The Saint Who Wasn't

 In a peaceful and thriving village, nestled between a mountain on one side and a sea on the other, lived a boy named Sam. Obedient and always smiling, Sam was the cynosure of all eyes. Sam was a fisherman’s son and often went out to sea on his fishing trips. He had secretly fallen in love with the sea. The mountain which backed the village had been revered by the inhabitants of the village for ages. While it wasn’t forbidden to climb the mountain, it was believed that only the one chosen by God himself could scale its height.

One evening, Sam was sitting at the beach staring at the setting sun. Startled by a tap on his shoulder he turned around.
“Oh, it’s you Aileen,” he said.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
“Actually, I wasn’t expecting anyone!”
“Mind if I sit with you?” she asked.
“Sure, make yourself comfortable,” he replied and continued to quietly stare at the Sun.
“Is something bothering you, Sam?” she enquired a few minutes later.
He sighed. “Yes, you guessed it right.”
“You can share if you want to.”
Sam smiled and once again plunged into silence. Aileen did not push him to share.

“Isn’t the sea beautiful, Aileen?” he said.
“Yes, so peaceful.”
“You know what everyone expects of me, don’t you?”
“I do,” replied Aileen. “You’re really gifted; hence they expect.”
“I may have the gift of climbing but it’s not what I want to do.”
“Listen,” said Aileen. “It’s not just because you’re a good climber. You know, the villagers believe only the one chosen by God can climb the sacred mountain.”
“And how do they know I’m the chosen one?”
“They don’t know, but for some reason they believe you are the one.”

“My parents believe the same. The other day Father Francis had called me, he believes the same too. I don’t want to disappoint them.”
Aileen understood there was something more to it.
“So, what do you want to do?” she asked.
A smile appeared on Sam’s face and he sprang to his feet.
“Come with me, I will show you.”
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“Just come with me.”
They ran towards the woods. Aileen was pleasantly surprised by the sudden burst of energy and enthusiasm in Sam. A few minutes later they reached what seemed like a heap of fallen branches and leaves.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Patience, Aileen.”

Carefully, Sam moved the branches and leaves. Aileen was surprised to see a boat hidden underneath the pile.
“Wow!” she exclaimed.
“This, my dear friend, is what I want to do. I want to sail across the sea! I love the sea; it calls out to me every day. I want to sail beyond the horizon, I want to be with the sea,” there was a sparkle in his eyes as he spoke.
“That is amazing, what’s holding you back then?”
Suddenly, his smile disappeared. He started to hide his boat once again.
“This boat I have built secretly. If my family finds out, they will be really disappointed. They will feel it is what takes me away from them.”
“Have you spoken to your father? He’s a fisherman, he will understand.”
“No, I don’t think he will. Though he’s a fisherman, he just considers the sea a provider. He doesn’t love it, I know.”

Aileen and Sam started walking back to the village.
“So, what will you do?”
“I think my destiny is to climb the mountain.”
“And what about the boat?” she asked.
“That will remain a dream.”
“I would really want you to take that boat out to sea. You have built a beautiful and strong boat. A boat is not meant to stay on shore!”
“I guess this one is. Sorry, Aileen, to have bothered you with this.”
“Don’t be sorry. Whenever you need to talk to me, I’ll be there, just close your eyes and think about me.”
Sam smiled. “Really?”
“Yup,” she replied. “You take care, Sam. I’ll go home now.”
“You take care too, Aileen. Goodbye!”

Time went by and Sam’s secret love for the sea remained a secret. Belief of him being the one became stronger by the day. Everyone was now certain that Sam was the one. Sam felt obligated. So, against his feelings he started preparing for the climb. He was naturally good at it and made good progress. Finally, the day came when he was to make the climb. With prayers and great fanfare, the villagers sent him on his way. It was to be a long journey to the top, possibly taking several days. No one knew how many days it would take because it hadn’t been done in a very long time. As he began to ascend the villagers went back to their homes. At the beginning he was the talk of the town. Whenever people gathered, they spoke about him. In a week’s time, they spoke less of him and in another week, it seemed he was almost forgotten.

While this was happening in the village, Sam continued to climb alone. There was something eerie about the climb though. The higher he climbed, the lonelier he felt. Though he climbed well and swiftly, discontent filled his heart. Often, he tried to figure out what it was. He would sit quietly and try to find answers.
‘Am I missing my family? Am I missing my friends? I’m doing so well, I should be happy, but I’m not. Why?’ He often questioned himself. One evening he felt lonelier than ever before. He sat to look at the setting sun. His mind immediately raced to the sea, his first love. His eyes welled up with tears. He closed his eyes and an image of Aileen appeared.
“Whenever you need to talk to me, I’ll be there, just close your eyes and think about me.” Her voice echoed in his ears.

