There once was a young man named Eli who lived in a village nestled between two mountains. From an early age, Eli had heard stories about the Light at the top of the eastern mountain—a light said to bring peace, truth, and a deep closeness to God. The path was difficult, but many said it was worth it.
Eli was eager. He joined a group of travelers who claimed to be walking toward the Light. They carried lanterns and spoke of faith, holiness, and love. But as they climbed, Eli began to notice something strange.
Some of the travelers lied and cheated others when they thought no one was looking. Others mocked those who stumbled or carried heavier burdens. One man preached kindness but refused to share his water. A woman sang about grace yet whispered cruel things about others behind their backs.
“This can’t be the way,” Eli muttered. “If these are the ones following God, I want nothing to do with this path.”
So he turned around.
He went back down the mountain and built a quiet life in the valley. He avoided the travelers and refused to speak of the Light. Whenever someone mentioned God, he waved them off. “If the followers are fake, then the Light must be too.”
Years passed.
One cold evening, Eli met an old man sitting at the edge of the woods. The man’s lantern burned gently beside him, its flame steady and soft.
“Why did you stop climbing?” the old man asked.
“Because of the hypocrites,” Eli replied bitterly. “They talked about the Light but lived in the dark. I didn’t want to be like them.”
The old man nodded. “That’s understandable. But let me ask you something—did you stop because of them… or because you let them block your view of the Light?”
Eli was quiet.
The old man continued. “A broken lantern doesn’t make the sun any less real. People can fail. They often do. But the Light is still there. You can still walk toward it.”
Tears filled Eli’s eyes. For the first time in years, he looked up at the eastern mountain. The path was still there, winding upward.
So Eli stood, picked up the old man’s extra lantern, and began the climb again—not because of others, but in spite of them.
Moral: Don’t let someone else’s shadow keep you from walking toward the Light.