#013 THE SMELL OF SOUP


A beggar was given a piece of bread, but nothing to put on it. Hoping to get something to go with his bread, he went to a nearby inn and asked for a handout. The innkeeper turned him away with nothing, but the beggar sneaked into the kitchen where he saw a large pot of soup cooking over the fire. He held his piece of bread over the steaming pot, hoping to thus capture a bit of flavor from the good smelling vapor. Suddenly the innkeeper seized him by the arm and accused him of stealing soup. 
"I took no soup," said the beggar. "I was only smelling the vapor." 

"Then you must pay for the smell," answered the innkeeper. The poor beggar had no money, so the angry innkeeper dragged him to court. 
Now The judge heard the innkeeper's complaint and the beggar's explanation. So you demand payment for the smell of your soup?" summarized him after the hearing. "Yes!" insisted the innkeeper. 
The judge of the town listened carefully both men. He took some golden coins from his pocket and show them to the restaurant keeper.
"Come here, please!" said to him.
When he came to receive coins, the judge jingled the coins in the palm of his hands to the man’s ear.
"Now the fee was paid" said the judge.
"What is that all about?" the restaurant keeper wondered and asked.

"Justice!" The judge replied, the sound of money is a fair compensation for the smell of the food.

How many people are like the innkeeper who think about material things and want to get money without caring for what happens to others? This is one of the biggest problems which then transform honest people into corrupted ones. Please share your point of view and comment. If you want you can share it.


Comments

  1. Nicole N20 May 2017 at 13:21

    What a great lesson the innkeeper received! That's what I call justice too... I don't understand the need to be so unfair to those who are the poorest... Some people can become very rich in material things, but their soul and spirit are so poor that they feel the need to be mean to those who have less :( I hope someday those people will be able to reflect and put themselves in the shoes of others. Life can make unexpected turns. One day we may be who most need money to survive... But let's be optimistic and do good without looking at who : ) ..

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous21 May 2017 at 11:11

      Great! Furthermore a saying that comes to my mind is "Don't let your right hand know what you left hand is doing" I mean if you help, don't do it to show off, do it because you are pious and empathetic.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous20 August 2018 at 21:33

    I agree with Nicole in many ways because is very common that rich and powerful people make a bad use of their authority forgetting their humanity. I'm tottally sure that power change people but this story teach us how a judge, which could be a rich person, can be fair too. I think some peruavian politians must read this story at the congress many times. Don't you think?
    - Ana Luisa Zapata Aguilar

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10 September 2018 at 16:57

      Right Ana, Peruvian politicians are the ones who should think carefully before taking a decision. The judge in this story was a humanist who did what was correct.

      Delete
  3. giohanna rosasco29 October 2018 at 19:28

    Well I think that no one should be denied a plate of food ,in Peru there are many beggars who do not give him food or a place to stay and we have to help the,
    It was a great lesson that the innkeeper received
    We have to help those who need more,today we can have money but tomorrow we can not have
    I thought it was a great read :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Carla Preciado24 May 2019 at 20:11

    To be honest, I consider that people are becoming more and more ambitious, but even for that, for me, there is a limit; when you cross the line and you try to take advantage of someone that is obvious need your help or at least your compassion, it's when there is something wrong with you and with your feelings, pitifully around us there is a lot of “innkeepers” who are waiting for people in need to take advantage of them, the only difference between the text and the real life is that in most cases there are no judges looking to have justice. If you ask me, find out with this type of texts occasionally it's a great way to raise awareness and try to focus in be more emphatic and less selfish with other people because the world goes around a lot, and we don't know when we can be in its place. Finally, everybody knows that help others brings a lot of peace for our soul, so is a perfect way to do something for another person and for you at the same time.

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