, why don’t you tell him that the money is a gift and you don’t want it back?” “I’ve already told him that,” said the father. “When I said, ‘I don’t want it back; it’s a gift,’ he got mad. He said, ‘I’m not a beggar. I’m your friend. When I was in need, you gave me money, and when I can, I’ll give it back. I want to remain your friend, not become a beggar.’ Now I don’t want to embarrass him, and I don’t want to be embarrassed myself. So let’s take another road.” The son said, “Father, you are truly good. I’m very proud of you, it’s usually the borrower who tries to avoid the lender. It’s usually the receiver who is embarrassed, not the giver. But you want to spare his embarrassment. What I have learned from you is a sympathetic oneness.”

Double Trouble

A

man of middle age, whose hair was turning grey, had two wives, an old woman and a young one. The elder of the two didn’t like having a husband who looked so much younger than herself; so, whenever he came to see her, she used to pull the dark hairs out of his head to make him look old. The younger, on the other hand, didn’t like him to look so much older than her, and took every opportunity of pulling out the grey hairs, to make him look young. Between them, they left not a hair in his head, and he became perfectly bald.

upper body will be infinitely more beautiful. And if you can make my legs much longer and thinner, then I will look infinitely more beautiful in my lower body.” The cosmic god said, “Ok!” Then immediately he made a camel appear in place of the horse. The horse was so disheartened that it started to cry, “0 Lord, I wanted to become more beautiful. In what way is this kind of outer form more beautiful?” The cosmic god said, “This is exactly what you asked for. You have become a camel.” The horse cried, “Oh no, I do not want to become a camel I wish to remain a horse. As a horse, everybody appreciated my good qualities. Nobody will appreciate me as a camel.” The cosmic god said, “Never try to achieve or receive more than I have given you. If you want to lead a life of desires, then at every moment you will want more and more. But you have no idea what the outcome will be. If you cry for a longer neck and legs, this is what will happen. Each thing in my creation has its own good qualities. The camel is not as beautiful as you are, but it carries heavy loads and has a tremendous sense of responsibility.

Don bosco march 2009

A.J. Frank sdb

[email protected] 33

V A LU E S

W

hen Mary finished her ecstatic narration of how she had seen Jesus alive, she met with eleven pairs of skeptic eyes staring at her. “Feminine hallucinations,” grumbled Thomas at the far end of the upper room, where the frightened and discouraged apostles were hiding. “She must have been dreaming,” suggested Bartholomew. The disciples were convinced that their adventure with Jesus of Nazareth had come to a tragic end and that there was nothing more to it. Mary was aghast at their disdain for her news. She knew that women were not accepted as credible witnesses in the tradition of Israel. It hurt her badly. Here she was with the most momentous news of their lives and they deride her and doubt her veracity. John was always different from the rest.

could not have walked out by itself.” “Peter,” called out John in a rather solemn and reflective voice. Peter stopped and looked back at his younger companion, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Peter too loved this young man, not only because the Master was very fond of him, but also because he had a keen intellect and often said things that were quite wise! Even though he was the leader, Peter was a humble man, and valued John for his rare gifts. “I saw, and I believe,” said John very slowly and steadily. The solemnity and the

“It was. It was folded neatly and kept where the head of Jesus had been. Does that not tell you anything?” After squinting his eyes for a moment, he said: “Nothing. I find it only a bit odd, that the thief should take the trouble to fold it and keep it there. I wonder why anyone would do that?” “Peter, do a bit of reasoning. The truth is starring at you in the face.”

FROM THE GOSPELS AT A TANGENT - 19

The folded towel

“Peter,” he nudged the leader of the group sitting next to him. “Let us go and see. There may be something in what she is saying.” Peter got up and ran, with John at his heels. Being younger the latter outran Peter and reached the tomb, which was, to his surprise and dismay, open. The stone had been rolled away. But he did not go in. He waited for Peter to arrive. When Peter came puffing and panting, he went in immediately. John too entered. There were the clothes, which were wrapped around the body of the Master lying on the floor. And the towel that covered his head was folded neatly and kept where the head was! Seeing the scene, Peter was totally confused. He did not know what to make of it. But John, yes, he was different! He saw and believed! As they came out of the tomb Peter said: “John, they have stolen the body. It is clear.” “Wait a minute. Who could have stolen the body? Who would have been interested in taking away a dead body? What would be the benefit, or at least what would be their motivation?” John was speaking rapidly, as they were walking back to their hiding place. “I do not know all that,” said Peter. “I just know that the body is missing and that it 

conviction in his voice were unmistakable. “You saw? What did you see? I did not see anything but the empty dark tomb,” replied Peter, rather bewildered and to some extent annoyed. “The clothes, Peter, the clothes.” “Oh, yeah, the clothes. I saw them lying around on the floor.” “The cloth that wrapped the body, yes. But what about the head towel?” “Well, I think that napkin was folded and kept on the head side.” Don bosco june 2008

No truth was starring at Peter. Only Peter was starring at John now. “OK. I think that the Master Himself folded and kept the towel there!” Peter burst out laughing. “John, don’t be stupid. You have been talking too much with that girl from Magdala. You are catching up with her dreams. According to you the dead body got up, folded the head towel neatly and kept it there, pushed the stone away and walked out! Is that what you are saying?” “Just think. No one else would have done that, I mean fold that towel. He himself did

