The best-known story told by the Father Arsenie Boca aims to bring relief to those in distress. The parable of the little cup of tea told by the spiritual guide from Prislop teaches people what they can do “if life is hard and are hit, beaten, pushed almost mercilessly when the world seems to be spinning uncontrollably and when they feel that they are in terrible suffering. “
The Father Arsenie Boca (1910-1989) is considered one of the great spiritual guide of Romanians. He left an impressive spiritual legacy to posterity. One of the most beautiful words of wisdom left by former priest persecuted by the communist regime is the story of the tea cup, a parable intended to bring relief to sufferers.
Here is the story told by Father Arsenie Boca:
“One family went on a trip to England to buy something from a beautiful antique shop, for the celebration of their 25th anniversary of marriage. The husband and wife liked antiques and clay products, ceramics, especially cups of tea. They observed an exceptional cup and asked: “Can we see that cup? We’ve never seen anything so beautiful!”
While the selling lady gave them what they had demanded, the cup of tea began to speak: – You can not understand. I was not from the beginning a cup of tea. Once, I was just a lump of red clay. My Lord took me and I ran, I fought hard, I kneaded repeatedly, and I shouted: “Do not do that!”, “I don’t like it!”, “Leave me alone!”. But he just smiled and said gently: “Not yet.” Then, ah! I was seated on a wheel and I was spun, spun, spun. “Stop! I feel dizzy! I will be sick! “I cried. But my Lord just shook his head and said quietly: “Not yet.”
He swirled me, kneaded me and hit me and he shaped up my form until He liked it… and then I was put in the oven. I never felt so much warmth! I cried, I knocked and slammed the door … “Help! Get me out of here! “I could see my Lord through an opening and I could read his lips while he slowly shook his head from side to side:” Not yet. “
When I thought I will not stand another minute more, the door was opened. Carefully He pulled me out and put me on the shelf … I started to cool off. Oh, I felt so good! “Well, so much better”, I thought. But after I cooled down, He took me, brushed and stained me all over … the smells were horrible. I thought I will not breathe anymore. “Oh, please, stop, stop!” I cried. He just nodded and said, “Not yet!” Then suddenly I was put back in the oven.
But now it was not as the first time. It was twice as hot and I felt I would suffocate. I asked him. I insisted. I screamed. I cried … I was convinced that I will not escape! I was ready to quit. Just then… the door opened and He pulled me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering, “What will He do with me next?”
An hour later, he gave me a mirror and said: “Now look at you.” And I looked. “That’s not me; it can not be me … It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful! He spoke to me softly: “I want you to remember, I know you were hurt when you were mingled, hit, spun… but if I would have left you alone, you’d be dry. I know you felt dizzy when I spun the wheel… but if I had stopped, you would be broken into pieces, you would have crumbled.
I know it hurt and it was very hot and uncomfortable in the oven… but I had to put you there, otherwise you would have cracked. I know it did not smell good when I brushed and I stained all over, but if I had not done that, you’d never really hardened. You would not have glow in your life. If I would not have stuck you for the second time in the oven, you would not have survived much, because that reinforcement would not hold. Now you are a finished product. You’re what I had in mind the first time I started working with you. “
The moral of the story, said the confessor Arsenie Boca, is this:
“God knows what He makes from each of us. He is the potter and we are His clay. He will mold us, He will do and He will expose us to the needed pressures to be perfect to do his good, pleasant and holy will. If life seems hard and you are hurt, beaten, and pushed mercilessly; when your world seems spinning uncontrollably; when you feel that you are in a terrible suffering, when life seems dire, do yourself a tea and drink it in the prettiest cup, sit down and think about what you read here and then discusses a little with The Potter “.
Source: Adevarul.ro
Positive Words Research – Arsenie Boca deepest life lesson: “When life seems dire, do yourself a tea and drink it in the prettiest cup”
