There was a young man who was very passionate about arts, especially paintings. One day as he was standing on a cliff, below was a white beach, he saw a man painting on the sand. He was painting a face but with a Cubist concept, as if it could be viewed from many angles at the same time. It was just like Picasso's painting!
He could not stop the rising tide. He did not have time to build a wall to protect it. Or perhaps he should run home, get the camera, and take a picture of the painting. But then it would be only a copy of the original. And even if he decided to do so, nothing could guarantee that the waves wouldn't have washed away the piece of art.
The only thing he could do at the moment was to look at the unique masterpiece, to enjoy its aesthetic until the waves take it away. Standing there motionlessly, the young man didn't know whether he should be happy or to grieve.
What do you think? Should the young man be sad or happy? The truth is we are not much different from him. On these last days of the year, sitting in the small room, I am also looking at a beautiful painting, aware that the tide is coming in, and that everything will fade into memory.
In life, we have run into many similar situations like the young man's - so many images that we've tried to hold onto, and so many sad moments that we've thought would never change. But then everything is ephemeral, whether it's happiness or sorrow.
The year is approaching to its end, which also means a new year is coming. Like the young man in the story, we are facing endless changes in life; trying to hold onto or avoid them only causes more unnecessary sufferings.
Life continues to go on with rainy and sunny days, meetings and separations, celebrations and long nights of worries, and surprises that we cannot foresee. But among these changes always exists something very genuine and everlasting - It is love.
Translated into English
by nguyễn hồ kim ngân