EDITORIAL

The Philosopher’s Stone

A saint was preparing to go on a long journey but he carried with him a special stone which he wanted to keep safe, so he went to the house of a merchant who lived nearby. He explained to the merchant that this was a magical stone which could turn metal into gold, and that if the merchant promised to keep it safe until his return, he was most welcome to use it in the meanwhile.

The merchant could not believe his luck and gladly agreed to the terms. As soon as the saint had gone he called at the scrap metal yard to enquire about the cost of scrap metal only to discover that the price had just gone up. Being a shrewd business man he decided to wait and try again the following day.

The next day he called at the scrap metal yard only to find that the price had again gone up, and so once more he decided to wait. And so it went on, day after. Each day he called at the scrap metal yard to find that the price had gone up, and each time he delayed his purchase in the hope that the price would soon come down – until one day there came a knock on the door and there stood the saint, come to collect his stone.

This life that we have been given is the magical stone, and within us lies a treasure chest full of gold. Are we so caught up in our lives, and are we too caught in our daily tasks and activities to reach within and discover that gold? Perhaps later, when we have the time, we will think about making that effort. Perhaps when the price of scrap iron goes down.

A lifetime is not long, and for some of us the sun is already sinking upon the horizon. Now is the time to investigate this life, for the opportunity is now standing before us. Empty handed we came into this world, and empty handed we shall surely leave, but in the meanwhile there is a treasure chest which resides within. The choice is ours. It is for each one of us to decide./TE