V A LU E S it and it left it there as a symbol pointing out the truth.” “John,” cried Peter. “Please don’t torture me like this. I am a simple man and I am already in pain. You don’t have to add to it.” “Don’t you know the table manners of our people?” asked John abruptly. “Table manners? What have they to do with this?” “You know how a servant attends his master at table. He sets the table, puts all the food there, and places a napkin there for the use of the master. Then he waits just outside the room, while the master takes his meal.” “That is right.” “And you know Peter that when the master finishes his meal, he just crumples the napkin and throws it on the table and goes out. The servant who sees that knows that the master has finished his meal and has left. He now removes the plates and other utensils.” Peter continued this narration with evident annoyance: “And when the master has to temporarily go out for some reason, but

would like to return to finish his meal, he folds the napkin neatly and leaves it on the table. Seeing that the servant is to understand that the master has not finished and that he would come back soon! Oh John,” shouted Peter with excitement. “I begin to see something. Do you mean to say that the Master is coming back and he has not yet finished with this work?” “Fantastic, Peter,” exclaimed John. “You have got it. You know that Jesus is fond of symbols. I do believe that the Master Himself left us a symbol. HE IS ALIVE! He is around. Mary is right.” John said this with such conviction that Peter could almost hear his heart pounding. But Peter became doubtful again. “I understand that there are such table manners. But you always see so many symbols and meanings where I see none. You may be reading too much into this small matter.” “I think not,” said John firmly. “Remember that Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as a

banquet. And remember that last and fateful meal we had with him the night before the day he died. And do you not remember one of his simple parables about a servant who comes from the fields and first serves the master his meal, before he himself eats? Peter, the signs are very clear. The Master is around. I can sense him in the air.” As John was saying this, they reached the upper room, entered and shut the door firmly behind them. The other friends got up and looked at them expecting some news. Peter spoke up: “Well, friends, the tomb is empty. I do not know what to make of it. Probably the Jews or the Romans have stolen the body of the Master.” There was a heavy silence. Suddenly, while the doors were still closed, Jesus appeared and stood among them, and with a gentle smile on his face said: “Peace be with you!”

K. Maria Arokiam sdb

[email protected]

ADVT

Don bosco june 2008



va l u es

STORIES FOR RADIANT LIVING engine trouble

A

giant ship engine failed. The ship’s owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could fix the engine.

The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill

Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him when he arrived. He immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

from the old man for ten thousand rupees. “What?!” the owners exclaimed. “He hardly did anything!” So they wrote to the old man a note saying, “Please send us an itemized bill.” The man sent a bill that read:

Two of the ship’s owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer.

Tapping with a hammer...Rs 2.00 Knowing where to tap... Rs 9,998.00 Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.

He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine started working.

toy car

A

toy-car race was being held, and the final round was a few minutes away. There were only four participants left and each of them proudly exhibited their self-made toy-car. Among the players, was one child whose toy-car wasn’t in any way looking marvelous nor special in its look. Compared to his other players, his toy-car was the least magnificent and imperfect. Some of the audience doubted the toy-car capability to race against the other three. Yes, it was true, the toy car looked pretty dull. With simple wood materials and few blinking lamps on its top, but the owner was proud of his toy car, since it was his own creation. Every kid got his car ready on the start line, and at the slightest signal from the jury, they pushed the toy-car as fast as they can. They pushed and pushed, ran 32

and ran along with the car as fast as they could, and at the end, surprisingly, the kid with the least magnificent looking toy car got his toy car touching the finish line first among other players. The champion was then asked by the organizer before receiving his award, “Hey kid, I saw you praying before the final round started, you must have prayed deeply to God that you may win this tournament, didn’t you?” The kid was silent for a moment, and then replied, “No sir, that was not what I prayed, I thought it was not fair to ask God to help me defeat the other players. I only prayed that God help me not to cry if I lose.” After a few moments of silence by the audience, the hall was filled with applause from the audience.

Don bosco june 2008

va l u es

the magic bell

O

true happiness

nce a theft had occurred in an inn. All the ways the police had tried, but none succeeded. Finally the police came up with a unique method.

However it was strange because even after everyone had went through the tunnel, the bell still had not sounded itself. The lamp was then switched on.

The police gathered all the suspects in a place where a bell had been attached. Then he gave the instruction. “That bell is a magic bell. All of you one by one go pass this tunnel. And when you go pass that bell, I want you to touch it. If you are really the thief, the magic bell will sound itself when you touch it,” explained the police. The lamp was switched of and the whole room went pitch black.

The suspects were asked to stand in a line and show their palms. The thief was caught as the bell had actually been smeared with a special ink. They who did not commit the theft, were not afraid to touch them that their hands caught the ink. On the contrast, the thief, who was in fear and cautious, did not dare to touch the bell that his hand remained clean.

A

very rich wealthy man was standing thoughtfully on a bridge. Despite of all his riches, he could feel happy for his life was filled with sorrow and emptiness. He intended to commit suicide by jumping into the raging water. When he was about to do it, a beggar

approached him. “Sir, please give me some money to buy some food. I will pray for your health and long life.” Hearing this, he took out the wallet from his pocket and gave all the money inside to the beggar. “Take all of this,” he said.

the fight in the heart

“All of this?” the beggar repeated. He could not believe his very luck.

A

kindness, benevolence, justice, fairness, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and gratitude.

“Yes, take it all. I am going to a place where I won’t need it anymore,” said the man. He looked back at the river below.

“This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other human as well.”

The beggar felt suspicious with the man’s attitude. Looking at the money, and holding it for a while, he hurriedly returned it and said, “No thank you, I won’t take it. I may be a beggar but I am not a coward and I am not going to receive any money from a coward! Hearing his response, the man was very shocked. The satisfaction and happiness of him giving his money to the beggar vanished instantly. At that moment, he suddenly realized that Happiness is only real when sharing the feeling that he felt just now, that good feeling and satisfaction from giving others happiness, had indeed in turn became his own true happiness.

