The Poor Man & Pebble Story

Every passing day is a lesson. Like pebbles by the seaside, we pick them in bits. No matter how numerous they are, we can only pick them, one at a time and at most, a hand full. Most times, we throw them away as we pick, and a few linger in our fingers, just a little longer. I have so many pebbles before me tonight but I have chosen to pick just this one. I hope you find this little pebble interesting and learn as well.

“My aunt shared this little story when I was just turning sixteen. Its about the wild fire at the great library of Alexandria. What I found amazing about the story was the fact that only one book was saved. It sounded more like a life was saved. What could be in this book that made it different from others?

As I was told, the book was not that valuable, so I presume it wasn’t locked in a special survellance system and a poor man, who could hardly read had bought it for a few coppers. Secondly, the book wasn't very interesting, so I assume a few people have read it in a life time. 

But something made it special “the pages of the book”. Would you be thinking the above described book was lined with gold. Between the pages was something quite profound, and undescribable but very interesting. It was a piece of sheath, boldly inscribed on it, was the secret of the "Touchstone"! The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. As written, “it lies among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it”. The only difference was that it felt warm while ordinary pebbles felt cold”. 

The poor man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles. He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea. Days stretched into weeks and weeks into months. One day, about mid-afternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away. So is opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand and it's just as easy to throw it away like others. 

My aunt capped her story with a single common line “a bird at hand is better than two in the forest”. I remember the story and I slowly pick the lesson tonight. I taught I should leave it on the desk for you to read as well. So this day, seize the day, seize your friendship, seize your moments, and maximize every opportunity before you. Even if the world around you speak negative, your job is poorly paid, your husband cold, your children unspeakable, and everywhere feels empty. Within your problems are the solutions for a greater tomorrow. 

Oluwamitomisin