Choosing one’s fate
Many years ago, there lived a man who was
capable of loving and forgiving everyone he
came across. Because of this, God sent an angel
to talk to him.
‘God asked me to come and visit you and
tell you that he wishes to reward you for your
goodness,’ said the angel. ‘You may have any
gift you wish for. Would you like the gift of healing?’
‘Certainly not,’ said the man. ‘I would prefer
God to choose those who should be healed.’
‘And what about leading sinners back to the path of Truth?’
‘That’s a job for angels like you. I don’t
want to be venerated by anyone or to serve as a
permanent example.’
‘Look, I can’t go back to Heaven without
having given you a miracle. If you don’t choose,
I’ll have to choose one for you.’
The man thought for a moment and then said:
‘All right, I would like good to be done
through me, but without anyone noticing, not
even me, in case I should commit the sin of vanity.’
So the angel arranged for the man’s shadow
to have the power of healing, but only when the
sun was shining on the man’s face. In this way,
wherever he went, the sick were healed, the
earth grew fertile again, and sad people
rediscovered happiness.
The man traveled the Earth for many
years, oblivious of the miracles he was working
because when he was facing the sun, his shadow
was always behind him. In this way, he was able
to live and die unaware of his own holiness.
