On Life 189 – He Left His Present – September 22, 2017

   Some people lead a painful life, as others do not understand their deeds, or they judge them hastily, not knowing that reality is altogether different. It is said, “Man’s true misery resides in seeing things as he wants, not as they really are.”

   Here I recall the story of a young man who dreamt of buying a luxurious car upon his graduation. He told his father about his wish, being quite rich. The young man kept awaiting his graduation day, and days passed slowly. When the day came, the father summoned his son to his office and congratulated him on his success, then offered him and nicely-wrapped gift. When the young man touched his gift, he thought it was a book. So, he was infuriated and hurried out, leaving his gift. He did not even return to his father!

   Years elapsed, and the young man remained away from his parents, rejecting to meet them. Eventually, the young man longed to see his father and decided to visit him. Yet, his father died before he did so, leaving all his money and possessions for his son. The son hurried to his father’s house, deeply saddened.

   In the office, he found his gift as he left it. He opened it, all tearfully only to find a Bible with his initials engraved on it. Holding the Bible, keys fell from its cover. The young man realized they were car keys! It was the car he had longed to buy and the keys had a card with the agency’s address on it, his graduation date, and the phrase, “Price paid fully.”

   I also recall another misunderstanding which people had of a young man living in the West. People thought that his friends attracted him to adopting this society’s values, for he would not shave his hair except once a year. Yet, the truth was that he did so in order to donate his hair to cancer patients whose hair falls due to chemotherapy they take! There are many stories and stances which offer the following message:

Dear man,

   Never judge others hastily, for you don’t know their circumstances. Nor do you know the truth about their deeds. Only God knows humans’ hearts. So, mark how you address others, and never imagine too much lest you judge people harshly and hurt their feelings whereas they love you. Remember you are a man and live like one, not as a god who judges.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center