Dear Reader:
Yesterday when I came across a parable that begins with a man sitting beside a river bank-my thoughts immediately took me to Mepkin Abbey-one of my favorite places to go and just let my thoughts free to ponder and float idly…like the Cooper River. ( title picture)
It is so easy to detach oneself from the busyness of daily life there and instead contemplate the real meaning of giving.
The name of this Indian parable is ” Rich Man and the Beggar.” The story begins with a man enjoying his quiet contemplation time in a beautiful river bank… until he is disturbed by a beggar.
The beggar yells excitedly that he had a dream that told him to go to the riverbank and find a man who had a precious stone for him. Was that him? If so… it would end his poverty forever.
Slowly the man pulled a large diamond out of his pocket… and without any hesitation handed the stone to the beggar. The beggar couldn’t believe his good fortune and quickly ran away before the other man changed his mind.
A year passed and the beggar,dressed in wealthy clothes, came looking for the anonymous benefactor.
The man still sitting in his favorite spot along the riverbank was enjoying the peaceful flow of water before him.
” Well… you have returned my friend… what has happened?”
” Many wonderful things, I have become wealthy, found a wife, built a home… I can do what I want, when I want, with whomever I want.”
” Then for what have you returned?” asked the man.
“Please… teach me whatever it is inside you that allowed you to give me that stone so freely. “
…………………………………….
As I grow older… the less I need or especially want any more… outside of good health for as long as possible… there is nothing I need than to just be with loved ones and share life’s thoughts with friends. Thoughts, these days, are my diamonds!
So until tomorrow… Giving away experience and wisdom freely through stories enhances my spirit of detachment-take any thought and use it to help you along your path.
” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
My natural precious ” gems.”
