- Parables -

LOVE

(5) 

Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Freedom, a King had a young daughter and she had no lack of suitors; among them were young handsome princes from all over the Land. 

The King was a good, a fair and a just ruler. But he was also a very demanding father. He would never give his beautiful, young daughter to a prince who did not fulfill the requirements expected of him. 

From among all the young princes in the Land only two were deemed  suitable to court the King’s daughter. Both princes were young, handsome, strong, rich and brilliant. There was nothing they could not accomplish. They were leaders and champions of the King’s court and no woman could resist their charm and intelligence.        

But which to choose?   

The king decided to ask both of them a question to which only he knew the answer. And that question was, “What is Love?” 

The two young princes were summoned before the King. The King then asked to the first young prince: ‘What is Love?’  

The prince answered, “Love is what you feel when you see a beautiful and pure young woman, Sir. Love is the desire to be united with a beautiful maiden.” 

The King then looked at the other prince and asked the same question. ‘What is Love, young prince?’

The young prince said. “Love is to be in the company of your friends and do things together, Sir. Love is also between two people, two lovers, Sir, when they give themselves to each other.” 

‘Very well, my young princes. You answered my question according your own age and experience. However neither of your answers is the answer I am expecting from you.

Then a voice was heard from among the crowd:

“Your Majesty, isn’t Your requirement too high for these young princes? You Yourself said that the young princes answered your question according to their own experience and age. You are a King of the Land. And You see everything from on high. No one is Your equal in the Kingdom of Freedom. No one can match Your knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, even the best of us all will never know the right answer to Your question, ‘What is Love?’ 

I am the least of Your subjects. I was not born a prince myself. But I know that Love is a purpose in one’s life, and life itself - though what we do with it is another matter. Love is a purpose, as I said, because Love is something to be sought after and nobody has attained it, or will attain it, entirely in one’s lifetime.  

This is because Love is like knowledge: the more you love, the more you realize how little you love. But to illustrate my thoughts about Love, I will give You two examples.  

A mother loves her child, first of all, because she is a mother. Her love for her child is the main purpose of her life. She gives to her child Life. She lovingly feeds and nurtures it, until it too becomes an adult and she is always there until the end.  

Second, there is in our town a group of holy women living in a house for the poor, destitute, and lost people. These women work there all day around the clock without pay. They are caring and loving women and they look after our poor without complaint. The purpose of their life is to love the poor, our poor, and love is their only reward. They are not doing this for themselves, but for the One who is the source of their Love” 

“Well answered, my son. What is your name?” asked the King. 

“Riza is my name, Sir,” he replied. 

“Riza, you understand why I demand from my son-in-law the right answer to my question, ‘What is Love?’ I am King of the Kingdom of Freedom, the Land where my People lives in peace within her borders and without. As you know, Riza, there is no real freedom and peace where there is no Love, true Love. I see you are a man of wisdom, and wisdom is the root of all civilization. 

“Join us, Riza.  My daughter will be your wife. Then You and I together will pursue our common purpose, which is Love for the people of my Kingdom of Freedom.”  

Nadir Martello

 

Contact: nadir@sheddinglight.info

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