THE BEST AND THE WORST
Aesop lived as a slave
and servant of Xanthus, a philosopher. One day, Xanthus planned to host a
dinner for his friends. He ordered Aesop to prepare a dinner using the best food
material available in the market. When Xanthus was ready for the dinner with
his friends, Aesop served several dishes made from the tongue of an animal. The dishes were prepared in different ways and
served with appropriate sauces. The angry Xanthus sought an explanation. Aesop
replied that the tongue was the best organ as it is the organ for expressing
eloquence, gratitude, kindness, love, praise, sociability, sympathy, truth, and
worship.
The next day,
Xanthus asked Aesop to prepare a meal using the worst material available in the
market. This time also, Aesop made different dishes using the tongue. The angry Xanthus questioned
Aesop. Aesop explained that the tongue was also the worst material, as it was
the organ used for blasphemy, conflict, cursing, defamation, fraud, gossip, injustice,
lying and treason. The philosopher learned a great lesson of life from his
servant. The tongue is the best and worst organ of the human body. Its value is
dependent on the manner of its use.
This truth is
exemplified by St. James in his epistle:
"Just
think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! And the tongue is
like a fire....We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to
curse our fellow-man, who is created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving
and cursing pour out from the same mouth" {James 3: 1-12}.
The tongue should speak only the truth. When words are manipulated to
get our own way, even deviating from truth and righteousness, we go wrong.
Jesus taught us, "Just say 'Yes' or 'No' - anything else you say comes
from the evil one" {Matthew 5:
37}.
.................................................................................................................
© By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of
Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof.
Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and
Leo. S. John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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