The River and the Lamp
A fable of balance between body and soul.
By Arif ulla
Beside a quiet village, a great river flowed endlessly. Its waves roared with power, its waters overflowed to nourish the land, and its vastness stretched as far as the eye could see. Fields thrived because of it, trees stood tall and green, fish swam in its depths, and people found rest along its banks. The river was proud of its strength. It believed that without its waters, life itself would wither away.
In the same village, inside an old house by a window, stood a small lamp. Compared to the mighty river, it seemed almost insignificant. It lived on oil and wick, flickering gently with each passing breeze. A strong gust could extinguish it at once. And yet, in the silence of night, the little lamp lit up the house. Students read their books by its glow, travelers rested near its warmth, and children played in its light. Though tiny, the lamp carried the gift of hope and comfort.
One evening, as dusk fell and darkness stretched over the land, the proud river called out with a booming voice:
“O little lamp! Look at yourself and then look at me. I water the fields, feed the animals, and quench the thirst of every human being. My waves reach the sea, and my roar echoes to the mountains. And you? You are nothing but a weak flicker that struggles against the wind. What worth does your light hold compared to my greatness?”
The lamp listened quietly, then answered with calm:
“Indeed, you are vast and powerful. Your waters bring life to the earth, and your strength sustains the world. But think for a moment—when night falls and darkness covers everything, can your endless waters remove the shadows? You, with all your strength, cannot chase away the night. That is my work. My small flame may be fragile, but it lights the path in darkness. You nourish the body, but I give strength to the heart. Power feeds life, but hope sustains it.”
The river laughed loudly, its waves crashing with pride.
“Hope? Light? These are delicate words. Humans may survive without light, but without me, the earth would starve. My importance is greater than yours.”
The lamp glowed a little brighter, replying softly:
“Perhaps humans can live on water alone, but life without hope becomes empty. Without light, every step is uncertain, every heart restless. You refresh the body with your flow, but I comfort the soul with my glow. Both strength and hope are needed in this world. You show your greatness in force, while I show mine in gentleness.”
That night, a weary traveler arrived in the village. Exhausted from the long day, he knelt by the river and drank deeply. The water revived him, bringing back his strength. As night deepened, he made his way toward the small house where the lamp burned. Its glow welcomed him, guiding his steps through the darkness. By its light, he ate his meal, found peace, and slept with ease.
The river watched silently. For the first time, it saw how both water and light worked together. Without its waters, the traveler would have collapsed. Without the lamp’s glow, he would have been lost in darkness. The next morning, the river spoke in a gentler tone:
“Lamp, perhaps I was wrong to mock you. Last night, I saw how your flame gave the traveler comfort, even after my waters gave him strength. I now see that while I sustain the body, you sustain the heart. Without both, life is incomplete.”
The lamp flickered proudly and replied:
“You are mighty, and I am small, yet both of us are needed. True greatness is not found in size or power alone, but in the role each of us plays. The world remains balanced when all contribute what they can. No one is lesser, and no one is greater. Together we complete the circle of life.”
The river sighed deeply, its pride melting into humility. For the first time, it understood that even the smallest light can defeat great darkness. The lamp’s glow, though fragile, carried a strength of its own—the strength of hope.
From that day onward, the river no longer mocked the lamp. Instead, it flowed peacefully, proud not only of its power but also of its role in harmony with others. The lamp, too, shone more brightly, knowing that its worth was finally seen. The villagers thrived, their fields green with the river’s waters and their nights warm with the lamp’s glow.
---
🌸 The Lesson
Power sustains the body, but hope sustains the heart. Life’s balance depends on both.
True greatness is not in standing above others, but in recognizing the value of every being—whether vast like a river or small like a flickering lamp.
About the Creator
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