A Simple Solution

A Simple Solution

1990 6 June 11 A Simple Solution (384) The following is an incident as retold in the Urdu Monthly, Zikra, in its issue of November, 1989.

A certain person was once touring a desert area in a tanga (horse-drawn carriage) when signs of a storm appeared on the horizon. The tanga-driver immediately halted his vehicle for as he explained to his passengers, the storms in that area could assume frightening proportions. “They are so strong that they can carry away anything, great or small, which comes in their path. All the signs tell us that it is just such a storm which is on its way, so you had best get down from the carriage and try to save yourself.”

With the storm almost upon him, the passenger headed for a tree to take shelter behind its trunk. Seeing this, the driver called, out to him, “Never take shelter under a tree. It is very dangerous! The greatest of trees fall to the fury of the storm. There is only one way to save yourself. Lie face down on the ground.” The passenger did as he was told, which was just as well, for when the gale came, its intensity was such that it carried trees and rooftops in its wake. The tanga-driver and his passenger, however, were unaffected by it as they lay motionless on the ground. When the gale had finally blown itself out, the two men stood up, quite unhurt. The passenger was very glad that he had taken the tanga driver’s advice.

The intensity of the storm is always greater above ground level. The ground, therefore, never receives its full impact. But tall trees are hit by its full force that is why they are uprooted during storms. The grass, which hardly rises above the ground, is seldom affected, and is certainly never uprooted. Obviously, in a storm, the best thing to do is keep well down.

This is one of nature’s lessons, which shows us the way to avoid the storms of life. The simplest way at such times is to keep a low profile. For example, when someone speaks in provocative terms, put your hands over your ears. When someone throws dirt on the wall of your house, wash it off with water. When someone indulges in slogan-shouting against you, engage yourself in praying for him.