Two Men on an Island

 

Art: Anna Lemos, 11, India

A cargo ship, which sailed from one town to another was once heavily laden with spices, pottery, and silver.

Unfortunately, one night, strong winds battered the ship in the middle of a large ocean. The winds soon developed into a wild storm. The ship's crew struggled to keep the ship under control but it swayed this way and that. The rain and unruly waves pounded the ship and it soon broke apart drowning its precious cargo and crew. 

Only two men, who clung to a plank of wood, survived. They were exhausted by the struggle and disappointed by the sight of the sinking ship. Through the dark night, the plank of wood carried them to a remote island. 

The next morning they explored the island and soon found out that the island was completely barren - nothing grew there.

They could do nothing to save themselves.

"Let's pray" said the first man. 

"Do you think that will help us?" asked the second man. 

"Let's hope."

"If you say so, then let's divide this island into two parts to see whose prayer is more powerful."

"Alright."

So they immediately divided the island into two parts by drawing a line roughly in the middle. Each man went to his own side to pray. 

The first man knelt down and prayed quietly.

The second man threw up his hands towards the sky, turned his face upwards, and loudly begged, "O God, I am hungry and thirsty. Please send me some food as soon as possible."

Immediately, a mango tree bearing ripe yellow mangoes appeared on his side of the island. A gurgling brook of fresh water ran next to it. 

The other side of the island remained bare and dry. 

After his hunger and thirst was satisfied, the second man felt that he needed a wife for company.

Once again he threw up his hands and prayed, "O God, this is a miserable life. Please send me a wife who will make me feel happy."

The next moment a girl swam to his side of the island. 

Nobody came to the other side of the island. 

When evening came, the second man, once more, pleaded, "O God, who hears all my prayers, please send a ship so that we can leave this wretched island which is in the middle of nowhere."

No sooner had he said this, he saw a ship on the horizon. 

As it came nearer, the second man and his wife prepared to board the ship. 

The first man was still quietly kneeling in prayer with his back towards them on his side of the island.

The second man boarded the ship with his wife and did not call out to the first man to join them. He thought that since none of the first man's prayers were answered, perhaps he was not destined to survive. Therefore, he decided to leave him alone on the island. 

Just then, a loud voice boomed from heaven, 

"Are you leaving the island without the other man?"

"Yes, God" said the second man "My prayers were answered but his were not. He perhaps did not pray at all and does not deserve to be saved."

"You are wrong! His prayer was more powerful" said the booming voice. "Do you know that he prayed only for one thing? If he had not done that, perhaps you would not have got anything."

"Really?" asked the second man "What did he pray for then?"

The voice answered:

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered!"

(Retold)