Parable of Love

In a distant land not unlike our own, in a past not unlike our present, there was a wise elder who lived on the outskirts of a village. This village was nestled on the banks of a mighty river between the mountains and the sea. The elder was known for his profound wisdom, and villagers often sought his counsel.

One day, a young man from the village came to the elder, distraught and weary. He said, “Oh wise one, I am tormented by the hardships and sorrows of this place. I wish to flee from here, to find peace and happiness elsewhere. Please, give me your blessing.”

The elder listened patiently, then spoke. “Come, my boy, let us walk together.”

They walked through the village, past the bustling intersections, across the river, and away from the town. As they walked, the elder pointed out the beauty and life in each scene – the laughter of children, the curious smell of muffler smoke, the heat of the sidewalk after a day under the sun.

“The laughter, it strains my ears,” he said. “The muffler smoke offends my nostrils. The heat oppresses my skin.”

They continued their journey up a hill overlooking the town. It was a strenuous path. The young man, still burdened by his troubles, saw the same sights but his heart remained heavy.

At the hilltop, they sat, gazing upon the scene below, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. They could see the children now quietly playing in the street, which was now empty of car traffic. Their sweaty skin was cooled by a soft breeze from the south.

The elder closed his eyes and said, “Look at this place, my boy. It is filled with both joy and sorrow. It is simple. It is complicated. All things are here.”

The young man watched him, impatiently. When the elder opened his eyes, the boy replied, “But the pain, wise one, how can I endure it?”

The elder, with a gentle smile, placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder and said, “My boy, however terrible it may be, you have not loved this place enough yet to run from it.”

With these words, the young man felt a shift within him, a deep understanding of the balance between love and hardship, and the profound connection one must have with their home before seeking to escape its embrace.