The Other-Centered Principle

A young lady was waiting for her flight in the boarding room of a big airport.  As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies.  She sat down in an armchair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace.  Beside the armchair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading.  When she took out the first cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated but said nothing. she just thought, "What nerve! If I was in the mood I would punch him for daring!"

For each cookie she took, the man took one too. This was infuriating her but she didn't want to cause a scene. When only one cookie remained, she thought, "What is this rude man going to do now?"  The man, taking the last cookie, divided it in half, giving her one half.  That was too much! She was angry now!  In a huff, she took her book, her things and stormed off to board her plane. When she sat down in her seat, inside the plane, she looked into her purse to take her eyeglasses and to her surprise, there was her packet of cookies...unopened!

She felt so ashamed! She realized that she was wrong and had forgotten her cookies were kept in her purse. The man had divided his cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter while she had been very angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now there was no chance to explain herself...nor to apologize.

Embarrassingly enough, we are like that woman. All too often we find it very difficult to step outside ourselves to serve another not to mention just casually share our lot with someone who has less or nothing at all.  Like that man who shared his cookies, God is quick to share His love! And like that last cookie, love is the only thing that by being divided is multiplied. Natural law. Natural Love. Naturally.