A Parable about the Wise Stableman

"Do you see, long ago there lived a stableman. He was poor, slow, and uneducated, but he never was lazy.
"And what happened to him?"
"He worked diligently, day after day, cleaning the stables, tending the horses. Why did he do it?"
"Because it was his job, he was paid for it?"
"He did not understand the value of money, which is why he was poor."
"And what happened?"
"Don't hurry. The stableman was a cheerful fellow. He worked faithfully day in and day out. One day the master, seeing his devotion, called him into the house as a chief, as a great overseer."
"But he wasn't educated?"
"Knowledge does not always lie on the surface.
His knowledge consisted of industry and devotion.
The master was a wise man; he perceived these virtues in the stableman, and so he took him to try in a new position.
The master knew that a rebellion was brewing among the people who demanded more money from him.
So he surrounded himself with loyal and devoted men. But he could not have imagined that the common people would be so drawn to the stableman."
"And what happened to him, the stableman?"
"When people came to him with various requests, he did not drive them away, but always painstakingly listened to the complaints and pleas of others to his master. Those people, seeing before them a simple man, willingly shared their troubles and told their stories. The stableman listened to them and conveyed to his master the true reasons for the people's discontent.
I told you, not everything lies on the surface.

The stableman, who did not understand the value of money and took joy in his work, wanted to understand what people needed money for. He lived with his heart, and his mind flowed from his heart. He took to each of those who came with complaints.
"But what were their requests? How could he help them?"
"They all had grievances against that master: some were starving, some worked too hard, some could not make ends meet because they were ill.
And they all complained, begging the master for more money.

When the master learned of these deep causes, he showed care to each of them.
He had not understood them before, did not wish to listen, thinking them extortioners.
He did not know because he looked at the surface and did not want to delve into the essence of what was happening.

But the stableman, the only one who worked diligently without asking for anything, suddenly opened the wise master's eyes to all that was happening. Through him, and thanks to him, the master learned how his people lived. What they lacked, what they truly needed. And he looked at them not as extortioners but with compassion, approaching each of them, giving his attention, his help.

You see, the master had no money,
and because of this he felt irritation within himself.
His treasury was empty, but does that matter when someone comes to you for help?
He ordered food and medicine given to those who needed them. Not gold or silver.

The stableman opened to the wise master the wisdom of his heart. And through the heart one can do much good, help many, accomplish many good deeds.
And then everyone in that village loved and praised the master as a caring father, who came to each of them, reaching out his hand in help, tending, protecting, comforting.
Deeds are far more important than silver and gold."