Friday, March 21, 2014

BEAUTY AND UTILITY

BEAUTY AND UTILITY


                              One evening, a thirsty deer was feeding in the forest. He was happy to see a pond nearby. He bent down to drink the water. Looking into the clear and still water, he could see his reflection. The sight of his attractive and alluring antlers made him proud and happy. He then noticed his long, thin and skinny legs. Sadly, he said to himself, “These legs are so ugly and do not match my majestic and appealing antlers.” Suddenly he sensed the approach of a wolf.

                              The stag ran at top speed, knowing that the wolf was fast chasing him. He suspected that other wolves in the pack would have spotted him and joined the race. His long and slender legs helped him to run at a great speed. He ran with all his might and reached much ahead of his predators. But unexpectedly his antlers got entangled in the branches of a bushy tree. He tried but could not free the antlers from the branches. He pulled with all his strength but all his efforts were in vain. Finally he made a frantic attempt and luckily could release the antlers just before the wolf could reach him. He made another frantic run for his life and could fortunately outrun the wolf.

                              Reaching a safe spot, he turned back and found that the predators had given up the chase. He sighed with relief and thought how foolish he was in praising his pretty antlers and cursing his ugly legs. Gratefully regarding his long and lean legs,with great appreciation, he remarked, “These legs are really lovely. They saved me while the dangerous antlers would have caused my death.”
                              Appearances may be deceptive. All that glitters is not gold. "Charm is deceptive and beauty disappears..."{Proverbs 31: 30}.

                              The Lord said to Samuel about Jesse’s son Eliab, “Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is. I have rejected him, because I do not judge as man judges. Man looks at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart {1 Samuel 16: 7}.

                              St. Peter advises, "You should not use outward aids to make yourself beautiful, such as the way you do your hair, or the jewellery you put on, or the dresses you wear. Instead your beauty should consist of your true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of the greatest value in God's sight" {1 Peter 3: 3, 4}. 
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© 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.
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