The Echo of Life
Perhaps the most pernicious assumption about life is that we can attain some ideal by the practice of its opposite. We can see this plainly in world leaders who are certain that one more war will finally bring us peace. We remember the famous line from the U.S. Army officer who said of the Vietnamese village of Ben Tre, “We had to destroy the village in order to save it.”
But we struggle to see this craziness in ourselves. We imagine that by working too hard all our lives we will finally come to a period of glorious rest. We suppose that the best way to make our children more loving and compassionate is to lecture and badger them about their faults. We think that by living one more year in overwhelming anxiety and stress, we will finally be able to enjoy some peace.
This parable always rings in my mind.
A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the boy trips and, feeling a sharp pain he screams, “Ahhhh!” Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, “Ahhhh!”
Filled with curiosity, he screams, “Who are you?” But the only answer he receives is “Who are you?” This makes him angry so he screams, “You are a coward!”, and the voice answers, “You are a coward!”
He looks at his father, asking, “Dad, what is going on?”
“Son,” the man replies, “pay attention.” Then he yells, “I admire you!” The voice answers, “I admire you.” The father shouts, “You are wonderful!” and the voice answers, “You are wonderful!”
Then the father explains, “People call this ECHO but truly this is LIFE. Life always gives you back what you give out. It is a mirror of your actions. If you want more love, give more love. If you want more understanding, give understanding. If you want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and respect. The rule of nature applies to every aspect of our lives.”
I had never heard this parable, but how true it is. I’d like some more patience and understanding in my life, so I better start giving it!
You got it!
So true, and something we need to be reminded of more often. Thanks for sharing.
Beautifully said.
Such a simple message about life, yet so profound! I love this! Thanks for helping put things in perspective for me today!(just heard the ECHO there!)
Maggy could have probably guessed how much I’d love this.
Thank you for this reminder David – I needed this pointed out to me.
Great post and so true. You get what you give. Needed that reminder!
I wanted to call my boys and say, STRAIGHTEN UP, but I think I’ll send them a copy of their uncle’s blog instead. Thanks for that.
Wise mother, you are.
david, Judt another wonner. I seem to be saying thiw to you a lot and it is not an echo!
Blessings clark
That’s an echo I’ll take!