There was
a courageous young man who was yearning to find something that couldn’t be
found on Earth but at the same time something useful for himself and for other
people. He met a grey-haired hermit who lived in the distant mountains and
asked him if his dream could be made true.
“Yes,
it’s possible,” the hermit replied, “if you follow my advice. Now you will
enter this cave and face a serious trial. You should say no to all questions
but when you hear the most important question, you must say yes, or else you
will die.”
They came
closer to the cave. There was no one there. As soon as the young man entered
the cave, he heard a thunderous and powerful voice:
“Do you
want to be young forever?”
“No,” the
young man was a little embarrassed.
“Do you
want the most beautiful girl in the world to be your wife?”
“No,” the
young man hesitated.
“Do you
want to become a famous general?”
“No,” the
young man replied more firmly.
“Do you
want to possess all wealth of the earth?”
“No,” the
young man was adamant.
“Do you
want to die for the sake of something that isn’t there?”
“Yes,”
the young man responded calmly.
The
ground shook and the young man heard a faint groan, “You’ve won, O human being,
and now I have to leave the face of the earth…” The young man looked around and
could no longer see the cave and the hermit. He found himself surrounded by
happy young people. “What was that?” the young man inquired. “It was the
Death!” was the answer.
…For the life was manifested, and we have
seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with
the Father, and was manifested unto us (1 John 1:2).
By Monk Simeon of Mt. Athos
Translated
by The Catalog of Good Deeds
CONVERSATION