"Humility is not thinking less of yourself 
but thinking of yourself less. 
--C.S. Lewis


Circle of Joy


One day, a countryman knocked hard 
on a monastery door.
 When the monk tending the gates opened up,
 he was given a magnificent bunch of grapes.


"Brother, these are the finest my vineyard has produced.I've come to give them as a gift."


"Thank you! I will take them to the Abbot immediately, he'll be delighted 
with this offering."


"No! I brought them for you."


"For me?" The monk blushed, 
for he didn't think he deserved 
such a fine gift of nature.


"Yes!" insisted the man. 
"For whenever I knock on the door,
 it is you who opens it. 
When I needed help because the crop 
was destroyed by drought,
 you gave me a piece of bread 
and a cup of wine every day.
 I hope this bunch of grapes 
will bring you a little of 
the sun's love, the rain's beauty
 and the miracle of God, 
for it is He who made it grow so fine."


The monk held the grapes 
and spent the entire morning admiring it,
it really was beautiful;
because of this, he decided to 
deliver the gift to the Abbot, 
who had always encouraged him 
with words of wisdom.


The Abbot was very pleased 
with the grapes,but he recalled 
that there was a sick brother
in the monastery, and thought:
"I'll give him the grapes. 
Who knows, they may bring
some joy to his life."


And that is what he did. 


But the grapes didn't stay
in the sick monk's room for long,
for he reflected:
"The cook has looked after me 
for so long, feeding me 
only the best meals.
I'm sure he will enjoy these."


When the cook appeared at lunch,
to bring him his meal, 
he presented him with the grapes:


"They're for you," said the sick monk.
"Since you are always coming into contact   with that which nature produces,
 you will know what to do 
with this work of God."


The cook was amazed at the beauty
of the grapes,and showed his assistant 
how perfect they were.
So perfect, he thought to himself, 
that no one would appreciate them 
more than the sexton;
since he was responsible for 
the Holy Sacrament,
 and many at the monastery 
considered him a holy man, 
he would be best qualified 
to value this marvel of nature.


The sexton, in turn, gave the grapes 
as a gift to the youngest novice,
that he might understand 
that the work of God 
is in the smallest details of Creation. 


When the novice received them, 
his heart was filled with 
the Glory of the Lord,for he had never 
seen such beautiful grapes. 


Just then, he remembered the first time
he came to the monastery,
and of the person who had 
opened the gates for him;
it was that gesture which allowed him 
to be among this community of people
who knew how to value the wonders of life.


And so, just before nightfall, 
he took the grapes to the monk at the gates.


"Eat and enjoy them," he said. 
"For you spend most of your time alone here,
 and these grapes will make you very happy."


~Author Unknown


P.S:


When people choose to be 
the best of who they are....
and give the best they can...
in the very best ways they know.......
it's no wonder the best returns to them.
Namaste,
Bhagya