This is the most crystal-clear moment in life

Author: He Chengwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Eternal Harmony
Several centuries ago, a tribal chief discovered that someone in his tribe was stealing. He gathered all the tribe members and said, "To help you live safely, thieves who are caught will be whipped 20 times." But the thief continued to steal, so the chief called everyone together again. "Listen to me," the chief announced, "This stealing must stop because it has hurt all of us in the tribe, making us suspicious and unable to live in harmony. The punishment must be increased to 30 whips." Yet, stealing continued. The chief gathered the people once more and told them that this time, the whipping would be increased to 40 times. Finally, someone came to report that the thief had been caught. The news spread, and everyone gathered to see who the thief was. When the two guards brought the thief out, people couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment. The chief’s face changed instantly, filled with shock and sorrow. The thief turned out to be his elderly and frail mother! People began whispering, watching to see how the chief would handle the situation. Finally, the chief spoke. "My dear fellow tribespeople," his voice suddenly grew hoarse, and he continued in a nearly whispering tone, "For the safety and peace of our tribe, the thief must be whipped 40 times." He nodded, and the guards immediately brought his mother forward. One gently removed her robe, revealing her thin and hunched back. Meanwhile, the chief walked over, took off his own robe, and exposed his weathered, strong, and broad shoulders. He gently wrapped his arms around his beloved mother, using his own body to shield her. He leaned close to her cheek, whispering softly, and both their tears flowed freely, unable to tell whose they were. He nodded again, and the whip fell stroke by stroke. In that fleeting moment, love and justice reached eternal harmony. P2-3