Grandfather was talking with his grandson.

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.” “One wolf is evil and ugly. He is anger, envy, war, greed, self-pity, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, selfishness and arrogance.” “The other wolf is beautiful and good. He is friendly, joyful, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility,

The grandson paused in deep reflection because of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out; “Grandfather, which wolf will win?” The old man replied, “The one that you feed.”

A.J. Frank sdb

[email protected] Don bosco june 2008

33

A

V A LU E S

small group of women walked towards a garden tomb early on a Sunday morning. They almost ran. They had not caught a wink of sleep the whole Sabbath night, waiting for the crack of the dawn. Their leader squinted into the darkness but could not see the Roman soldiers she knew were there. There was an eerie silence in the area. But she was not afraid. Her eyes wandered to see that the tomb was open. The front stone was rolled out of the way. An unearthly fear took hold of the other two women. With trepidation

dishevelled and somewhat haggard, looking older than her age. She too began running, but to look for the apostles. Her mind was racing ahead, trying to guess where she could find Peter and the others. “They are probably in the house of the friend, where the master shared his last meal with us,” she reasoned. She was right. “They have taken the Lord away,” she screamed as she burst into the room, frightening the men huddled there and still half asleep. “He is gone; the body is missing!”

FROM THE GOSPELS AT A TANGENT - 20

The Power of the Name! They all looked up at her with questioning eyes. Suddenly they were all fully awake. “Ah, women’s stories,” grumbled someone from the corner. Mary brushed aside the traditional prejudice. “Peter, come and see, if you don’t believe me.” John seemed incredulous for a minute, but then pulled Peter’s sleeve, got up and began to run out of the room. Peter and Mary followed him. When they reached the tomb, they found that Mary had rightly reported. Peter was afraid that the Roman soldiers might return there any moment. And he did not want to be in their bad books again. He walked hurriedly back to their hideout. John followed, still silent and thoughtful.

they peered into the tomb. Only two pieces of white cloth were lying there. The body was gone! Leaving the leader and the spices they carried, the other two women fled out of sheer fear. Tears began to flood her large, beautiful eyes. Mary - that was her name - was a beautiful young woman, but now 

But Mary was not a woman to be frightened. She stood there and began to weep! And suddenly she saw a gardener standing there. “He must be knowing something” she thought. The man spoke first. “Woman, who are you, why are you weeping and what are you doing here at this odd hour? This is not a place fit for women to come in darkness.” Don bosco july 2008

“I am looking for my Lord!” “Your Lord? Who is that? There is only a tomb here and the body of a carpenter from Galilee.” “Yes, yes, that Carpenter is my boss, and Lord. Her voice cracked. Tears began once again to flood her eyes and blur her vision. “Sir, are you the owner of this place,” she asked between the sobs. “If you have taken him away, please tell me where you have put him and I will go and take him away.” “You will carry away his body? What audacity. How can you, a slender woman, can carry away the body of a man. Do you know how heavy corpses are? Besides, what are you going to do with a dead body? Are you crazy?” “Crazy, I definitely am! He is my master, my teacher, and my healer. You seem to be a nice gentleman, and I don’t mind telling you. He healed me from the possession of seven evil spirits. I was lost. He saved me. He made me feel loved, and gave me back my selfrespect. Without him I have no life and no reason to exist. I am sure he is the Messiah… I mean… was the Messiah. Now everything is lost in my life. The day before yesterday, standing under the cross where they hanged Him, I saw him die, and I lost my soul; now, also his body, the last sign of His presence.” She began to beg and plead now. The man sat on a nearby rock still smiling and called out: “Mariette!” It was a most loving voice, like the voice of a lover calling his beloved! Mary felt a tinkle in her heart and all of a sudden it burst forth into glorious symphony. “Rabbuni!” she yelled and ran and clutched His feet in a tight embrace. She felt as if her heart would busrt. “Rabbuni, Jesus, my Rabbuni,” she called again. “Is it you? Is it really you? Oh my God, you are alive. Oh my

V A LU E S God… Oh my God!” How did I not recognize you for so long.” “You did not even look at me properly,” He said. “Mariette, I too am so happy to see you this morning.” She just held his feet tight and rested her head on His knees. “What is happening to me,” she muttered to herself. “Is this all real, or am I dreaming?” But then she realized that she was holding the real feet of Jesus in flesh and blood! “Yes, I am alive. I am the Living One, the Eternally Living One, and your friend! I told you all several times that I will come back to life. Which of you believed me. But let that be. I was talking to you so long and how is that you recognized me only when I called your name? Didn’t you think that it could be someone else who knew you?” “Oh, no! Lord, that voice and that name, they woke me up from my stupor. That loving voice hit my dark mind like the burst of the sun. I knew it was you. No one else calls me “Mariette”. “Mariette, do you know that I have a pet name for everyone of my loved ones? I call all of them by that name and with the same loving tone. It is sad that most of them do not recognize my voice. There was sadness in His voice now. “But tell me. You have always called me Rabbi. What is this ‘Rabbuni’ now?” He was now teasing her. “That is my pet name for you! I never called you like that before because others would have teased me. And you know Lord that my entire heart is in it. You know I love you more than anything else in the world. I hope it is all right if I called you by a pet name!” “Now, aren’t you letting my feet go?” “Oh no. To rest my head on your feet is heaven itself for me. Lord, I won’t let you go, now that I have found you.” Jesus laughed and said: “Don’t be afraid Mary. I have not yet ascended to my

Father and to your Father! I will still be around for some more time when you can physically see me. Now get up, I have a work to give you.” She slowly released His feet and got up. Jesus too got up from the stone where he was sitting and they began to stroll in the garden. “Go and tell my frightened disciples that I am alive and that I will come to see them.”

