Sunday Parable :

The man who met the God

by Sunanda MAHENDRA

"I work so hard, and I toil so hard, but look how poor I am. I must meet the God, ask him as to why he cannot help me bring some luck on me." Though the man who wanted to in search of the God. So he decided to meet the God and went alone. On his way he met a hungry wolf. "Hello, how are you brother man? Where are you bound to?" Asked the wolf seeing the tiredness cast on the man's face. "I am on my way to meet the God." Then the man told the wolf as to why he wants to see him. "Oh brother man can you do me a favour?" Asked the wolf.

"Tell me quickly"

"When you meet the God, can you complain to him on my behalf, and let him know how hungry I am. Tell him that I am always half-starved and in search of food from morn till night - and though I roam so much that still find nothing to eat properly. So please ask the God why he does not provide sufficient food for a wolf of my type though he had created me." "I will tell him and lodge your complaint to the God," said the man to the wolf. Then he continued on his way. The man walking fast through the dates and valleys and suddenly met a beautiful maid. "Where do you go in such a hurry brother?" asked the pretty maid. "I go in search of the god," and then he explained to her his mission. "Can you do me a favour?" asked the pretty maid and told him what she desired.

"Please tell him that you met a pretty maid on your way. Tell him that though she is pretty and young and rich, she is very unhappy. Tell him that she wants some sort of happiness. Ask the God as to why he had created all the good things to her but kept her so unhappy." "Alright I will remember to tell the God about your complaint", said the man. Then he continued on his way. Soon he met a tree which seemed all dried up and gradually dying even though it grew by the side of a river.

"Oh brother man, where are going in such a hurry?" asked the tree from the man who went in search of the God. The man stopped for a while and told the tree of his mission.

"Can you do me a favour?" asked the tree.

"Tell me soon." said the man.

"Please tell the God that though I am a tree living by the side of a river.

"I am drying gradually. My leaves do not turn green. Please ask God how long I am going to suffer like this." The man listened to the tree's complaint, and promised to lodge it to get rid of the ill-condition. Then the man continued to go in search of the God. Finally the poor man reached the end of his journey. He found at last the God seated beneath the ledge of a cliff. "Good day to you God." said the man as he approached Him.

"Welcome my Man", said the God. "What brought you here and what troubles you?" Then the man told the God initially as to what pressed him to come in search of him.

"There is injustice in the world. Is it fair that I am made to toil so hard and remain so poor?" asked the man.

But oh God, there are so many who do not toil like me, but they are made to earn enough for a full stomach. So this has to change." "Don't worry." said the God understanding the condition of the man. The God added, "I grant you the gift of luck. Go home. Find the gift of luck and enjoy it to the end of your days." "But God the Great," said the man "there are a few more complaints." "What are they?" asked the God. Then the man presented one by one the three complaints lodged by the wolf, the pretty maid and the tree. The God listened keenly and granted appropriate replies. The poor man thanked the God and started his return journey. Soon he came upon the dry dying tree. "Did you get a solution for my problem?" asked the tree.

"Yes," said the man. "The God said that beneath your trunk there lies a pot of gold which prevents the water from seeping up your trunk to leaves. Until the pot of gold is removed your branches will never turn green!" "So why don't you help me and help yourself?" said the tree.

"But I have to hurry for there is a gift of luck waiting for me." said the man and hurried. Then he met the pretty maid waiting for a reply from the God.

"What message have you got for me from the God?" asked the pretty maid. "Dear sister, the God said that you will meet a man who will prove to bring the wanted happiness and be your life companion. So through him the happiness and contentment you want will come."

"So why don't you help me brother?" asked the pretty maid. "But I can't be of any help to you, for I need to go home to obtain the gift of luck given to me by the God. I have no time to waste here." And the man hurried on his way. Then he met the starving wolf.

"Oh my friend the man, what message have you got for me?" asked the wolf.

The man spoke to the wolf. "I have no time to waste here. I have already told a pretty maid and a withering tree about what the God told me. Now I got to tell you what the God told me about your complaint." "Tell me soon. I don't care a heck about what you have told others." said the wolf.

"The God said that a wolf cannot remain hungry until he meets a foolish man who does not know what a gift of luck means to him." The wolf understood what the God had said and I need not tell you what happened afterwards.