A Story of Guilt
January 18, 2015
A famous Chinese writer once wrote a story about his boyhood recalling
an innocuous but yet cruel act towards his younger brother. One autumn day, the author found his brother hiding
inside a chicken shed, instead of performed his duties as instructed; the young
boy was making a paper kit enthusiastically.
The author was frustrated and angry, without a word, he stepped on the
nearly finished kit and smashed it into pieces.
He left his brother in the shed with misery. It probably took his brother many hours to
make that kit.
Years later, they both grew up as an adult. The author became a writer and his brother was
a successful business man. That innocent
conduct resurrected one day from the author’s memory and since was tormenting him. Finally on one family gathering, the author brought
up the event. To the author’s surprise,
his young brother had no recollection of the occasion and laughed at his
brother for remembering such a childlike thing.
But that did not make the author feel any better. He carried that guilty conscious well into
his old age and finally confessed his remorse through his writings. That story caught my attention and stay with
me for many years.
I was also once a young innocent but hot tempered adolescent. Many such shameless acts were placed upon my
elder sister. Today, my sister may not
remember any of those instances or possible she has already forgiven me. Yet,
like the author, I have this enormous guilt living inside me…………….
To err is human, to forgive, divine.
Not sure I can forgive myself, but one thing I can do. We once grew up together, and we can certainly
grow old together…..