The man sat on a nearby rock still smiling and called out: “Mariette!” It was a most loving voice, like the voice of a lover calling his beloved! “Yes, Rabbuni,” she said, “There is nothing more exciting for me than to announce that you are alive. But they will not believe me. I have been there already earlier to tell them that … your body was missing from the tomb, and they all looked strangely at me.” “Besides, they despise me. They call me … a prostitute, and sometimes I feel they are upset because you love me. That pains me a lot. Lord you know that I was not a prostitute.” “I know. I only cured you of your several possessions of which you were a victim. It pains me too that they call you that. But you have to learn to live with certain type of calumny, which is very hard to tackle. And you will be one of the strongest witness to my living love for humanity.” Don bosco july 2008

“All right Lord. Anything for you. I will give every drop of my life only to proclaim your Resurrection! “I have one more incurable weakness,” she said with hesitation. “I am a woman! You know that in our society the witness of women is not considered credible.” Jesus laughed loud. “Oh no, Mary. Your womanhood is your strength. God’s maternity is more naturally expressed in the love of a mother!” “God’s maternity?” Mary was totally surprised. “You have taught us everyday that God is our Abba, our Father.” “Now don’t worry about all that. I assure you the woman is absolutely in no way inferior to man in God’s plan. Their witness to me is in no way less valuable. Rather, I tell you solemnly that women will witness to my love in more numbers and with greater intensity till the end of the world! You, for example, will be one of the most valuable witnesses to me, as I have appeared to you first after my coming back to life.” “Rabbuni, bear with me, just one more question before I go on my mission. Thanks for appearing first to me. But why did you choose me of all people?” Jesus laughed heartily. “Because you were the first to turn up this side. Getting up early in the morning has its advantages. And then they say that the fastest way of spreading a secret is to tell a woman!” Mary too laughed pleasantly. “Apart from jokes, Mary, your heart is pure. There is nothing in your heart except me! That is purity! Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. And you have seen God.” Mary flung herself once again at His feet in adoration and kissed them. She became the forerunner of the millions of people who will kiss His feet in adoration throughout history. He laid His hands on her head and blessed her. She got up, and began to run!

K. Maria Arokiam sdb

[email protected] 

va l u es

STORIES FOR RADIANT LIVING the difference

The Triple Filter Test

A

Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was a bit scared, so he asked his little daughter, ‘Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don’t fall into the river.’ The little girl said, ‘No, Dad. You hold my hand.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ asked the puzzled father. ‘There’s a big difference,’ replied the little girl. ‘If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go.’ Is God Holding your hand?

O

ne day a man met Socrates, the great philosopher and said,

“Do you know what I just heard about one of your friend?” “Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.” “Triple filter?” asked the man. “That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”

break the chain

A

s a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. He saw a trainer near by and asked why these magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.” The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? 32

“No,” the man said, “actually I just heard about it and wanted to tell it to you” “All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?” “No, on the contrary, it is bad.” “So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test through, because there’s one filter left: the filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?” “No, not really.” Replied the man. “Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, and nor even useful to me, why tell it to me at all .”

Don bosco july 2008

va l u es

the trick

A

young student was taking a walk with a professor. As they went along, they saw a pair of old shoes, which belonged to a poor man who was employed in a field. The student turned to the professor, saying: “Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and hide ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them.” “My young friend,” answered the professor, “we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. Instead let us put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him.” The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work and he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his eyes. He gazed upon the coin, and looked around but no person was to be seen. He put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin. His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing. The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. “Now,” said the professor, “are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?” The youth replied, “You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Don bosco july 2008

The Salt

O

nce an unhappy young man came to an old master and told he was very sad and asked for a solution. The old Master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it. “How does it taste?” the Master asked. “Awful,” spat the young man. The Master chuckled and then asked the young man to take another handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake and when the apprentice dropped his handful of salt into the lake, the old man said, “Now drink from the lake.” As the water dripped down the young man’s chin, the Master asked, “How does it taste?” “Good!” remarked the young man. “Do you taste the salt?” asked the Master. “No,” said the young man. The Master sat beside this troubled young man, took his hands, and said, “The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount we taste the ‘pain’ depends on the container we put it into. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things….. Stop being a glass. Become a lake. When you have pain in Life: put your trust in God.

A.J. Frank sdb

[email protected] 33

S

V A LU E S

ome women approached Jesus and sincerely asked him: “Is it against the Law for a woman to divorce her husband on any pretext whatever?” Salome, one of his best followers, was the leader of the group. Jesus was taken aback by the question. He was a Jew, a man from this male-dominated culture! But he recovered soon. Within himself he was happy and amused that such a question arose. “Men are supposed to ask this question. Ah… but with the arrival of the Son of Man things seem to have turned upside down,” commented Jesus with a smile. “Any way, have you not read that the Creator from the beginning made them female and male.

power, property and what not. What I want to know is whether this is really God’s mind.” Jesus saw that there was no escape from this question. “All right, if you want to know what God intended, things are not to be in this way. They are supposed to be equal in rights and dignity. In duties, of course, they cannot be the same always. You know that physically and temperamentally they are made differently and are meant to be complementary.” “I would say that God created the woman first, and then gave her a helper, the man.”

