3- Transparent Glass

A rich man once wondered, “What good would all this wealth do to me when I feel this awful emptiness deep down? What does my soul long for in order to have rest?” He then went to a wise man, explaining his problem and seeking his advice.

The wise man took him to the window and both of them looked through the glass towards the heavens. The wise man then asked the rich one, “What do you see?”

“I see the beautiful blue sky.” answered the rich man.

“Look at the street. What do you see?”

“I see many people.”

Then the wise man gave him a valuable mirror and asked him, “What do you see in it?”

“I see my image.”

 Then the wise man said, “Through the cheap window glass you were able to see clearly both the beautiful blue sky and the people outside. However, through the image of the mirror you were only able to see yourself. The silver frame around this mirror is like the prison of the ego which is the killer of the soul. This is what the love of silver does.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: الزجاج الشفاف.

Give me Your simplicity

And take away from me the love of the bright silver.

O my Savior, give me Your simple eyes,

They are like the transparent glass, which looks inexpensive.

Let me have Your eyes,

Through them, I can see the beauty of the sky within me.

I can see You with Your Good Father and the Holy Spirit

And long for communion with You,

And the work of Your Spirit inside me,

To find a place in Your Father’s bosom.

Yes God, take away from me the love of bright silver

Which looks valuable in the eyes of many.

Many of whom try to work hard for it.

But the truth is: That it controls them, possesses them

And they become its slaves.

It prevents them from the vision of the sky,

So eternity becomes a shadow in their eyes,

And the heavenly glory a mirage.

And the communion with the angels becomes a psychiatric problem

And an abnormality.

Yes, it prevents them from seeing their brethren.

They ask for what is theirs and not for others.

They become prisoners in the prison of the “ego,”

And they lose the glory of the freedom of the sons of God.

My Savior, give me the simplicity of Your eyes,

And take away from me the love of the bright silver.

Give me A Piece of Smoked Fish

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Your Father is Sick, Come after the Exam