The Runner and His Father

Once there was a boy who was brought by his father to a stadium. There he saw a lot of runners running a race. The boy was fascinated by the gazelle-like figures of the runners. He was captured and he made a decision.

“Father, I want to be a runner,” the boy told his father.

“I am glad to hear that, my Son. Go on and be happy as a runner,” the father replied.

The boy kept all his dreams in his mind. A year has passed and another race was announced. The boy was agitated to join.

“Father, I will join the race,” the boy told his father.

“But, my Son, you are not ready yet. You are not that strong enough to run a race,” the father replied.

The boy became sad but obeyed his father. From then on, the father provided meat and beans for the boy. The boy didn’t like beans and one day he aired his complain.

“Father, I don’t like beans. I don’t like how it tastes. Can I not eat those anymore?” cried the boy.

“My Son, you’ll need it,” was the short reply of the father. The boy stopped complaining and grew stronger.

A year has passed and another race was again announced.

“Father, I am strong now. I will join the race,” the boy told his father.

“But, my Son, you are not ready yet. You are not that fast enough to run a race,” the father replied.

The boy frowned, but still obeyed his father. From then on, the father ordered his boy to do sprints every morning, beating his time day by day. At first, the boy followed heartily. As time fly by, the boy got tired of the morning sprints.

“Father, I don’t want more sprints. I’m tired of it. Can I stop doing it?” the boy cried one day.

“My Son, you’ll need it,” was again the reply. The boy continued the sprints. He really had beaten his time day by day and gotten faster than yesterdays.

Another year has passed and another race was announced.

“Father, I am strong and fast now. I will join the race,” the boy told his father.

“But, my Son, you are not ready yet. You are not that steadfast to endure a long race,” the father replied.

The boy pouted, crossed his arms, and said, “I am strong and fast. I will surely win a race. I will join the race even you don’t want it.” He left his father and joined the race.

After the race, the boy came back home a failure. He was very drained and worn-out.

“Father, I am such a failure. Maybe, I am not supposed to be a runner. From now on, I will forget being a runner,” the boy told his father. His father made no reply.

Years have passed. Unknowingly, the boy continued eating meat and beans, and doing sprints every morning, beating his time day by day. He forgot his dreams being a runner but being a runner became his lifestyle.

One day, another race was announced throughout the land. It is the largest race held for centuries.

“My Son, now is your time. You can join the race,” the father told his son who became a very fine lad.

“Forget it, Father. I've already forgotten about my dream of being a runner,” the son replied. The lad didn’t join the race and the races after it.

More years have passed and the lad grew to a weary man. Being tired of being weary, the man decided to visit again his father. He passed by the stadium where the races of the land were celebrated. For a very long time, he again caught a glimpse of the gazelle-like figures of the runners. The runner in him was once again stirred.

“Father, I will join the race this year. Do you think I’m still fit to run?” he asked his father as he got to his father’s home.

“My Son, it is not still late to pursue your passion. After all this years, what I wish is to see you run,” the father happily replied. His father knew that his son has kept the lifestyle of a runner.

The son joined the race. He may not have the vigor of a youth that he came huffing and puffing to the finish line, but he came in third.

His father ran toward him and hugged him very tightly. “I am proud of you, my Son.”

The runner smiled just like what he did when he was first brought by his father to the stadium.