the true value of friendship

Grunt, grunt, groan, the pants and noises uttered from his Mouth told of the great strain upon his lean body as Johnny Pulled himself hand over hand upon the side of the steep Mountainside, grunt, I'm, grunt going to get, groan, up to the Top if, grunt, it kills me, he thought to himself.

22,000 feet of sheer rock face to climb just to hear the wisdom Of one man, Johnny thought, well, this man had better be Worth all this effort.

For quite a few months now, Johnny's life had been going down Hill at a fast rate, losing his job, girlfriend, and respect of his Friends

His family not talking to him, and all cos of a few drinks, just a Few, Johnny thought, hell I never killed anybody, just said a few Wrong words to a few people.

All that was close to the truth for Johnny, but it was almost Every word that was wrong, his attitude was really bad towards People all of the time, and the problems grew till his boss Suggested Johnny tries another line of work, starting with Johnny looking for new work.

Grunt. Groan, Johnny looked up at saw the top of the Mountain a scant 50 ft away, gonna make it, gotta make it.

It was by word of mouth, that Johnny heard of the man on the Mountain, some wise man so to speak, some natives in the Country had talked about this man who had climbed the Mountain many years again to gaze upon the face of god and Never came down and now they saw him as some holy and Wondrous man, and it was to this man that Johnny had Travelled to see and this man, that was the reason Johnny was Almost at the top of the mountain after a 4 day climb.

With a few final grunts and groans, Johnny finally reached the Top of the mountain and gazed over and a hut made of Branches and bushes, tightly wrought together to form a water Tight hut on top on the mountain.

And sitting in front of this hut was a cross- legged old man with grey hair and brown skin; Johnny staggered over to the man And dropped down in a heap in front of the old man.

The old man looked at and started to open his mouth,

Johnny raised a hand and spoke; I have just busted my butt Climbing up this dam mountain to hear your wisdom and the least You can do is listen to me first,

Well, Johnny raved for 4 days about his problems and troubles

How life was so hard and unfair, how people didn’t respect him

And how he suffered so badly cos people were so ignorant of  Others problems and only thought of themselves, now Johnny Shared his food and water with the old man during these 4 days

And finally Johnny stopped whinging about life.

Now the old man looked at and told him this

Share your troubles with people, but do not be like a rock in the River with your troubles, for people will just flow right past and You will never go anywhere.

Talking to people who cannot help is like shouting in the wind

People are not like beasts of burden, do not ask them to carry Your problems and troubles

A person with troubles needs to be like a acre of ground in the Rain, each raindrop works together to wet the soil, they do not Work separate, people who do not know how to help are like a Light rain they do not make any difference, and people whom Think they know the only way to help you will only flood some Parts and leave other parts dry, good advice is like a good rain It is consistent, even and touches all parts in the right way.

In all parts of life, share equally, the laughter and sorrowHappiness and tears, for each has its part in life.

Do not laugh at others misfortunes, for they may be the one that Is there to help you when you fall down.

Do not profess great wisdom and knowledge, for the day will come When you will seek to learn more and people will see no reason To teach a great teacher, share what you know and let others Share with you, and all shall become wiser

The moment you are born til the moment you leave this world, You are travelling paths through life; each path is different,

Judge no man for the cut of his cloth, the word of his tongue, The way of his faith, the giving of his advises, for only a man Who has walked all paths as every man, shall know who is Walking into the swamp and who is walking into the clouds Paradise is at the end of every road and it is each mans choice How he gets there.

Know that no man is perfect, if you feel the need to advise Another about his conduct, be sure to look in the mirror as you Do so.

and finally my friend, each man fears falling, watch out for your brother and be ready to help him.

well johnny thanked the old man and gathered up his stuff, listening as the old man spoke of the 20 years on the mountain

and how he had learnt so much from the animals and the elements, johnny smiled and thanked the old man profusly and then asked, my dear teacher, i have little to give now but please ask anything at all and i will be glad to help.

the old man smiled and said yes you can do two things for me

listen to me for a minute and than help me please, well, johnny agreed totally to listen and then help the old man.

the old man said this

20 years ago, i climbed this mountain to gaze upon the face of god, and i did see the face of god, i saw his fury in the storm, his beauty in the sun lit sky, his wisdom in the animals and elements, i learnt so much for me and about me.

I climbed this mountain alone, and I learnt something.

I climbed alone, saw alone, lived alone, and I am a fool.

I have no friend to help me down this damm mountain and back to where i am loved and cared for by the people I love.

by my stupidity, I have been alone for 20 years suffering when it was so easy to accept the help and love of a friend.

and this I say to you, never turn away a friend, for being lonely is a hard way to learn the true value of friendship.

only a fool walks away from his friends to seek true wisdom, a wise man treasures friendship forever