A Persian tradition tells that a caravan has been travelling for many days on the desert. There was no more water to kill their thirst.

Suddenly, the caravan travellers found a well. They tied up a pot at the end of a rope, but as it was going down the well, it broke.

They tried again, but the same thing happened. They tried a third time, but again the rope broke up.

So they decided that one of the travellers would go down the well with the rope tied up around his waist.

But he did not come back. They send a second man, but he did not come back as well.

Then a wise man, who was travelling with them, decided to go down. When he reached the bottom of the well, he met a terrible monster who believed to be the well's guardian.

The monster told the wise man:

Now you too are my prisoner, and I will release you only if you get the right answer to my question.

Go ahead, said the wise man.

From all places in the world, what is the best one?

The wise man thought about the situation he found himself in, captive and impotent. If he said the best place was his own land, the monster would feel as if he was despising his dwelling.

Finally, he replied:

      The best place in the world is where we have a close friend, even if this place is the deepest hole on Earth.

Congratulations! exclaimed the monster. You are a true man and your knowledge saved your life and your friends´ lives.

                                                           *  *  *

The best place is where we have a friend. A sincere friend, a devoted one.

The kind of friend who, using Nazareth's' Master's words, gives his own life to protect his friends.

A friend is someone who looks into our eyes while telling us what we have to hear.

However, even when saying the truth and pointing out our mistakes, he does not hurt us with his point of view.

He measures his words, using them with the right proportion as if offering a precious stone, enclosing it in a velvet box, so that it will not hurt our feelings.

When he points out our defects, his only intention is to help us grow up, and not to destroy our moral.

That is why he does not reproach us in public or shows our weaknesses, even if he knows them better than ourselves.

A true friend is not the one who is with us just to kill time, but the one who shares with us our moments of joy.

It is someone who, when watching a good film or reading a good book, recommends them to us, however, he does not take from us the pleasure of knowing them for ourselves.

A friend is someone who, even when far away, seems to be very close to us.

His voice, the affection, the attitudes arouse in our memory, each time we fell lonely.

For these people, we should give the best of ourselves.

They must receive our attention, our affection, our loyalty.

If rough winds try to obscure the brightness of the feelings which unite us and our friends, let us remember not only the happy moments spent together, but the bitter moments when we helped each other.

Let us not forget how many times his friendship helped us, filling up the emptiness we were feeling.

Let us remember how many times we shared the same desires, ideals, hopes, without using any words.

Let us remember...remember...

                                                           *  *  *

Cultivate friendship; keep friends from the happy days.

Then when solitude comes, or when you might feel the lack of tenderness or affection, you will always find a true friendship to fulfil your necessities.

 Spiritist Moment Team, based on Persian
 short story, by unknown writer.
July 13.2009.