A talented teacher used to start his class
by narrating a story and raising a query to arouse in the students an interest
in the subject of study. The students of the school admired his style of
teaching and listened to him with ardent attention. They answered his questions
with innocence and he listened to them with patience.
Once he had to teach
them about the struggle for freedom led by the leaders of the nation. He
narrated a story to introduce the concept of freedom, liberation and
independence. “A prisoner had to spend several years in prison. After years of
painful confinement within the prison bars, he was released. Returning to his
native village, he saw a man selling caged birds to customers passing along the
road. He saw the scene and rushed to the man. He purchased the caged birds by
paying all the money he had with him. Then he opened the cages and let the
birds fly high in the sky and return to their natural nests.”
After
telling this story, the teacher asked the children, “Now tell me, why did he
buy the caged birds and let the birds free to fly in the air?” The students
thought deeply. One of them replied innocently, “Sir, it was because he needed
only the empty cages!” The teacher was lost for words.
A train is free only so long as it stays
on its track. Once it is derailed, it loses its freedom for a meaningful
movement. Voluntary sacrifice of personal rights is the basis of true freedom
and a peaceful social life. In his epic poem, ‘Paradise Lost’, John Milton
(1608-1674) depicts the devil’s distorted vision of liberty through the words
of Lucifer after he is cast from heaven to hell, “Better to reign in Hell, than
serve in Heaven.”
To a believer in God, true freedom is a
kind of voluntary bondage. It is obtained only in outright obedience to Almighty
God and the filial fellowship with His children. In days of distress he calls
to the Lord; He answers him and sets him free.
……………………………………………………………….
© By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip,
Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former Professor, Cochin
University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala,
India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St.
Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St. Antony's
Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
For more moral
stories, parables and anecdotes for students kindly visit our web-site:
Another site for Christians is: http://christian.moral-stories.com
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