A Christmas Special

 

Today, in this Christmas week, I want to tell you a story from my life. I was once passing through a village. There, I saw a farmer goading bulls. The surprising thing was, not only was he prodding them on but also abusing them. I didn’t like the manner in which he was abusing the poor, mute animals. I went and lovingly explained his mistake to him. He was a simple farmer. The poor fellow immediately asked me forgiveness for his behaviour. Not only this, he also promised not to abuse them in the future. 

Anyway, that day I made him understand his mistake and continued with my journey. But about six months later I happened to pass by that village again. From afar itself, I could see the farmer goading his bulls. It was astonishing to see that he was still abusing them while prodding them! I became very upset and straight away went up to him. 

As I was nearing him, he saw me. He got a little scared too, but in a jiffy he composed himself and respectfully addressing the bulls he said – “My dear bulls! The manner in which I just abused and mistreated you, I used to ill-treat you the same way before I met Christ. Today, I was just helping you recall that. So my dear children, be grateful to Christ that he freed you from hearing such abuses!

Certainly, he was saying all this only for my ears. All I said to him was – “Pretending thus, neither are you cheating me, nor the bulls but are ultimately deceiving yourself! This is exactly the same thing that I wish to tell all of you in this Christmas week. By going to Church, reading the Bible and celebrating Christmas, the illusion that you are trying to create of remembering me doesn’t convince me in the least. But by doing so, you people have definitely become disillusioned about me. So, rather than trying to fool me, it would be better if you would learn from my life and try to adopt my teachings. Your life will be transformed! 

- Deep Trivedi