God is Peace

The lady, now in her late 60s has been living in solitude for more than couple of decades. In the wee hours, she sits in the lobby of her big mansion in the royal arm chair. Whenever, somebody passes by her gate, she lifts her eyes from the Bhagvath Gita and exchange a benign smile with the passer by. Over time, it became customary that many of the villagers felt, exchanging smile with her would bring good luck. However, now the smile isn’t as graceful as it was.

One day, the village chief who passed by asked her “We haven’t talked much. But then I don’t feel the radiance on your face which you had earlier. Does something trouble you?”

She opened up hesitatingly “yeah. I am bit apprehensive over something”.

“Do you mind sharing it with me? I resolve knotty issues for whole of the village. Solving your problem should be much easier”, he volunteered with an air of confidence.

”I am growing old. And I have 3 gold bangles and a big mansion. I live on my husband’s pension. He passed away long back.” She continued “and Kids I have none.” Chief’s eyebrows creased with attentiveness and he clarified “It’s been the same for more than a decade. What has changed now?”

She retorted “You asked the right question. I am growing old and one day I will die. ” Chief looked perplexed as she continued “When I die the outside world will not know till I rot. And I sleep with the doors closed. When my corpse stinks, the villagers will break open the door. My soul would wander in this house after I die. I wouldn’t be so happy to be in a broken house then”

“Why do you want to sleep with the door closed? Keep it open. Nobody will break your door. Simple.”

Chief’s pragmatism did not work- “What if somebody steal my bangles, when I sleep with doors open”.

“In that case why don’t you give me your bangles for safe custody”.

“I trust none.”. She curtly replied. “I must admit, I don’t have a solution”. He gave up. Village chief was later followed by few other elites of the society that included the village doctor, priest and the headmaster. As for the chief, none could give her a solution and over time the worry took the better of her.

At last she was visited by man with an undistinguished look. The question answer session went as before. “I have a solution.” He said. Her eyes lit up as he heard. “I am the thief and have never been caught. I can open any locked door like a charm. The day I don’t see you in the morning I will open the door without even a hair line crack on it. You can lock the door and sleep peacefully.”

“How do I trust you? Having heard of all my assets, what if you steal my bangles ?” She asked worriedly.

“I won’t kill the goose that lays golden egg. You bring me good luck with your smile everyday”.

“What If I tell others that you are thief? How did you trust me?” She had a point

“If you tell others, I will be caught and there won’t be any one to open the doors, the way I do. I am sure you won't make such a ludicrous move”, He added up.

From then on she slept peacefully and the graceful smile returned on her face. God is peace and appears before the needy - not necessarily the form you expect him to.