On the other side of the shore lies an insurmountable chasm. An
elderly man by the bank gazes at the flickering lights on the distant shore,
sighing, "I never dared to venture there." Ten years have passed, and the old
man has since passed away. His lifelong wish was to cross that fragile twig and
behold the beauty of the other side. He harbored this dream as a child, carried
it into adulthood, and even in his middle age, he never gave up on it. However,
he lacked the courage to step onto that narrow path. In his old age, he often
sat by the bank, observing the person he could have become. He contemplated for
a lifetime, only to have the relentless current gradually erode his youthful
aspirations.
With his wish carried away, the old man departed, and the deity noticed his
sorrowful countenance. "Is there any regret left behind in the mortal realm?"
the deity asked. The old man nodded despondently, and the deity offered
comforting words, "I will grant you one opportunity." The old man's eyes lit up
with excitement as he pointed to the thin plank suspended over the turbulent
river. "My sole wish in life is to cross that fragile twig and behold the beauty
of the other side," he proclaimed. The deity spoke to the old man, saying, "I
won't give you much time..." and then vanished before his eyes.
In the blink of an eye, the old man found himself back in the place of his
dreams. He recalled the deity's words, "I won't give you much time."
Determinedly, the old man stepped onto the thin plank, one step at a time, and
realized that it wasn't as terrifying as he had imagined.
With unwavering confidence, the old man discovered that it was, in fact, a
sturdy steel bridge. It wasn't as frightening as he had perceived. As he reached
the other side, where his dreams resided, the deity appeared once again. "You
have finally acquired the confidence that eluded you throughout your life. You
have accomplished it, and now it is time for you to return with me," the deity
stated.
In truth, we are all like this elderly man, lingering at the crossroads of life,
akin to fragile twigs. We often hesitate and vacillate, missing opportunities
that may never come again. They will never return like an elevator. Cherish the
opportunities before us and shape ourselves with confidence because each
person's life is like a single twig, perhaps appearing as a steel bridge in the
eyes of others.
On the other shore, the lights flicker and fade away. |