“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: Someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”
The Saint and the Scorpion
Once, a saint was walking by a riverbank when he saw a scorpion drowning in the water. The saint decided to help the scorpion and reached out to grab it. However, as soon as the saint touched the scorpion, it stung him. Despite the pain, the saint did not let go and instead gently pulled the scorpion out of the water. As he did so, the scorpion stung him again and again. A passerby saw the saint struggling with the scorpion and asked why he was helping it when it was only causing him pain. The saint replied, “It is the nature of the scorpion to sting, and it is my nature to help. Why should I give up my nature to help just because it causes me pain?” The story teaches us that it is important to help others, even if they may not appreciate it or even harm us in return. It is our nature to be compassionate, and we should not give up on that just because it may be difficult or uncomfortable.
In this version, the story revolves around a young athletic boy who was hungry for success and measured his success only by winning.
He participated in a running competition and won two races, feeling proud and important.
He then pleaded for another race and was presented with two new challengers, an elderly frail old lady and a blind man.
As the race began, the boy noticed that the elderly lady and the blind man were struggling to run. Instead of rushing ahead, he slowed down and ran alongside them, encouraging them to keep going.
Together, they reached the finish line and the boy realized that the true victory was in helping others and enjoying the journey, rather than just winning.
The story is often used as a metaphor for the importance of slowing down, helping others, and savoring life’s moments.
It emphasizes that life is not just about winning races or achieving goals, but about enjoying the journey and being kind to others.
The lesson of the story is to appreciate the journey, help others along the way, and find joy in the process.
