The Tale of the
Miserable Glorious Donkey
We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what’s
enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the longer we become” (Romans 8:25).
We continue to shout
our praises even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how
troubles can develop passionate p[patience in us and how that patience in turn
forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do
net” (Romans 5:3-4)
A story is told about a pitiful donkey that one day fell
into an open well. The donkey was merely traipsing about as was its routine
until one hoof connected with a large stone, and tumble after tumble it landed
in a deep well.
When his master, the farmer, came upon the downtrodden creature
held captive in the well’s mouth, he tried immediately to free him, but after
numerous hours without success, he decided to call his neighbors and friends
for additional assistance in the hopes of freeing the miserable unfortunate creatures,
all without success.,
Seeing that the donkey was old and almost infirm, he reckoned
that making the well his tomb was his only option. He could always get another donkey
and dig another well, but another back, one simply couldn’t get. So he now decided to enlist the help of his
neighbors and friends as cohorts in the sad burial and funeral of the poor animal.
After hours of listening to it piteous moans and braying, it seemed
cruel not to put the animal out of its torturous existence. So, one by one,
shovels of dirt fell upon the broken animal’s back. At first, the creature knew
not what to make of the earth landing in clods and lumps upon it, but soon realized
that the dirt was meant to harm, not, help its estate.
Brought back to his senses, the donkey began to shake the
dirt from its dusty coat. Still, more
and more gravel landed upon its already injured body and soiled his coat. This
too, it shook off again and again. Bit by bit the dirt began to fill the well,
and with each shovel-full, the donkey would take a step up and closer to the
well’s mouth. Eventually, he emerged triumphant from his make-shift tomb while
the stupefied neighbors and his master shook their heads in utter disbelief.
I fully understand and commiserate with the plight of that
donkey. I admit that at times I must shake off disappointments and disillusionments
hourly, certainly, every day like the donkey.
Yet, like the donkey, I refuse to give up, to merely play dead and roll
over. Life will attempt to suffocate you with deferred dreams, broken promises,
and failed and relationships and commitments. It is up to us to shake of the
fistful of debris, even when the next second, your back is once again covered
in grime. It becomes wearying, but shake we must if we are not to be overwhelmed
with despair and simply collapse under the weight of disappointments.
Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm
is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things- with resignation, yes, but
above all, with blazing, serene hope- Corazon Aquino
Ordinary riches can be
stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that
cannot be taken form you- Oscar Wilde
