On Life 65 – The Owner of the Bag – February 14, 2015

   When this story reached me, I thought of sharing it for contains a lot of lessons which, if we learn, will impact our stances and reactions.

   He always drove his luxurious car. I had to greet him: for I used to work as a guard in his palace. However, he never exchanged the greeting! It came to pass that he saw me once picking a bag that contained some food. However, he gave me a cold, heedless look. On the following day, I found a bag in the same place. Yet, the food therein was untouched. I did not care, for I was happy. I took it. Every day, I used to find the bag full of legumes and household stuff and I would take it happily. My wife, children and I kept wondering about the person who always forgot such a bag.

   One day, I felt there was something strange in the palace. I got to know that the owner passed away. Many people came on that day. Yet, the worst thing was that I did not get every day’s bag. I thought someone else took it. Days elapsed. No bag was left, which affected us negatively. I considered asking the heiress of the palace for a raise. When I spoke to her, she asked me, “How come your salary sufficed? You’ve not complained for the past two years. What happened?”

   I decided to tell her about the bag which satisfied most of our needs. When she heard the story, she asked when I ceased to find the bag. I answered it happened after the master’s death. As I answered, I realized that the bag ceased to be there immediately after the man’s death. I looked at the lady, only to find her tearful. I felt sorry and told her that I did not want any salary increase and I would continue working. But her words surprised me, “I was looking for the owner of the seventh bag. I’ve found him! My husband never told me who the owner of the seventh bag is.” Ever since, the bag was delivered to my house with the master’s son. I used to thank him; but he never answered. After a while, I wanted to know the reason for his not answering. So, I thanked him loudly. So, he answered, “Do excuse me, I have weak ears, just like my father!”

   Here, it is worthy to pinpoint three things. First, the palace owner never answered the guard due to his weak hearing, not his haughtiness. If you feel uncomfortable about a person’s attitude, talk to him. He might have reasons you do not know. Second, some people heed our needs when we actually think they do not care about us. Yet, their hearts are actually full of love and goodness. They give us more than we need, but without attracting our attention. Third, the benevolent never stop at a certain limit. Whenever they have the means, they use it. That guard was the seventh in a chain of giving in the man’s life. Maybe his life was full of other ways of charity with different people. So, do not judge hastily: days might reveal what you know not.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center