The Lord of Love

[Guest guest]

The Lord of Love

Source:http://www.ramakrishnamath.com

 

Long, long ago in Arabia there lived a very pious old man by name

Arab, who was a great devotee and lover of God and men. He served

all with love in the name of God. All over Arabia his name became

renowned for piety and hospitality.

 

One night when all the servants had gone to sleep and the whole

family was fast asleep, someone knocked at the door. Arab was awakened by the

loud knocks and opened the door. At the door stood

an old unkempt man looking very exhausted and famished. He

beseeched, " Can you give me some food, sir? I have been

starving for past one week. "

 

Arab's heart melted at the plight of the old man. He invited him in

with great love, gave him a seat and went inside. The servants and

his family members were working till late in the evening and were

all tired. The Arab did not want to disturb them at that late hour

to prepare food for the new guest. Instead he himself went into the

kitchen, prepared some food quickly and brought it to the hall. He

placed it before the old man and said, " Sir, please accept my

hospitality in the name of the Lord and bless me. May the Lord's

name be praised! "

 

The hungry man dragged the plate nearer and at once commenced eating

the food, rudely saying, " Thank you for the food. But why in God's

name? Which God is there to be worshipped? It is all nonsense. "

 

Arab was stunned. He could not imagine that there could ever be a

man who denied God. " Don't you see sir, how the kind God provided

food for you at this late hour from a stranger's house? Could you

have survived had not the loving God sustained you throughout your

life?

 

The old man was busy eating. He replied while greedily swallowing

the food, " My dear Sir, why do you speak of God? Did you ever see

him? It is your good nature that made you give me this food. I am

grateful to you. I am not so silly as to waste my time thinking of a

non-existing God. "

 

This was too much for Arab. He could no longer contain himself. He

burst out in anger, " So you do not believe in God. You feel that you

can look after yourself without depending on God. If it is so, get

out of my house. There is no place here for atheists. " In anger he

took away the plate of food from the old man and pushed him out of

the house and closed his door. Burning with indignation, he went to

bed, prayed to the Lord and fell asleep.

 

Then the Lord appeared to Arab in dream and asked, " Son, why did you

push away the poor man before he had his meal? He was very hungry.

Why did you not allow him to eat the food in full?

 

Arab trembled before the Almighty Lord and said, " Lord, I was

prepared to give him more food also if he wanted. But when he denied

you again and again it was too much for me to tolerate. "

 

The Lord smiled and said, " Son, he had been denying Me for the last

ninety years. Even then I gave him food twice a day all these years.

Could you not tolerate him for one day for My sake? "

 

Arab hung his head in shame. Shedding tears from his eyes, he

prostrated to the Lord and said, " You are the Lord of Love. I now

know how kind you are in tolerating our mistakes and still giving us

what we need. My God, in future let me have the same love for all

the beings in the world. Let me not be angry with any one for any

reason. Please pardon me for this lapse. "

GOMU <gokulmuthu