FROM THE GOSPELS AT A TANGENT - 22

Divorcing the Husband That is why a woman would leave her father and mother and cling to her husband and the two would be one body?” “So?” “So, what God has united woman shall not divide!” Peter was passing that way at that moment. He said: “If that is how things are, it is better not to marry at all!” All the women turned and stared at him angrily. He realized that he had said something foolish as usual, and quietly left the place. “You see, the reaction of Peter. Men are trying to do it all the time. Why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal could be given by men in case of divorce? Is that right?” this was Rebecca. “Rebecca, Moses?”

how

dare

you

question

“Answer me first Jesus,” she insisted. The other women in the little group chuckled. “Are you asking me to test me, or do you want a real answer?” “Lord, please…,” pleaded Salome. “I know that this is a man’s world. But is that right? Being physically stronger they make us their slaves and in everything they have the advantage, be it in worship, rights, 

(Mt 19: 3-12)

Man and woman are supposed to be equal in rights and dignity. In duties, of course they cannot be the same always… this was Deborah. Jesus realised that they had come planned to attack him. But Jesus was happy. They were not dumb, but intelligent disciples who loved him and so they felt free with him. Several of them used to help him and the apostolic group even with their own money. “Now you are going beyond inquiry and entering into polemics Deborah,” said Jesus laughing pleasantly. “Well, why do you say that?” Salome came in. “The female is the archetype of God himself according to me. Our Scripture says that God created the human being in his own image and likeness and if God is love and creator of life, then the woman is his first image. Man was Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008

made later to help her.” “That is not how it is written I think,” said Jesus, secretly admiring her daringness. “That is because the books were written by men!” “But let that be,” he continued changing the topic. “Tell me are you having problems with your husband. I have seen Suza. He seems to be a good fellow. Doesn’t he love you?” “Yes, he does, in his own way. He wants me to be a doll in the house, serve him and him only and think of nothing else in life. He thinks I am a slave that he owns and that he is my little God just because he married me! He says that in everything I have to live only on his terms, and for him alone. Should I not have a personality of my own?” “What has made you so angry?” asked Jesus. “He enslaves me in various ways, and I put up with it long enough. He does not give me freedom even to do things that I consider most important in my life.” “And what would that be that important?” “Following you, for example!” Salome said this slowly and deliberately, hitting the nail on the head. Jesus opened his eyes wide. She knew how to catch him! “He is not permitting me to follow you, even when I do not neglect my duties towards him and my children.” The Master became pensive. He bent down and started scribbling on the ground. This was his mannerism whenever he was trying to think out the solution for a problem. Just at that moment a group of Sadducees barged in. They were a group who did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. They wanted to corner Jesus and their leader straight away started with a story. “Master, there was a man who had six brothers. He married and died without issue. So, according to our law and custom,

V A LU E S call it the marriage between the people of God and the lamb of God. During their life on earth the union between married couples is to be lived as a sign of this union between the Church and her Lord, the Christ. Their conjugal love should lead them to love God rather than hinder it.” “Lord, I am thrilled,” Salome shouted. “So if my husband is a block to follow you, what shall I do?” “Disobey him,” Jesus said firmly. “You are made for your God, not for your husband. No one has the right to stop you from following your God and the One He has sent!” “Disobeying him, I can. I am already doing it. What I want to know is whether I can divorce him?” Although She asked the question quickly, there was a visible sadness in her voice. She was a good wife and loved Suza all these years. “Oh no! divorce is another matter. Love by its very nature is given permanently. You cannot truly have loved someone, and then say, ‘now I stop’. Try to convert him. Tell him that he too is made for me. If you know how to tell him that he will believe you…, and in me!” Sure enough, that night she spoke to her husband as lovingly and as clearly as possible. The next day they both came to the Master. the next brother married the widow. He too died. Thus did all the seven. Finally also the women died. Now in the resurrection of the dead, whose wife will she be?” Jesus was happy that they came. They gave him an opportunity to answer also the questions of his female disciples. “You foolish people. Do you want to marry here and continue that also in the next world?” He burst into a peel of laughter. “Only in this world there is marriage because you have a human body needed to beget children and express your love for each other. In the next world there is no marriage. Because all will be the beloveds of God alone, like the angels. There all will be married to Him. He will be the only husband and all of, his people, will be his beloveds. All the human love we cherish

in this life will not be destroyed but fused into God’s boundless love.” Following this Jesus explained to them about the loving God whose beloved ones will not be allowed to die for ever. With that, whether they understood it or not, the Sadducees left, in the same way they came.

“Come my beloved,” Jesus called out loud. Both of them were looking at each other in doubt.

“So, Salome, what were you telling me?”

“You, Suza, it is you whom I called. I think your lovely wife must have talked to you last night. Now you know that you too are made for me, not for her,” Jesus said with a smile.

“I said that my husband prohibits me from following you.”

Salome began to stare at him. But he did not mind it.

