the "Burden Bearer"

In a small village far, far away, secluded from the world in a beautiful vale surrounded by high mountains, there lived a man. He was not old, but he appeared much older than his years. He was stooped over as if carrying a heavy load, and he seemed always weary. He lived alone outside the village, and had few friends. He had no name that anyone could remember. He was simply known as- the Burden Bearer.

Each morning he would wake and begin to go about his tasks- for he had responsibilities as did everyone else. But just as he would start, he'd hear the bell on his gate- "tingle-ingle"- and he would grimace. Another burden was about to be placed on his shoulders.

He didn't really mind- really, he didn't. He was glad to be of help. They would come to him complaining and sad, and leave relieved and renewed, free of their burden. But the burden had not truly been removed... it had only been transferred. To him.

Some would come to him in a state of despair so great that he feared they would not survive long enough to rid themselves of the problems they bore. For these, he would gladly add to his already heavy load- just to see joy on their faces as he lifted their weight. As they sat and wept, he wiped their tears, reminding them that all would be well. As he took their problems as his own, he also helped them understand what had brought them to this point. From those, he seldom ever had to carry more than a single burden. In his taking their load, they also learned how to avoid future problems. These experiences helped give meaning to his suffering.

But there were others. For them his suffering carried no meaning. There was no hope of relief for him any more than for them. Being relieved of one burden only meant that they were free to take on another. And they came to him over and over, never seeming concerned about resolving their problems- only finding personal relief as they heaped their troubles on his already broken shoulders. In these experiences there was no meaning. And the meaninglessness of the suffering made even the Burden Bearer weep.

One day he was in his garden. So consumed had he been in recent days that he'd almost missed the planting season. He took a seed and painfully bent over to place it in the ground. "Tingle-ingle". He grimaced, then sighed. Would it never cease? Did no one care?

But he heard no whining, none of the usual crying or demands. Had he only imagined the bell at the gate? He shifted his weight, pushing off against the soft moist earth with his hand. Oh, his back ached so badly. But before he could fully turn, he felt a hand on his shoulder. And then another. Two strong hands gripped his arms and gently, oh so very gently, lifted him until he stood facing the kindest face he had ever seen. In those eyes he saw a warmth and love deeper than he could ever have imagined.

"Let me help you," the stranger said, in a voice that stirred the heart of the Burden Bearer. "You have more here than you need to carry alone." And with those words the stranger stooped. "Place your burdens here," and he offered to the Burden Bearer his back.

"No, I could never...," began the Burden Bearer, tears beginning to flow down his cheeks. But as the stranger turned his head and the Burden Bearer once again looked into his eyes, the sentence was never completed. He reached to his back and ever so gently slowly lifted the very lightest load and haltingly moved to place it on the back of the gentle stranger. "I am so sorry," he said and laid it down. "I would never do if it were not for...", but he was interrupted by the voice of the stranger. "The burden is now mine. You are released of it. Now, another."

The Burden Bearer, weeping heavily now, still slowly, yet with increasing speed, moved to take the next burden... and then the next... and the one after it, chastising himself for the growing feeling of joy within him as the weight was removed from his shoulders. "More," said the stranger. "More, please. Let me carry your load."

And suddenly the Burden Bearer stood, erect and strong for the first time in years. With a thrill in his heart he tilted his head up to the sky and stretched his arms out as if he would reach to heaven itself. Oh, it felt so good. But while the Burden Bearer was rejoicing at his new found freedom, he was startled by a moan, and turned quickly to look at his feet. There the stranger lay, struggling to rise beneath the load which had only recently been his. He reached to help, but was lovingly pushed away. "You have carried burdens that were never yours, and you have carried them faithfully for so long. They are now mine. You are free." And with that, the stranger painstakingly stood, and began to walk away. "Tingle-ingle", and he was gone.

The Burden Bearer stood there looking until he could no longer see the stranger, whether due to the growing distance between them or the tears in his own eyes. In fact, he was still so deep in thought that he almost missed it- "tingle-ingle". He turned to look and saw a familiar face, with another problem anxious to unload. He bowed, and smiled with a genuine joy and love, and said,"Here," offering his back. "Place it here. You have carried it for so long. It is mine now. You are free." The Burden Bearer had found all the meaning he needed.