He was startled by a tap on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder to find Aileen standing there.
“Aileen!? How is this possible?” he was perplexed.
She smiled. “I’m here. What is troubling you, my friend?”
Sam broke down, he wept like a child. “I can’t do this.”
“Then don’t,” she replied with a smile.
Her reply surprised Sam. “How can I quit now? I’m so close to reaching the top.”
“But you don’t want to reach the top, do you?”
“No,” he replied.
“Then how does it matter?”
“What about my family? What about the village folks? They will be so disappointed if I turn back now.”
“It is not your job to please them,” replied Aileen. “You don’t have to fulfil everyone’s expectations. As far as you don’t intentionally hurt anyone, you have the right and responsibility to look after your own happiness.”
“What should I do?” he asked.
“What do you want to do? Where does your heart lie?”
“My heart belongs to the sea,” as he spoke, a smile appeared on his face.
“Then head to the sea, my friend. Your boat is waiting for you,” said Aileen.

Aileen’s words sparked joy in Sam’s heart. He suddenly felt a bright light, almost blinding. He rubbed his eyes and slowly opened them to find the Sun rising in the east. He sat up straight and looked around. Aileen was nowhere to be seen. Though Aileen wasn’t there, her words remained with him. A smile appeared on his face as he knew what he had to do. He packed his stuff and looked up towards the peak.
“Well, it turns out, I’m not the one,” he said to the mountain. “You will have to wait for the one who is really meant to do this. I am heading back now, back to the sea where my heart truly belongs.”
With these words, Sam started his descent. His heart was happy, for the first time he listened to his heart.
‘Was Aileen really there? Or was it just my heart speaking to me?’ He thought as he went along his way. He was happy and a smile found permanent residence on his face. As he reached the foot of the mountain, his face glowed with joy. A villager who was in the forest for some wood, chanced upon Sam. He was taken aback by Sam’s radiant face and positive aura. Without a word he rushed to the village.

He summoned the seniors of the village and Sam’s parents.
“Sam has returned,” he announced.
“Really? Where is he?” asked Sam’s mother.
“He will be here in a couple of hours,” said the man.
“Did you speak to him? Did he make it to the top?” asked a senior member.
“I’m sure he did. He had a divine glow on his face. I have never seen a man as radiant as he looks today. I am sure he has been blessed and comes to bless us too.”
The villagers were happy; they felt a divine presence already. They waited patiently to catch a glimpse of Sam. Silently they prayed, hoping to be blessed. Soon enough, they saw Sam approaching. The villagers were awestruck by Sam’s divine radiance.
“We are indeed in the presence of divinity,” said a senior. “The man was right.”
Their perspective had been tarnished by the man’s words. They believed what he said and thought it would be disrespectful to question ‘The One’.

“Oh wise Sam, we are blessed to have you return from the sacred mountain,” said the senior.
“But there is something I have to tell you,” said Sam, glowing and smiling.
“Please share with us your learnings. Tell us, what have you discovered on the mountain?” requested the senior with folded hands.
Sam smiled. “I have discovered that the secret to a fulfilled life lies within.”
The villagers received his words as holy.
“On the mountain, I found joy within. What we seek outside is waiting to be found within.”
“Wise words,” said the senior. “Please enlighten us further.”
“You must always be true to yourself. Do not live to please others,” Sam continued. “Listen to your heart, it always knows the way. Following your heart is the only way you can live a life true to yourself.”
Some villagers bowed in reverence while others had tears streaming down their cheeks.
“But remember, never intentionally harm another on your chosen path. You can never be happy by making another sad.”

Sam looked around and continued. “I have to tell you that it is time for me to leave. I cannot stay here anymore.”
The villagers started murmuring, they could not quite comprehend.
“Be silent,” ordered the village senior. “We must listen to him.”
“I have to sail beyond these shores, that is my destiny,” said Sam.
“It is probably what he has been instructed to do,” said the senior. “We should not try to stop him, lest we attract the wrath of God.”
“If you must leave, we wish you Godspeed,” said the senior addressing Sam. “Do you need a boat?”
“I have one,” replied Sam. “I have been working on it for a couple of years.”
The villagers started murmuring again. “See, he knew he was the one and that one day he would have to leave. We are blessed indeed.”

Sam walked up to his parents. “I am sorry, but I must leave. My heart shows me the way and I must follow.”
“Don’t be sorry, son,” said his dad. “Fulfil your destiny, we are proud of you.”
Sam hugged his parents and went towards the woods. From the pile of branches and leaves he uncovered his boat. The villagers helped him to take the boat to the sea. He boarded the boat and was on his way. A little further he turned back to say goodbye to the villagers. Standing in front of the crowd he saw Aileen, waving frantically with a big smile. Sam felt at peace. Soon, he disappeared over the horizon.
“We must build a statue to commemorate Saint Sam,” a villager said out loud.
“Yes,” agreed the senior. “We will build a big and beautiful statue for him. Saint Sam will live in hearts and minds forever.”
“Summon the finest sculptors in our village and from those around. We will get the work started immediately,” instructed the senior as the villagers walked back.