In the heart of a small village, there lived a humble barber who set up his chair beneath the shade of a grand tree, serving the locals with great skill and dedication. Life, however, was proving to be a relentless struggle for him. He had no home to call his own, no family to share his joys and sorrows, just a simple tent and a cushion to his name. Every nightfall, he would drape his tent outside a closed school, lay out his cushion, and settle in for the night.
A Life of Hardships
His days were monotonous, spent in the rhythmic motions of cutting hair and trimming beards. Yet, he wore a perpetual frown, for he had no place to call home. No wife to share his dreams, no children to bring laughter into his life. His possessions amounted to nothing more than a tent and a cushion.
As the night descended, he would sit beneath the school’s towering walls, peering at the world beyond.
One fateful morning, disaster struck the village.
The Day Disaster Struck
As dawn broke, the village was engulfed by a raging flood. Chaos reigned supreme as panic swept through the streets. People rushed to salvage whatever they could – some carried cash, others jewelry, and a few even herded their precious livestock to safety.
Amidst the tumult, one man sprinted through the village, clutching bags of gold coins, and a stash of expensive clothing. When he passed by the humble barber, who lay there with an air of tranquility, he couldn’t help but exclaim,
“Hey, everything is ruined! Life as we know it is over. Yet, here you are, lying peacefully. Your simplicity has shielded you from the wretchedness that’s befallen us.”
Upon hearing these words, the barber smiled and replied, “My friend, your riches have crumbled, but I possess something far more valuable – inner peace.”
A Profound Revelation
The man was taken aback by the barber’s response. He pondered over it and realized the profound truth hidden within those words. In his pursuit of material wealth, he had forgotten the simple joys of life and the importance of inner contentment.
He left the barber and, in a moment of enlightenment, decided to turn his life around. He donated his gold coins to the flood victims, distributed his clothing among the needy, and walked away with a newfound purpose.
The villagers watched in amazement as this transformation unfolded before their eyes. They began to understand that richness of the heart and soul far exceeded the wealth that could be counted in gold and silver.
The Day of Reckoning
As time passed, the day of judgment, as prophesized, drew near. It was a day when all souls would be held accountable for their deeds.
On one side of the divine scales, the destitute would have their reckoning. The measure would encompass two loaves of bread, a set of clothes, and the rights owed to the Almighty and His creations.
On the other side, the wealthy would stand in trepidation. Their wealth, possessions, factories, cars, mansions, gold, and jewels would be meticulously weighed. Every penny, every luxury, and every extravagance would be taken into account.
As the rich faced their moment of truth, they trembled with fear and apprehension, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
A Glimpse into the Soul
Perhaps, at that moment, they would look upon the humble barber, recognizing the calm on his face, the peace in his heart, and the simplicity of his life. And just maybe, they would whisper to themselves,