“Yes, yes… that is serious,” Jesus said with mock seriousness. “Listen carefully all of you. You just now heard me telling those Sadducees that all men and women were made by God to live with Him as His own beloved people for all eternity. Men and women are created finally to be married to God alone. In the future my disciples will

“And if ever Salome is a block for you to follow me, leave her alone and come after me,” Jesus said pleasantly with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. And that is how Suza

Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008

K. Maria Arokiam sdb

[email protected] 

va l u es

STORIES FOR RADIANT LIVING The WISE King

T

here was a country long time ago where the people would change a king every year. The person who would become the king had to agree to a contract that he would be sent to an island after his one year of being a king. One king finished his term and it was time for him to go to the island and live there. The people dressed him up in expensive clothes and put him on an elephant and took him around the cities to say goodbye to all the people. This was the moment of sadness for all the kings who ruled for one year. After saying farewell, the people took the king in a boat to the remote island and left him there. On their way back, they discovered a ship that had sunk just recently. They saw a young man who survived by holding on to a floating piece of wood. As they needed a new king, they picked up the young man and took him to their country. They requested him to be their king for a year. First he refused but later he agreed to be the king. People told him about all the rules and regulations and that how he will be sent to an island after one year. After three days of being a king, he asked the ministers if they could show him the island where all the other kings were sent. They agreed and took him to the island. The island was covered with thick jungles and sounds of vicious animals were heard coming out of them. The king went little bit inside to check. Soon he discovered the dead bodies of all the past kings. He understood that as soon as they were left in the island, the animals came and killed them. The king went back to the country and collected 100 strong workers. He took them to the island and instructed them to clean the jungle, remove all the deadly animals and cut down all the excess trees. He visited the island every month to see how the work was progressing. In the first month, all the animals were removed and many trees were cut down. In the second month, the whole island was cleaned out. The king 32

then told the workers to plant gardens in various parts of the island. He also took with him useful animals like chickens, ducks, birds, goats, cows etc. In the third month, he ordered the workers to build big houses and docking stations for ships. Over the months, the island turned into a beautiful place. The young king would wear simple clothes and spend very little from his earnings as a king. He sent all the earnings to the island for storage. After one full year the people came and dressed up the young king and put him on an elephant to take him around the country to say goodbye to others. However, this king was unusually happy to leave the kingdom. People asked him, “All the other kings would cry at this moment and why are you laughing?”The wise king answered, “While all the other kings were lost into the luxuries of the kingdom, I always thought about the future and planned for it. I turned the deadly island into a beautiful abode for me where I can stay peacefully, so why should I worry about my future” The life of this world is to prepare for the life hereafter. In this life, we shouldn’t get lost into the deceiving and attractive things of this world and forget about what is to come in the afterlife.

mulla and the wise men

O

ne day some wise men, who were going about the country trying to find answers to some of the great questions of their time, came to Mulla Nasruddin’s district and asked to see the wisest man in the place. Mulla Nasruddin was brought forward, and a big crowd gathered to listen. The first wise man began by asking, “Where is the exact center of the world?” “It is under my right heel,” answered Mulla Nasruddin. “How can you prove that?” asked the first wise man. “If you don’t believe me,” answered Mulla Nasruddin, “measure and see.” The first wise man had nothing to answer to that, so the second wise man asked his question. “How many stars

Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008

va l u es are there in the sky?” he said. “As many as there are hairs on my donkey,” answered Mulla Nasruddin. “What proof have you got for that?” asked the second wise man. “If you don’t believe me,” answered Mulla Nasruddin, “count the hairs on my donkey and you will see.” “That’s foolish talk,” said the other. “How can one count the hairs on a donkey?” “Well,” answered Mulla Nasruddin, “How can one count the stars in the sky? If one is foolish talk, so is the other.” The second wise man was silent. The third wise man was becoming annoyed with Mulla Nasruddin and his answers, so he said, “You seem to know a lot about your donkey, so can you tell me how many hairs there are in its tail?” “Yes,” answered Mulla Nasruddin. “There are exactly as many hairs in its tail as there are in your beard.” “How can you prove that?” said the other. “I can prove it very easily,” answered Mulla Nasruddin. “You can pull one hair out of my donkey’s tail for every one I pull out of your beard. If the hairs on my donkey’s tail do not come to an end at exactly the same time as the hairs in your beard, I will admit that I was wrong.” Of course, the third wise man was not willing to do this, so the crowd declared Mulla Nasruddin the winner of the day’s arguments.

Prejudice Le Guang had a very close friend who had not come to visit his house for a very long time. Le Guang was bewildered with it and asked him the reason. His friend answered, “The last time I came to your house, you served me a cup of fine wine. When I raised up the cup of wine, suddenly I saw inside that cup a small snake. I was very scared, nevertheless I still drank it. After drinking it, I felt very sick and terrible. Le Guang remembered the last time he served wine to him, on the living room’s wall, there hanged a bow decorated with snake motif. The big bow was bright in color. The small snake mentioned by his friend must be its reflection, he thought. Le Guang brought a cup of wine to the living room and asked, “What did you see in this wine?” His friend answered, “The same thing I saw the last time I visited here.” Le Guang then explained to him what was actually that his friend was seeing. Soon afterwards, his friend felt relieved and all his illnesses disappeared completely.

GOD EXISTS One day a non-believer in God challenged the king to prove him the existence of God. But he was not able to give him a convincing reply. This caused a great embarrassment to the king so he asked his wisest minister whether he could help him out. The minister agreed for a debate with the non- believer the next day at a particular time, in front of all the coutiers. The appointed time arrived the next day but there wasn’t any sign of the minister in the court. All the courtiers felt belittled that the minister had made tall claims but had absented himself from the proceedings. The minister purposely arrived at the court very late. When he arrived in front of the non-believing man, he asked, “Where were you hiding yourself?!” The minister replied, “I would have reached the court on schedule, but as I reached the riverside, I saw a peculiar scene there. It was so astonishing that my feet wouldn’t advance towards my destination! I saw a boat in the river that was floating on the water without any sailor. It was coming ashore on one side, picking up passengers and leaving them on the other side. From that side it picked up passengers and dropped them on this side! When I saw the boat had no sailor I was very astonished!” The non-believing man had a hearty laugh and said, “How is it that the boat was making the up and down trips without any sailor?” The minister now said, “When you think that a small boat cannot fend for itself without someone to row it, then how do you imagine that such a big universe will function without the One who controls it!” The non-believing man was now convinced that God exists.

