The fisherman was so busy complaining he didn’t notice that a dark storm had been building and was just about to turn violent. In a matter of minutes, massive ocean waves were writhing and churning furiously. His little boat was cast about like a helpless twig, and then suddenly the boat exploded into tiny pieces. The fisherman was cast into the water. Desperately he groped for the largest piece of the fragmented boat he could see, and he clung to it, struggling to stay afloat.
Meanwhile, the storm tore through the village as well. The fisherman’s family was at home when it hit. Without warning the roof suddenly crashed down upon them and flames shot out from the stove. Flames began engulfing the house quickly, and although they tried to put out the fire, all was to no avail. Frightened for her children’s lives, the wife was almost more afraid of her husband’s rage when he would return to find the house burned down. Still, she sent the children to the docks to look for him since he hadn’t returned on time.
The children were likewise frightened as they ran to the docks. Even though they normally thought only of how they feared their father, now they truly worried that he was in danger. At the docks, they saw that most of the fishermen had returned safely, but their father was nowhere to be found. They called and waited.
At sea, the storm had finally abated. But it was totally dark. There in the black of night, the fisherman floated, weeping and clinging to the piece of wood, very very alone. All his life he had been an angry man, taking for granted all that he had and complaining about everything. Now he was going to die alone in the middle of the darkness and a vast, compassionless ocean. Strangely, his thoughts turned to his family. He thought intensely about how he had never told them he loved them, and he he’d never taken any time with them. He really did care for them, and now he deeply regretted his miserable life and how he had never known any joy or warmth. At that moment, he wanted to be with his family more than anything in the world.
But where was the coast? He couldn’t see in the darkness, so he couldn’t tell which direction to swim. Tired and cold, he was ready to give up hope, but suddenly off in the distance he saw a faint glimmer. Yes, it was there, a small light off to the side. He started swimming toward the light. With each stroke, he began to plan how he was going to change things, how he was going to be the husband and father he’d never been. For hours the light guided him, until finally he began to see his fishing village in the distance. The light was bringing him home, so he pushed himself even harder.
Read more next time..... :)
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