Journal of Medicine Vol 2 - Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and ...

Amrita Journal of Medicine
The Fine Print
“where there is a small farm where two women live. In
them you will find two souls like your own.”
When the hermit came to the door of the little farm,
the two women who lived there were overjoyed to see
him, for everyone loved and honoured the hermit. They
put a chair for him on the porch and brought food and
drink. But the hermit was too eager to wait. He longed
greatly to know what the souls of the two women were
like, and from their looks he could see only that they
were gentle and honest. One was old, and the other of
middle age.
Presently he asked them about their lives. They told
him the little there was to tell. They had worked hard
always, in the fields with their husbands, or in the house;
they had many children; they had seen hard times, sickness
and sorrow, but they had never despaired.
“But what of your good deeds,’’ the hermit asked,
“what have you done for God?’’
“Very little,’’ they said, sadly, for they were too poor
to give much. To be sure, twice every year, during harvest
time, they gave some rice to their poorer neighbors.
“That is very good,’’ the hermit said. “And is there
any other good deed you have done?’’
“Nothing,” said the older woman, “unless, unless —
it might be called a good deed.” She looked at the younger
woman, who smiled back at her.
“What?’’ said the hermit.
Still the woman hesitated; but at last she said, timidly,
“It is not much to tell, only this, that it is twenty
years since my sister-in-law and I came to live together
in this house; we have brought up our families here. And
in all the twenty years there has never been an angry word
between us, or a look that was less than kind.’’
The hermit bent his head before the two women and
gave thanks in his heart. “If my soul is as these,” he said,
“I am blessed indeed.”
A great light suddenly came into the hermit’s mind,
and he saw how many ways there are of spiritual practice
and serving God. Some go to churches, temples, or
mosques, and some live in ashrams or caves, praying and
meditating. Some poor souls who had been very wicked,
turn from their evilness with great sorrow, and serve Him
with remorse. Some live faithfully and gently in humble
homes, working, bringing up children, staying kind and
cheerful. And some bear pain patiently, for His sake.
Endless, endless ways there are that only the Lord sees.
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