THE GOLDEN LEAF
The jack fruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a large,
gorgeous evergreen tree with smooth, shiny, glossy, oval, leathery, and dark green
leaves. Jack fruit is the largest edible tree-grown fruit in the world. The
fruits are very popular in India and throughout South East Asia. Its flesh has
a fine flavour resembling a combination of apple, pineapple, mango and banana.
The evergreen leaves of a young jack fruit
tree lived in harmony till one of the leaves showed signs of changing its
colour. Its colour slowly changed to golden yellow. It did not realize that the
change was a result of withering, a symptom of inevitable aging. But the foolish
leaf became boastful and told the green leaves that its golden hue was a special sign
of its superior status. But some of the more intelligent green leaves observed
the withered and dried leaves lying at the bottom of the neighbouring trees and
concluded that the colour of the haughty leaf was an indication of an impending
fall. They conveyed the message to the golden leaf but it was blind with pride
and laughed at the other leaves.
One day, during a stormy
night, the leaves trembled with the wind. The golden leaf lost its link with
the tree and fell down helplessly. It was carried by the wind and it landed at
the base of the tree. Lying there, it looked at the young, healthy and green
leaves on the tree. The leaves appeared to dance in delight, possibly laughing
at him, seeing his fatal fall. The withered leaf sadly withdrew into itself,
silently accepting its final fate. It was slowly disintegrated in the soil to
become manure for the tree.
King Philip of
Macedonia had appointed a servant in his palace, with the duty to meet him
every morning and greet him with the words, “Philip, remember that you must
die.”
'Death' is the
Damocles' sword for all mortals. Death often appears unexpectedly. At
every moment of life, we must be prepared for this impending end. Life is short
and all worldly riches and luxury have to be left behind when we die. They give
only a temporary joy. Sinful indulgence in worldly pleasures may lead to
everlasting agony in a hell of horror.
Death is the universal equalizer. Everyone is
equal before death as death comes to all - great and small {Job 3: 13-19}.
At his deathbed,
Alexander the Great instructed his close associates to leave his hands hanging
free on either side of the coffin during his royal funeral procession. That was
to teach the world that he could carry nothing with him on his final journey.
We fail to realize
this truth till we reach the last moments in life. We waste a major share of
our time, health and energy to amass fame, wealth and glory. In the parable of
the rich fool, God says to the rich man, "You fool! This very night you
will have to give up your life: then who will get all these things you have
kept for yourself?"{Luke 12: 20}.
Let us save our riches in heaven. Jesus taught us, “Provide for yourselves
purses that don’t wear out, and save your riches in heaven, where they will
never decrease, because no thief can get to them and no moth can destroy them
{Luke 12: 33}.
There is a
meaningful hymn sung at the home of the dead during the funeral rites of the
Syro-Malabar Catholic church. In Malayalam, the words are:
“Maranam varumoru naal;
Orkkuka marthya nee.
Koode
porum nin, jeevitha cheythikalum.
Salkrithyangal
cheyyuka nee, alasatha koodathe.”
The hymn may be translated as follows and sung in
the same tune:
“Death
will reach you once,
Bear
in mind, mortals.
Actions
done by you
Come
along with you.
Do
good deeds and be ready
Do
not be lazy.”
Man’s way leads to a hopeless end while God’s
way leads to an endless hope. Let us plan ahead for the unavoidable departure
from this world. Let us remember that it was not raining when Noah built the Ark.
………………………………………………………………
© 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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