A weight on the back
Two monks left one convent to another in a distant mountain range. The journey on foot would take several days. Halfway they reached a river whose old pedestrian bridge had rotted and fallen months ago, so the inhabitants of the place had to cross it by getting into its waters. On the shore was a young woman who cried in disconsolation. When the monks approached, she told them sobbing:
- My mother is very sick and I have to meet her, but it had rained a lot and the river is very grown. I tried to cross, but the current is very strong and I can't swim. What is going to become of my mother?
“Don't worry,” said the wisest of the monks, “I'll help you. Get on my back and hold on hard.
The youngest monk did not give credit to his eyes, because of his vows they were forbidden to touch even a woman and now saw his partner blatantly break one of the most sacred rules. When he was going to say something, the other monk's look let him know that it was better to shut up. With a lot of effort they reached the other side, the woman got off showing eternally grateful and the two monks went on their way. While the wise monk spoke, sang, prayed and enjoyed the whole journey with excitement, the youngest monk remained serious, in complete silence, absorbed in his thoughts. Two days later, when they were about to reach their destination, the youngest monk finally spoke:
- You were my teacher, taught me many things, you were by my side when I swore my vows and you promised to help me fulfill them. But two days ago you not only touched a woman, but you even carried her on your shoulders for a long time. What are you going to tell the Abbot when we get there?How will this fact affect us?will we be punished?
- Yes, I certainly carried her because she really needed to be helped — replied the sage with a lot of sweetness in his voice — yet two days ago I left her behind and do nothing else but enjoy all the wonderful nature that God has created for us. That fact I don't remember anymore, instead you, my young friend, did not even rub it and you still carry it on your shoulders.
How many times do we not carry on our shoulders blame and problems from the past that all they offer us are heavy emotional burdens that become a burden for our present and our future.A REFLECTION THAT I FOUND, VERY TRUE, DIRECT AND PRECISE ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES US SOMETIMES TO BEAR THE BLAME OR BRING THE PAST INTO THE PRESENT, I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT AS MUCH AS I DO!
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