436- A Lion in an Artist’s Gallery

 

St-Takla.org Image: Lion and two lionesses - Photograph by Michael Ghaly for St-Takla.org, South Africa, 2008. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أسد و2 لبؤة - تصوير مايكل غالي لـ: موقع الأنبا تكلا هيمانوت، جنوب أفريقيا، 2008.

The lions found out that an artist is having a show of his animals and birds paintings at a gallery. One of them said, “For sure, the artist will have several pieces with lions on them. We’re the kings of the jungle and we possess strength and capability. I’m going to the gallery to look at the artist’s work.”

The lion arrived at the gallery and began to look at the paintings. He came to one that a lot of people were gathered to look at. With difficulty, he walked through the crowds and stood before the painting. He was so surprised at the painting that had a huge lion with a man defeating it. The lion turned to the spectators and said, “I realize that you’re happy to see the painting of a sole man defeating a huge lion. You feel that it means victory for all of you. The artist deceived you for he recorded what is in his imagination. He’s free to paint whatever he wishes. The problem is that we don’t have among us a lion to paint a lion defeating a group of men. I advice you not to be taken in by imagination but be real and practical.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: أسد في معرض فنان!

Lord, give me the spirit of hard work.

Do not let me spend my time daydreaming.

With Your help I become victorious and defeat Satan.

He is the lion that walks about seeking whom he may devour.

With You I live, not in dreams, but in strength and victory.

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