Simplicity

(First published online on May 22, 2008)

Let me share this beautiful story of simplicity to you. Hope you would be able to point out its lesson. It was a story told by a Guest Priest in one of his homily.

Once there were two men who grew up as best friends. They were classmates since elementary and they both help each other. One of them named Ferdinand was a very intelligent man that he always topped the class. The other one named Jason was an average man who just dreamt of having a simple life.

Since Ferdinand was an intelligent guy, he graduated as summa cum laude and became a scientist by profession. To be able to further use his knowledge and skills, he flew to Canada and work there as a brilliant inventor.

Meanwhile, Jason graduated also on the same year as Ferdinand but he just preferred to be a farmer. He bought a six hectare land with rice field at the province and lived there peacefully. Then one time, Ferdinand went back to the country and the first thing he did was he visited his long time best friend.

Jason entertained him and he showed Ferdinand his land. They visited his rice field and there, they chat on what happened to their lives. They laugh on the past memories that they recalled. Not thinking of the time, they just realize that it was already 5:00pm. Both of them felt tired and so Jason proposed to assemble a tent where they can sleep. Because they were tired and sleepy, both of them slept soundly not minding of the time again that it was already 9:00pm.

Jason woke up first and said, "Kapag minalas ka nga naman, malas". Then Ferdinand also woke up and asked what was wrong for maybe he can help. Jason spoke again, "Kapag minalas ka nga naman talaga, malas". Since Ferdinand was an intellectual man, different thoughts were now entering his mind so again he asked, "Ano bang problema, paniguradong matutulungan kita". "Tumingala ka, anong nakikita mo?!," asked Jason. "Bituin," exclaimed Ferdinand. "So anong ibig sabihin niyan para sa iyo?!" asked again by Jason. Then Ferdinand answered, "Okay, astrologically speaking, the formation of the stars foretells our future, astronomically speaking, those stars are billions of far away and can be a potential planet like the earth, theologically speaking, those wonderful stars that illuminate in the sky are part of God's creation, philosophically speaking, I can give out those reasons simply because I clearly see them, and time wise, it appears to me that it was already 9:00pm." Jason stared at him blankly while Ferdinand smiled as if very proud of his answers. Then Jason said, "Ang tanga-tanga mo." Ferdinand was surprise and so he asked, "Paanong naging tanga ako gayung limang rason nga ang naisagot ko?!" Jason said, "Kaya nga, ang tanga-tanga-tanga-tanga-tanga mo." "Bakit nga?! Ano ba ang ibig sabihin niyang nakikita mo para sa iyo?!," asked again by Ferdinand. Then Jason replied, "Simple lang, kaya mo nakikita iyang mga bituin ay dahil ninakaw ang tent natin. Kaya naman malas talaga. Halika na nga at umuwi na tayo." Ferdinand felt ashamed and so he just followed.

Moral of the story: don't go beyond the ordinary reasoning for you don't know that you are already misleading the point and clearly missing out something more important. Remember that even how intellectual you are, always remain simple and humble. Just leave your feet firmly on the ground and always make it simple.