When in Faith

Faith is not the belief that God does what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.

A rich and powerful landlord had large acres of land, many taken from farmers who failed to pay their debt. A ruthless soul, who indulged in all kinds of crime, terror, unlawful means using his money, power and authority. Insane to say the least maintained a diary of every bad deed he indulged in.

A young widow in the village with her two children was going through very bad financial crisis. Because of the drought condition most villagers had left but she refused to leave. One day she approached the landlord for help and he agreed to offer continued supply of food, some money and clothing provided she stays with him for a few days.

The young widow could well see the intentions and reasons to help and responded, “In prayer today a thought to meet you cropped up hence I am here. My children and I may just about manage our today, may be things would get worse in coming days but I refuse your offer and choose to live in pain & suffering rather than sin. There is nobody else who can help you said the landlord. She then quoted from Gurbani a verse her farmer father narrated several times. “amal kar Dhartee beej sabdo kar sach kee aab nit deh paanee……”. ”Make good deeds the soil, and let the word of the Shabad be the seed; irrigate it continually with the water of truth. Become such a farmer, and faith will sprout. This brings knowledge of heaven and hell, you fool!” SGGS Ang24.

My divine has HIS ways, I have my faith and prayers for the wellness of my children and she left. The landlord was stunned at the widow’s response as none had dared to refuse him in the past, Taken aback seeing the widows state of consciousness not to sin even once while for years he wronged without a grain of remorse. Today when he held his diary his past deeds (karmas) kept flashing his mind and could not sleep that night. Next day with his men visited the widow caught her feet and apologized. He kept weeping seeking her forgiveness, requesting her to be his sister and with her children to stay in his large house for rest of their life. He asked her to pray to her lord for his forgiveness and assured to change for better. She took some time but did forgive and later prayed for him. The little belongings they had she and her children shifted to their new home.

That night the landlord slept easy, but was found dead in sleep next morning. Landlord was just fortunate in his last few hours of his life left he acknowledged his wrong doings, pleaded forgiveness and was in penance. This realization changed his Karmas to the extent when he was standing in front of Dharmaraj and his diary was opened it was empty and clean. There is never delay in HIS Forgiveness, we ignore, delay or sometime miss the chance to penance in this lifetime. The widow became the caretaker to landlord’s wealth and property, villagers respectfully called her Didi. Based on some records in the landlord’s book certain wealth and property matters of villagers were compensated back.

Faith is strength when we feel we have none. Faith is hope when all seems lost. Faith is unseen but faith is felt.

Stay blessed with your strength, hope and experience your faith.