Story of the week - Victory and Defeat

October 18, 2003

Story of the week

Saturday, October 18, 2003

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Victory and Defeat

During the second world war, a steamer carrying Indian Sepoys was

bombed by the Japanese and was sunk. Many lost their lives. Five

among them managed to row their lifeboat and hoped to have a chance

of surviving in spite of the surging Ocean. They were tossed about

for many hours.

One of them became desperate and cried: "The sea will swallow me. I

will be a meal for the sharks". In that panic, he got drowned.

Another sepoy wept for his family: "Oh, I am dying without arranging

for the future of my family." He too lost faith in his survival and

breathed his last.

The third sepoy thought: "I have with me the Policy and documents of

Insurance. What a pity!" I should have kept them at home. What will

my wife do? I am sure to die." He also died.

The other two men reinforced each other's faith in God. They

said: "We shall not yield to fear. We shall prove that however

desperate the situation may be, God will certainly protect man if he

has faith in Him." Even as they were talking like this, a helicopter

sent from a coastal ship which had received signals for help, caught

sight of these two men and hauled them up. When they were safe on

land, they said, "It is only five minutes between victory and

defeat. Faith earned the victory; lack of it brought about defeat

and death."

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Source: Chinna Katha II, 149

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