THE MONKS AND THE WOMEN

In a depression which is somewhere between a few mountain peaks lies a monastery where monks lived a small group of ascetics. Living in prayer and love for God they made their time and for administrative and household chores without which the proper operation of the seat would have been affected.

A day in mid autumn brought into the land surrounding the monastery in the middle of a great plague. A rain like that in the time of Noah. Three days heaven on earth shook with anger and shed a flood of water. Three nights thunder shakes the walls and light lightning was so strong that it felt like the middle of the day.

Standing forest creatures hidden fear that engulfed the whole earth like now wear a shroud of water. Creeks turned into rivers from the first day and the gentle and quiet springs were now full of deadly torrents rush and struggle. Trees for the most part managed to escape this plague that hit them. However, the oldest and many towering were now fallen to the ground.

After three days, the sun managed to win the battle of the clouds and began to caress the grass and the leaves of the forest with its warm rays. Spontaneous thousands of bugs and birds were awakened to life like an explosion of joy, with new power, with an energy gathered in the three days of chaos.

After three days of intense prayer in the monastery monks came out of their miserable little rooms left and right checking for signs of disaster, eventually finding one that roof was damaged cells which were threatening the people who lived there . Without hesitation two monks who were chosen to go to the nearest village which lies a few kilometers away, to get those needed to make the necessary repairs.

Bruno brother and brother Anton were elect for this drudgery, which is a great proof of confidence from the other monks.

Brother Bruno was a plump man with some huge hands with thick fingers like sausages. Despite his short legs he was agile as an eel, helped somewhat reduced height and that made its center of gravity is closer to the ground, which gives it a very good stability. In relations with other monks was always jovial with skills to make them smile all the time, which given the conditions in which they lived was not anyone. It was one of the reasons why it was very loved in the community of monks.

Brother Anton was almost perfect opposite of his colleague was a tall and skinny with a sharp nose. His hands had long fingers that ended with beautiful nails. But it was a sullen man communicating with other monks only short sentences and only if absolutely necessary. It was almost as though loved and respected by his brothers because faith always found gestures to help them when needed, not, as I said, a good communicator.

Brother Bruno with brother Anton went at dawn next trip to the nearest village. To make roof repairs needed nails, ropes, and many building materials. For it had been sent to speak to people in the village and see how They can help. But brother Bruno was loved by his peers especially love that knew to look over all other creatures around him from bugs to humans.

Order which included is strict, with many rules to help them to remain pure before God. They were not allowed to eat any meat, could not wake up later than 6 o'clock, had at least 12 times during the day in which to pray, but most of prohibition is to touch a woman.

Going along the road leading to the village brother Anton brother Bruno sees as roadside stops and leans over the moat still full of water.

- What are you doing? Are you sick? Bruno asked him worried.

Anton returns to face his companion and the astonished him.

- Now is the time! says he decided.

- What time? Bruno surprised shown

- Third moment of prayer.

- Um ... I understand. My dear friend, I left the convent and now we're not here to walk. We go to the village to work. So there's a lot of walking. If we stop at every bend in the road to pray, we reach the village over a month.

- God has honored more often in our prayers, 'said Anton.

- We honor by what we do, by what we are and what we think. Each step of our fellow humans to help the prayer is stronger than any other, told lip service. Rather than sit all day immersed in prayer and kissing icons, you better get your hands and help a man in distress or you fix something in our cells. I'm sure God will smile.

- Maybe you're right, brother, but my love is so deep and big that I can not sing my prayers, trying to justify his brother Anton gesture.

- Very nice, but how about if you sing Antoan going. Can you do that?

- Yes, of course, he said, rising.

The road to the village two begin to soften, need to pass only two elbows and reach the bridge over the river. From there, the road is smooth like the palm and passes through fertile plains. Two hours away and will arrive in the village. Hope hid the two is that the locals had no they greatly suffered from the storm, otherwise any chance of getting help would be compromised close

Anton is younger and lively. He came first to the bridge. Bruno is not far behind him, but he sees that he stopped and not forward at all.

- I told Anton if you pray you can do and going. Why did you stop?

- Bridge, he says almost in a whisper. The bridge is not here.

The wonder of it sincere so what causes the brother Bruno to hurry to reach him.

Indeed, the bridge is destroyed. The flood ripped in two, and one half is far away in the valley. It can be restored, but not now by the two monks. This is a big problem. Link between the monastery and civilization is broken. The two begin to think with concern how could bring construction materials to the convent. It will not be easy.

How are they there on the waterfront in the place where the bridge was even hear a sob and sob.

Carefully look around and see a woman mourning. He approached her.

- Hello.

- Hello, Your Grace.

- Why are you crying, woman?

- I have to get faster in the village, and the bridge is not.

The monks looked at each other. Anton is scared.

Bruno did not hesitate. Takes the women  in his arms and fall into the water. Slowly forward by the strong current. Hardly manage to reach the other side. She thanked and go. Anton reach him near Bruno. He's mad and it concerns him reproachfully. He knows that we are not allowed to touch a woman.

Bruno says nothing and the two continued on. The silence stretches almost to the waterfront village.

Finally Anton breaks:

- How could you do that? How could you take this woman in his arms? Did you know that you can not?

- Not I but God helped the woman to cross the river. He was manifested in my arms. And yet, I left it in the river arms, but I see that you still wear thought. The rationale for the rule in our order was taken not to touch a woman is to protect ourselves from temptation. But that does not give us the right not to help a person in need, in order to protect us from temptation.

God loves us all equally. If I did something wrong only him can ask me to account and I am  prepared to accept the consequences. You brother, however, I should not judge me because it is a great  sin.

Stunned by the words of brother Bruno, Anton understood what great sin committed if it were only for the sake of respect for the rule would not hesitate to help a person in trouble.

He continued his way to the village with the firm belief that God showed himself Brono brother how to act in that situation.

foto credit: google.com

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