God Provides To All

     Once a family man who was a Sikh came to see Guru Har Rai ji, the seventh Guru. This man worked and provided for his family and he came to the Guru very troubled. H told the Guru that he wished very much for many years to leave everything and come and stay in the Guru's service. He said, "I want to serve you and earn salvation in the next world". Then he told the Guru how he had a son who would have taken over the family responsibilities but, sadly, the boy died. "All my hopes are shattered, what can I do?!" He asked the Guru.

     Guru ji asked him how many people he had in his family. "O True King, I have two younger sons and a daughter, and my wife, their mother. I am the fifth member of the family. As far as money, whatever I earn, is used to feed us all," replied the Sikh. The Guru told him that if he wished to serve than he should go ahead and do it as well. "But Guru ji," he said, "How will they survive without me? Maybe you can give me faith that they will be taken care of. The Guru just told him to start with an errand. Guru ji said, "Take this letter to a Sikh of mine. Make sure he has read the whole letter before you leave him."

     So the man went as quick as he could. "Guru ji will give me a lesson when I get back!" he thought. When he gave the Sikh the letter he said, "I have a message from Guru Sahib for you. Please read it quickly, once you finish the whole thing, I can get a lesson from the Guru." So he read it, and here is what it said: "The one who had brought you this letter, capture him. Make sure he can not leave and keep him for six months. Treat him kindly with respect. After six months you can free him."

     Well, the Sikh reading the letter obediently listened to this order from the Guru. He locked the door and said, "I can't let you leave for six months. This is what the letter from the Guru says." The other man pleaded, "O brother, I have four people to look after, they need me. They can eat only if I earn and provide food. Without me they will starve. Please, let me go." But this Sikh didn't listen. He listened to the Guru's order and convinced him they should both listen to the Guru's order. Guru ji knows best. So he stayed there and meditated on the Guru's feet.

     Meanwhile the universe was in the process of taking care of his family. They went without dinner that night. But the neighbors found out about it. They found out that the father was missing: So the neighbors decided to help out. To start with, each family brought one tray of flour for them. There were fifty houses in the  neighborhood. So, fifty trays of flour were collected. That gave them enough to make chapatis for a long time. Then the people in the area gave them jobs. The two sons started being assistants to skilled workers, and they started earning. A lady from the neighborhood started giving the little girl and her mother lessons in embroidery. Once they learned that, they earned for their work. Now their food was no longer a problem, they started earning their living.

     Six whole months went by. The father was free to go. He immediately went to see them. The whole time he was greatly worried. Without food, maybe they wouldn't still be alive. When he found them his heart almost burst out of his chest. They looked good and healthy! The wife explained: "When you were gone the neighbors all pitched in to give us food. Then they trained us so we can work. With all of us earning now, we are very successful. We have more than we ever had before. There was never anything for you to worry about."

     Now he understood the Guru's play. This was his lesson in faith. His family was fine without him. God took care of them. He was always free to serve the Guru. He went to the Guru and gave himself in gratitude and service. He felt happiness and bliss. Guru ji taught us all an important lesson then. We should be more concerned with the heavens than the earth. We shall work and earn but we shouldn't become slaves to a boring lifestyle. How is that pleasing to God? Nothing can stop us from serving the Guru. God provides for every one. If we do God's work, not only will we survive, we will thrive! We will be prosperous in a very beautiful way!