A PROUD PREACHER

A proud preacher rushed to a boat-jetty to catch a boat to cross the Vembanad Lake in Kerala, India. He was a bit late and the boat had just left the shore. He could not wait for the next boat as he was in a great hurry to address a convention. So he hired an old country boat and asked the boatman to row fast.
On the way, he asked the old boatman, "Do you know philosophy?" "What is that?" asked the old man. "I have a degree in philosophy. It helps me to reason everything logically." Later he asked the boatman," Have you heard of psychology?" "No", said the poor man. "I have a master's degree in it. It makes me a very effective counsellor", he boasted. Next, he asked, "Have you heard of theology?" "I haven't heard of it", admitted the boatman. "It is the systematic study of God and religious truth and I have a Doctorate in theology. That makes my speeches authoritative", asserted the arrogant preacher.
It was then that the boatman noticed that water was entering the boat through a crack on its deck. He tried his best to plug the hole, but failed. He asked the preacher, "Do you know swimmology?" "What is that," asked the frantic preacher. "It is the science of swimming. Without knowing it you are doomed!" said the boatman. " My God, I do not know swimming, help me!" he cried out. The boat overturned and they fell into the water. With great difficulty, the old man rescued the preacher and carried him to the shore. Lying there, like Jonah vomited out of the fish, he realized that pride goes before a fall.
"Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected" {Proverbs 29: 23}. "Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!" {Matthew 5: 5}.

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By Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.
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