There is a very small town where two similar and at
the same time different stories are told. But there are some, who say
that these are not two stories but two endings of a great story. One had
a happy ending and the other was very regrettable. It is told like this:
Two men, one was very rich and powerful and the other was wise
and profound in his reflections. The same day, unknowingly, both had a
son in different places but in the same town. And both, oddly, gave the
same name to their sons. But the names here are unimportant, it is just
a coincidence, as many others, but the end of the story, somewhat will
make us reflect about the names, maybe ours.
The sons of these men grew up healthy and strong but since it was a
small town, and both fathers wanted the best for their sons, they sent
them to a bigger city, the great city, the capital of the great kingdom.
With this purpose in mind, both fathers, in their own way, tried to do
the best for their sons.
The day and the moment came and both fathers took their sons to the
frontier of the small town. They had to leave and it was a long way with
many days ahead. Then, one of the fathers, said to his son: " I have
accumulated a very important treasure during my life and I want you to
take it as base and foundation for your studies, so you can become a
good man. Do not come back until twelve years have gone by, when you
have finished your profession and have become successful. This treasure that
I am giving you, will take you to a safe port, use it with wisdom and be
fair and self restrained. While the other father, not very far away, was
saying, unknowingly, the same words, as another coincidence. Maybe the
intonation was different but literally the same words, without omitting
anything, was said. Then, each young man, took the precious
treasure given by their fathers and started their journeys. And time and
destiny passed, there was wind and there was no wind, there was rain and
there was no rain, hot days and days that were not hot.
Both fathers would carry in their hearts, the wish to see their sons.
Many things had to happen and in fact, happened. Time kept passing, as
it usually does, one day after the other, and after twelve years, both
parents went to the frontier of the city as they had done before.
Twelve years are not too many years, but the young men had changed quite
a lot. Then, the fathers saw a caravan leaded by a man who was served by
many who admired and loved him. There were carriages, wagons, and carts.
They all were dressed with fine clothing. But a little behind them,
another man was coming, who didn't seem to have the best of luck. He was
very thin and pale, he was wearing ragged clothes, very worn out and he
seemed to be in very bad shape and with a tormented look.
When the fathers saw this scenery, they approached each other and one of
them shouted -since he raised his voice- calling the attention of the
man who was coming with a great entourage and said: " My son, I can see
that you have succeeded and that you multiplied the treasure that I
gave you and even bring more. You now have power and give orders to
many."
While the other man, who was very near, when he saw the other pale and
weak character, was left almost speechless but said: " If you are my
beloved son, who left some time ago, maybe you did not appreciate the
treasure but I open my heart to you, just as if you had done well."
Both fathers then, waited and both sons approached them, but not in the
order that they had apparently been identified but just the opposite.
The man who had more wealth, inclined in front of the conciliatory
father and said: " Father, I knew how to keep the treasure and what I
have reached is not only the obvious power but the secret that was
revealed to me within the treasure that you gave me and today I bow in
front of you, I am grateful and I appreciate you."
And he had not finished saying these words when the pale, sick, man
inclined in front of the father who had not recognized him and said
these words : " The treasure that you gave me, turned into a curse, it
confused my life, put in the wrong road my senses, and I lost
everything, conscience, reason and became the poorest of the beggars."
But what happened here? What were these treasures? Who were these
fathers?
One of them was a very rich merchant and the treasure that he gave his
son was given in gold, a lot of gold.
The other father, was wise and learned, he gave his son, some
manuscripts with deep, direct but at the same time simple reflections.
And it happened that when these young men arrived in the big city, one
of them, when he found that his treasure was gold, he threw away the
opportunity, going with bad companies, he wasted so much that he even
wasted his own body, his senses, feelings, values, and all who followed
and flattered him, when he used his last piece of gold, abandoned him
and he was left wretched and his life worsen, because he only knew that
he did not know how to live life the right way.
But the other young man,
discovered his treasure, he had to take good care of himself, he valued
the discipline, the effort, the work and he didn't go with bad companies and
during bad times, the treasure never diminished, on the contrary, it
grew.
Two men, two fathers, only one name.
Now, what treasure would you like to have?
What is your goal? You decide...
