The Lamp that keeps Burning

Five lamps were burning inside a house. The first lamp was that of Enthusiasm. One day, it said, “I am getting bored and tired. I think it is better to die. Nobody cares for me. To keep burning is futile.” Thinking so, it got extinguished.

Seeing the lamp of enthusiasm go out, the second lamp—that of Courage—lost its courage and went out too. The third lamp—that of Peace—said, “Without enthusiasm and courage, I feel desolate and not at ease.” Saying so, its flame too faded away.

The fourth lamp was that of Prosperity. It felt lonely after three of its companions had passed away. Considering that there was no point in staying lit in the house without enthusiasm, courage or peace, it went out too.

Only one lamp was left burning in the house. Although it was the smallest, it alone was still burning.

A little girl entered the house. She was overjoyed and started dancing at the sight of the lone lit lamp. Her focus was not on the four extinguished lamps, but on that one lamp that was still burning. Feeling gratitude, she picked up this lamp and lit the other four with it!

The fifth lamp was none other than the lamp of Hope!

As long as hope is still alive, it is always possible to light up all other lamps. The flame of hope should never die.

Hope is something that you are left with when you have nothing else. And if you have it, you can have everything. Never underestimate hope. When everything else fails, hope can still come to the rescue and set things right again. Hope is something that keeps the world afloat. If it were not for hope, just imagine what would have happened in the world with all the negative news going around!

There is another important secret to the story. Who was the girl who lit up the other lamps with Hope? Her name was Faith. When faith sparks up enthusiasm, courage, peace and prosperity with the help of hope, miracles happen in life!

A hurricane was destroying everything in its way. When it came upon a tree, it saw a bird perched on a branch. It smirked at the bird, “How can you just sit happily on this tree? If I wish, I can uproot this tree in one instant. Aren’t you scared?”

The tiny bird replied, “Do whatever you like. Even if you uproot this tree, I can simply fly away flapping my wings!”

Every one of us is equipped with the two wings of Hope and Faith. We too can take flight and soar high over any calamity with the help of these wings.

~ From a Discourse delivered by Sirshree