Once upon a time there lived a boy in a small village. His best friend was his little dog (puppy). Wherever he went he used to take the dog. He taught all kinds of tricks to this puppy. The little dog knew how to swim in the water, and how to bring back whatever he threw into the air, and so on. The boy really wanted to make this dog a real hunting dog. Since the boy was living in a cool area, the ducks from the north came there to escape the extreme cold. When these ducks came to that area the people got permits to hunt (shoot) the ducks.

One day the boy went to hunt the ducks with his little puppy. He shot the ducks and one of them fell into the lake. But you know, his little puppy ran across the water and got the duck and came back to him. The little boy could not believe his eyes. Instead of swimming in the water, the dog ran across the water. But who was going to believe it if he told this story? The people would never believe that his dog walked or ran over the water.

One day the boy invited his neighbor farmer who knows all about duck hunting to go with him. While they were together the neighbor farmer shot the ducks and one of them fell into the lake. The boy’s dog ran across the water and brought the duck to them. Then the boy said to the farmer, “Did you see what my dog did? He ran across the water and that is really a miracle!” The man looked at the boy and said, “I know—he can’t swim, right? You didn’t teach him how to swim?”

The purpose of this story is to tell you that some people are like that farmer, never acknowledging other people’s achievements. Some people are interested in focusing on other people’s faults and failures, never finding goodness in others. Where do we stand if we don’t accept other people’s achievements, but publish their faults and destroy their good names? We are in this world to help and encourage others in their achievements, not to destroy them. “Love your neighbor as yourselves”—this is said not by me, but by JESUS.

Thank you and please pray for me while I travel to India this Monday for three weeks. You will be in my thoughts and prayers as always.

Love and prayers,

Fr. Charley