A personal favorite of mine. This story is a powerful metaphor for our lives and how we choose to live it! Many say that they want this or that and lament over what they get. But how badly do you want what you say you want? Some of you may know this story very well. Some may have never heard it before. Whichever category you fall into, I ask that you embrace it with new or fresh eyes. Look at it as a metaphor that can change your life should you choose to see it that way.
An influential and wise old sage lived on the side of a mountain near a lake. It was common practice for the people of the village to seek his advice. The old man spent many hours sitting in front of his small hut, where he rocked in a crude rocking chair made of branches and twigs. Hour after hour he sat and rocked as he thought.
One day he noticed a young warrior walking on the path toward his hut. The young man walked up the hill and stood erect before the sage. “What can I do for you?” the old man asked.
The warrior replied, “I was told by those in the village that you are very wise. They said that you could give me the secret for happiness and success.”
The old man listened, and then looked at the ground for several moments. He rose to his feet, grabbed the boy firmly by the wrist, and led him down the path back toward the lake.
Not a word was spoken. The young warrior was obviously confused, but the sage kept walking. Soon they approached the lake, but, the old man did not stop. Out into the water the old man led the warrior. The farther they walked, the higher the water rose. It went from the warrior’s knees to his waist, then to his chin, but the old man said nothing and kept moving deeper and deeper into the water. Until finally the warrior was completely submerged.
The sage held the warriors head firmly under water. The warrior struggled desperately and began fighting for his life, but it was no use. At this point the wise old man stopped, turned led the warrior out of the lake, onto the bank and up the path back to the hut.
Still not a word was exchanged between them. The old sage sat again in his creaky chair and began to rock to and fro.
After several thought-provoking minutes, he looked into the warrior’s questioning eyes and asked, “Young man, when you were in the lake, under the water, what was it you desired most?”
Finally catching his breath, the young warrior replied, “Why you old fool, I wanted to breathe!”
The sage smiled, then spoke these words: “My son, when you want happiness and success in life, as badly as you wanted to breathe, you will have found the secret.”
How badly do you want what you say you want for your life? Do you want it as badly as your next inhalation of breath?
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