Desire's Answer

by Brad Beals

A baby newly born said to his mother, "Mother, I am cold. What is that for?"

The mother answered, "You are cold because there is a thing called warmth. Let me hold you in my arms by the fireside, and then you will know what warmth is."

So the baby lay in his mother's arms, and soon enough he found that his mother had been right, for he was warm.

Then after a little while he said to her, "Mother, I am hungry. What is that for?"

The mother answered, "You are hungry because there is such a thing as food. Take some milk, and soon your stomach will be full, and then you will know what food is."

So the baby took the food from his mother and found again that his mother had been right, for his stomach was full.

After he had eaten, the baby said to her, "Mother, my eyes want to close. What is that for?"

The mother answered, "Your eyes are closing because there is something called sleep. Lie here on my lap and close your eyes, and when you awake you will be rested, and then you will know what sleep is."

So the baby lay on his mother's lap and closed his eyes, and soon enough he found again that his mother had been right, for when he awoke he was well rested.

And it seemed to the mother that her child had everything he needed to be happy. But that evening, the baby said to her, "Mother, I have a desire. What is that for?"

Not knowing what her child wanted, the mother asked, "Is your desire for warmth?"

"No. I have felt your arms and the heat of the fire, and now I know what warmth is," said the baby.

"Then is your desire for food?" asked the mother.

"No. I have eaten and filled my stomach, and now I know what food is," said the baby.

"Is your desire for sleep then?" asked the mother.

"No. I have closed my eyes and rested, and now I know what sleep is," said the baby.

The mother wanted very much to satisfy her child, but still she did not know what he wanted. "Please, child, tell me. What is this something that you desire?"

And the baby answered, "It is not something that I desire, but someone, someone whom I have never seen."

But the mother did not believe in anything she couldn't see, so she said to her baby, "My son, that desire has no answer. Quiet yourself, and when you are older it will go away."

And so the baby kept quiet, and when he was older he found that his mother had been right again, for the desire did go away, and it bothered him no more.

Copyright©2006 by Brad Beals

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