197- An Open Tap

M.P. Green narrated a story saying that one of the mental hospitals was conducting an irregular test before permitting the patient to go out of the hospital. The doctors used to accompany the patient to a room with a basin full of water. The doctor let the tap open slightly and asked the patient to wipe the wet floor of the room.

The doctor noticed that the patient wiped the floor without turning off the tap. Accordingly the water dropped from the basin to the floor. Likewise the patient continued to wipe without result and the floor was still wet. Then the doctor asks the hospital not to let him out, as he is not cured.

A lot of times, we do what this patient has done. We leave the tap of our senses open and the bottom of our hearts continues to be open for follies which sneak from eyes, ears, tongue, nose or touch. We try to wipe our hearts of these blemishes, to no avail. But we need our Savior Jesus Christ, the physician of our souls who has the Key of David; He is the one who can open and nobody can close, and who can close and nobody opens. It is He alone who can sanctify our senses so that no dirty water can come through them.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: صنبور مفتوح!

My God! Put a guard over my mouth and a strong door for my heart.

Oh God, be the guard over my senses so that no sin could destroy them.

Oh God, You are the only One who could cure my thoughts,

Sanctify my soul and wipe the traces of my sins.

You are My Savior and the secret of my sanctity.

Poor Horse

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

I’m the Captain