A.J. Frank sdb

[email protected] Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008

33

V A LU E S

W

hen Jesus multiplied bread and fish near the lake of Galilee, close to Capernaum, the people could not believe their eyes. They had a good meal and collected the left over in twelve baskets. Several in the crowd, a couple of apostles too among them, wanted to catch hold of him that day itself and declare him their King! That would solve all their food problems, they thought! Realizing the danger, Jesus ordered the apostles to get into the boat and packed them off to the other side of the lake. He escaped to the mountains to pray to his Father, to overcome his own possible temptations of becoming an earthly king! This was a temptation that

Philip was embarrassed. In the meanwhile Simon, the Zealot joined him and recommended: “Lord, are you joking? We thought that you would do something.” Jesus heaved a sigh and thought for a moment with closed eyes. “All right. Make the people sit in groups,” he said. “Has anyone got some bread or fish? Bring them to me.” There was embarrassment again. “Not even that boy has brought anything this time,” replied Simon. Jesus controlled himself and asked for baskets. As he raised his eyes to heaven to invoke his Father, some baskets were

FROM THE GOSPELS AT A TANGENT - 23

Miracles in Vain

“Nothing at all?” Jesus asked in surprise. For he was really surprised. A week later Jesus was near Bethsaida, on the north eastern side of the lake across the place where the Jordan joins the lake. But the crowds traced him. He received them well, cured their sick and told them several parables about the Kingdom. The evening came and the people were still milling around him. They showed no signs of going home. The crowd was waiting in expectation. Jesus did not need any prompting this time. He decided to work the miracle all by himself, that too, uncharacteristically in a rather dramatic manner. The people sat on the beach sand in small groups and the apostles stood around Jesus in attention. This time no bread was brought and not even baskets

The evil one had promised to return with his temptations. Here he is again:… In the form of greed. he had already once successfully staved off in the desert. Satan had tempted him to turn stones into bread! The evil one had promised to return with his temptations. Here he was again, in the crowd! The next weekend too there was a big crowd around him. They were attracted by the possibility of getting food! This time the apostles began to have pity on them! Philip said to Jesus: “Jesus, look. These people have been following you around for the whole day. Now it is evening and this place is deserted. Where will they go?” “Well, are you going to do something for them?” Jesus asked with a smile. 

filled with fresh bread and some other baskets with fish. Immediately the apostles and some other volunteers got into action and passed the baskets around. All had their fill. “Collect what is left over,” said Jesus. After going around a little Judas said: “Sorry Lord, nothing is left over this time.” Don bosco october 2008

were collected. Jesus flipped his fingers and forty baskets appeared in front of him. He pointed his finger at them and they were all filled with fresh and sweet smelling loaves. He flipped his finger again. About 20 baskets appeared close to the water. Jesus looked at the water and waved a sign as if to welcome something. Immediately hundreds of big fish began to swim to the shore and by

V A LU E S themselves jumped into those baskets. His onlookers were dumbfounded! A third time he flipped his fingers and small bundles of firewood gathered in several places and caught fire. They were the ovens for cooking the fish. Jesus ordered: “Take this and distribute it among the people. Let them eat to their satisfaction.” Saying this, Jesus left them, walking a few feet away and began to pray alone to the Father. His silent meditation was interrupted by some noise in the crowd. Looking up, he saw that there was some confusion. A section of the crowd was on its feet shouting while some were eating and some others leaving the place with some bundles.

My father’s daily miracles are in vain, he multiples the grain you sow and the fish in the sea. And yet there is starvation. entire baskets; and some were obviously over-eating. Naturally the food was not enough for all!

Simon and James, the son of Alphaeus were coming over to Jesus. “What is the problem? Have you collected the left overs?” asked Jesus. “Left overs?” quipped James. “Lord, we are running short.” “Running short?” Jesus almost shouted. “What you produced is not enough,” said Simon. “Look there, some people on their feet. They did not get anything. Could you please…errr..” “Yes…?” “…Multiply some more bread?”

“Gather the crowd together again,” Jesus ordered. No one had the courage to say anything to him. They moved close to him and sat down, including those who did not get enough food. Obviously they were the poorest of the lot! He let his eyes wander over the crowd, observing the well-fed and the famished, the fittest and the weakest, the grabbing and the deprived! Finally his eyes also halted on his apostles, who were in-charge of the just distribution!

Jesus looked straight into their eyes. They looked down on the ground. He got up and walked towards the crowd. First he saw the Bartholomew and Judas Iscariot standing there protecting seven baskets of bread and three of fish.

“The first time you did your part and I did mine. All of you ate well, and there were twelve baskets left over. The second time I did it all, and nothing was left over. Yet I know that I produced more than enough. Then you came searching for me all the way to this unusual place. This time I worked this miracle in a dramatic manner, against my own wish. And now, food is not enough.”

“What is this for?” Jesus demanded. Iscariot hesitated and said: “We have put these aside for you and for ourselves… I am… the administrator of our group and I thought of reserving something for ourselves.” “So much? I see that you are wise and prudent leaders of my Church,” remarked Jesus with obvious irony in his voice. Moving further he saw that were leaving with bundles of food, collected for a few days to come; some had grabbed

“I have something to tell you all,” Jesus began.

