A Valuable Life-Lesson

This is a story from the distant past, when people would go on long journeys, by horse, camel, ship and even foot, for trade and to acquire knowledge.

In a certain town located in a far-off land lived two young men, Shuff and Ebi, who were good friends. One day, Shuff came to Ebi’s house to inform him that he was setting off the next day on a trading expedition. He said that he thought he should meet him before his departure as his journey was estimated to take several months.

But less than a week after this meeting, Ebi spotted Shuff in the local market. He was most surprised. Approaching Shuff, he asked him how he had returned so quickly from his journey. Shuff replied, “Two days after setting out, I reached a valley between the hills, where I decided to halt for the night. There, under a tree, I spotted a bird that was injured and so was unable to fly. I felt very sad for the creature, wondering how it might obtain food in the wilderness. I was pondering on this matter when another bird suddenly arrived on the scene. It was carrying a piece of bread in its beak. It landed near the injured bird and deposited the bread at its feet. The injured bird quickly ate it up, for it was very hungry. After this, the strong bird flew away.”

“On seeing this”, Shuff continued, “I marveled at God’s glory. I thought that when God conveys an injured bird’s sustenance in this way, what need was there for me to roam about from one town to another for my sustenance? And so, I abandoned my intention of travelling further and, turning back, returned home.”

To this, Ebi responded, “Shuff, why did you decide to become like the wounded bird? Why didn’t you choose to be like the strong bird instead, who, engaging in hard work, earns its own bread and also feeds fellow birds in need?”

Hearing this, Shuff remarked, “Oh Ebi! What you’ve just said is so very true!”