c r o s s+r o a d s

Stories that Coach: The Model...

The Model.........
by: V. Chacko Jacob

Once upon a time a great Italian artist decided to paint that great Prophet Of God - Jesus Christ, Hazrat Isa ( may peace be on him). It was to be his master piece, his claim to fame. He needed a model who would reflect the love, peace, tranquility and greatness that the Prophet personified. He knew of course that he would never find somebody perfect, but the perfectness he left to his art and to his faith. With both these he was sure to capture the qualities that would inspire the faith of the faithful.

Well, he searched around went all across the country and all across Europe meeting holy people in churches and monastries, but nobody was really good enough. To make a long story short, after a long search he did find somebody, who was perfect. He was just what the artist needed. Infact, he was better than what the artist had wished for. Infact our artist would not have to use his skill to bring the inner beauty that he wanted this picture to reflect. It was all there on this man's face. He would just have to use his skill to truthfully replicate that man's features on canvas.

So our artist set to work, with all the fervour of a genious about to realise his destiny. Months later the work was done. It was trully beautiful. It made our artist famous and was ultimately placed in a huge cathederal where thousands worshipped it. It was the face of a thousand miracles, a face that would guide to right.

20 Years passed by..............our artist was old and famous. He was in a comtemplative mood think about his old successes. One stood out among others. His picture of the MESSIAH. "Lets paint another" - he thought. "My farewell gift to the world. But this time I'll paint the opposite. I'll paint evil this time. I shall find a model and use my skill to enhance all that is bad in him. It will be my best work yet."

And so the search for a model began once again, but this time he went to prisons and jails and met the worst of the people. But nobody was bad enough. And when he lost all hope - he found somebody, who was dirty, evil, bad all put together. This was a face that would inspire terror. This was his model. Again he set to work and just as he began his work the model said something. "You know Sir I am the same man you painted 20 years ago."

Our faces are the mirrors of our souls. And the people we know are the reflections of our lives. We can be the best of creation or the worst. We have it all within us. The choice is ours.

posted by ASKSonnie @ Thursday, June 02, 2005