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Monday, July 21, 2003
Flavier: The parable of the sesame seed
By Juan Flavier
IT WAS the saddest day of the farmer's wife. Nothing could console her. Not even the wise words of her parents or the kindly support of her husband.
Her grief was understandable. Her much-awaited first baby was dead after only a day of life. The great rejoicing quickly turned to mourning and sorrow.
"You will have another one," said her grandmother. "Before you know it, there will be several."
But no words seemed to assuage her bereavement. Instead, the grief grew day by day. She refused to eat. At night, she remained awake seated by the window.
Her husband was deeply concerned over her deteriorating condition.
"You must see the wise man at the edge of the barrio," the farmer pleaded. "Your parents and I can take you there." Reluctantly, she agreed.
After a brief explanation, the wise man spoke. "No need to say more. I am aware of your tragedy. I know how it feels to lose the one thing you have wanted so much. And a baby girl at that - just what you had prayed for. Now I have an assignment for you."
The young wife was intrigued. Instead of wise words, she would be given an assignment.
The wise man continued, "I want you to do a very simple task for me. The object is to get a sesame seed (linga) from each home in the barrio. Visit as many homes as you please. But you can only get a sesame seed if that home has never been visited by death in the past."
The young wife went. For the first time, her thoughts went beyond her grief. She directed her attention to the task at hand. Home after home, she inquired if death had visited. Invariably, each household had experienced a death.
After surveying the whole barrio, she decided to expand her coverage. She went to three other adjacent barrios. The result was consistent. Every home had known death.
She returned to the wise man with an empty hand.
"I have no sesame seed to deliver," said the young wife with a new expression. The grief was gone. "Every home has been visited by death in the past. I now realized that I am not alone. Many others have felt the sense of loss that I thought only I carried."
The wise man gazed out the window of his tiny hut as he pronounced, "You may not have a sesame seed. But you certainly found a seed of wisdom. For death shall always be a part of life."
(July 21, 2003 issue)
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