Not even a leaf moved. “How would it be enough?” Jesus asked and paused. Several in the crowd lowered they eyes. The message was going home slowly, at least for those who had ears to hear. “Look at these poor people, hungry and without food. Is it my fault? Had I Don bosco october 2008

produced forty more baskets it would still not be enough! I can produce for your need, not for your greed. My Father too will not do it!” Jesus continued: “What I have done for you three times, my Father does all over the world. He multiplies bread daily! Raise your eyes and look at the fields. You drop a grain of wheat on the ground and the earth produces a hundred. Is that not a miracle? Which of you with all your wisdom and skill can do that? Look at the sea. The fishes multiply in millions. All that is my Father’s work. Then why is food running short? Why are there poor people among you? Look at the animals in the forest. The rabbits eat the grass the wolfs eat the rabbit and the lions eat the wolves. But they never run short of food! Why? Because they satisfy their need, not gather out of greed.” “ You know what I am talking about. But it pains me to tell you that you will not learn the lesson. It will always be a pain in the heart of my Father, that there will be poor, marginalized, deprived and exploited people among you. Are they not his children, and your brothers and sisters? My Father’s daily miracles are in vain, as what I have done today has been. I shall not multiply bread for you again. If you have not learnt so far, you will not learn even if I do it several times. Let him who have ears listen, and let him who has a heart understand!” The crowd got up to go home. Jesus sat down, closed his eyes and remained silent. When most of them had left, he opened his eyes to see a few people still seated there and sharing their bread and fish. Water filled his eyes. They were tears of joy. He was overjoyed to see that while most people had stomachs, some people also had a heart! How he wished he could multiply these! But he knew that not even he, the Son of Almighty God, could do it with a flip of his fingers!

K. Maria Arokiam sdb

[email protected] 

va l u es

STORIES FOR RADIANT LIVING The Red And Blue Coat

O

nce there were two boys who were great friends, and they were determined to remain that way forever. When they grew up and got married, they built their houses facing one another. There was a small path that formed a border between their farms.

One day, a trickster from the village decided to play a trick on them. He dressed himself in a two-color coat that was divided down the middle. So, one side of the coat was red, and the other side was blue. The trickster wore this coat and walked along the narrow path between the houses of the two friends. They were each working opposite each other in their fields. The trickster made enough noise as he passed them to make sure that each of them would look up and see him passing. At the end of the day, one friend said to the other, “Wasn’t that a beautiful red coat that man was wearing today?” “No”, the other replied. “It was a blue coat.” “I saw the man clearly as he walked between us!” said the first, “His coat was red.” “You are wrong!” said the other man, “I saw it too, and it was blue.” “I know what I saw!” insisted the first man. “The coat was red!” “You don’t know anything,” the second man replied angrily. “It was blue!” They kept arguing about this over and over, insulted each other, and eventually, they began to beat each other and roll around on the ground. Just then, the trickster returned and faced the two men, who were punching and kicking each other and shouting, “Our friendship is OVER!” The trickster walked directly in front of them, and showed them his coat. He laughed at their silly fight. The two 32

friends saw that his coat was red on one side and blue on the other. The two friends stopped fighting and screamed at the trickster saying, “We have lived side by side like brothers all our lives, and it is all your fault that we are fighting. You have started a war between us.” “Don’t blame me for the battle,” replied the trickster. “I did not make you fight. Both of you are wrong, and both of you are right. Yes, what each one saw was true. You are fighting because you only looked at my coat from your own point of view.” -An African Story

One step at a time

A

certain man had to go out to another town miles away. It was night and pitch dark, and all he had was a tiny little lantern which could, at most, light a couple of steps. Because the journey seemed so long, and the night dark, he was depressed and unsure - unsure of reaching his destination with only this tiny light. While he stood at his door utterly frustrated and helpless, an old man happened to appear and asked him why he was standing at his door with a lantern. The man replied that he really did not know what to do; though he was all set for the journey, it appeared so long, and the night so dark, that his small lantern could not really be of much use. The old Man explained to him that it was not necessary to have a light big enough to illuminate the whole way. ‘As you proceed’ he said, ‘the light will move with you, so that the next one or two steps will always be clear. All you need to do is to hold on to this light and start walking.

Don bosco october 2008

va l u es

THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER WAY

THE BULLS TAIL

blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: “I am blind, please help.” There were only a few coins in the hat.

A

A

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

young man wished to marry the farmer’s beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked at him and said, “Son, go stand out in that field. I’m going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter.”

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The blind boy recognized his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?” The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.” What he had written was: “Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.” The first sign simply told people to help by putting some money in the hat. The second sign told people that they were able to enjoy the beauty of the day, but the boy could not enjoy it because he was blind. There is always a better way of saying things

The Smuggler

A

clever smuggler came to the border with a donkey. The donkey’s back was heavily loaded with straw. The official at the border was suspicious and pulled apart the man’s bundles till there was straw all around, but not a valuable thing in the straw was found. “But I’m certain you’re smuggling something,” the official said, as the man crossed the border. Now each day for ten years the man came to the border with a donkey. Although the official searched and searched the straw bundles on the donkey’s back, he never could find anything valuable hidden in them. Many years later, after the official had retired, he happened to meet that same smuggler in a marketplace and said, “Please tell me, I beg you. Tell me, what were you smuggling?” “Donkeys,” said the man.

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture . The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood pawing the ground, it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture. The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed... but the bull had no tail! Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available. So always grab the first opportunity

A.J. Frank sdb [email protected] Don bosco october 2008

33