God and the Sadhu

Once upon a time, in a small town lived a sadhu, who was an avid devotee of God and would meditate and remember God for hours sitting under a big pipal tree. He had unbroken faith in God and everyone in the town used to respect him. One day, the town started flooding from the nearby sea and everywhere it was chaos as water was rising fast and people were running here and there to save their lives and they started to go to higher grounds. Many people saw the sadhu chanting prayers to god and they advised him to come with them to higher grounds to safety. But the Sadhu refused and said,” My god will save me, I have full faith in him.” Now the water level was around his chest it was rising steadily. Then a boat which was passing by stopped and offered to help the sadhu to reach to nearby higher land safely but the sadhu refused saying that he was sure god would save him and he was waiting for God’s help. Now the water level was almost upto his head. So the sadhu decided to climb the tree. Soon the flooding was rising higher and higher and then a helicopter which was flying announced to him to catch the rope and climb to safety in the helicopter but the Sadhu still refused and was waiting for Gods some miracle to happen. Finally the water was rising to almost tip of the tree and it uprooted and started to be pulled by the floods in the strong currents and Sadhu died. When he went to heaven he asked God, O God! I have done so much penance from so many years and have been praying with my every breadth your name and when the floods came into our town I thought you will come to my help but why didi’t you come god to save me? Then God replied, My dear child I came to help you not once but 3 times. once in form of people asking you to join them to higher grounds. Second time in form of boatman in a boat and third time in form of helicopter pilot but you refused my help as you didn't recognize me in these forms. Sadhu realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness.

Wisdom, Rules, Life lessons-In this lifetime God gives us many opportunities but the nature of this opportunities is like that of a running horse which is racing right in front of our eyes very fast…we have to recognize these opportunities and take advantage of it then they will help us reach our destination otherwise we will always regret that we missed the opportunity.

Credits- Brahma Kumaris Organization.