পথ হারা পথিক

Once upon a time the colors of the world started
to quarrel: all claimed that they were the best, the
most important, the most useful, the favorite.
GREEN said: “Clearly I am the most important. I
am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for
grass, trees, leaves - without me, all animals
would die. Look over the countryside and you
will see that I am in the majority.”
BLUE interrupted: “You only think about the earth,
but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water
that is the basis of life and, drawn up by the
clouds, forms the deep sea. The sky gives space
and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you
would all be nothing.”
YELLOW chuckled: “You are all so serious. I bring
laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The
sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are
yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the
whole world starts to smile. Without me there
would be no fun.”
ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet: “I am
the color of health and strength. I may be scarce,
but I am precious for I serve the needs of human
life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of
carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and
pawpaws. I don’t hang around all the time, but
when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my
beauty is so striking that no one gives another
thought to any of you.”
RED could stand it no longer. He shouted out: “I
am the ruler of all of you - I am blood - life’s
blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I
am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the
blood. Without me, the earth would be empty as
the moon. I am the color of passion and of love,
the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”
PURPLE rose up to his full height. He was very tall
and spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of
royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops
have always chosen me for I am the sign of
authority and wisdom. People do not question
me - they listen and obey.”
Finally, INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all
the others, but with just as much determination:
“Think of me. I am the color of silence. You
hardly notice me, but without me you all become
superficial. I represent thought and reflection,
twilight and deep water. You need me for balance
and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”
And so the colors went on boasting, each
convinced of his or her own superiority. Their
quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly
there was a startling flash of bright lightening -
thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour
down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in
fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: ”
You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves,
each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know
that you were each made for a special purpose,
unique and different? Join hands with one another
and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors united and
joined hands. The rain continued: “From now on,
when it rains, each of you will stretch across the
sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that
you can all live in peace. The RAINBOW is a sign
of hope for tomorrow.”
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world,
and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us
remember to appreciate one another.