While his father
was busy reading
a newspaper,
eleven year-old
Gustavo took a
book from the
shelf and began
to leaf through
it. Suddenly he
stopped and
asked:
|
- Dad, what is
free will?
His father put
the paper aside
and took his
glasses off:
- Free will,
son, is the
ability that
human beings
have to make
their own
decisions, make
their own
choices. Got
it?
- No.
Full of
patience, his
father replied:
|
 |
- For example,
Gustavo…
Tomorrow is
Saturday and you
have football
training in the
afternoon. Will
you go?
- I do not know,
Dad. I also have
an invitation to
a birthday
party, at the
same time.
- I know.
George’s
birthday, your
childhood
friend. And
then? What are
you going to do?
Go to training
or go to the
party?
- I think I'm
not going to
George’s party,
Dad. I think I'm
going to the
training.
- Oh, so you
have already
decided?
The boy thought
for a moment and
replied:
- Football is a
commitment I
made at the
beginning of the
year and I must
not miss. The
team needs me.
But then again,
Dad, if I do not
go to the party,
George will be
upset with me.
- So, you will
go to your
friend's
birthday party?
Gustavo
scratched his
head, confused,
and considered:
- On second
thought, there
is another
problem. Next
week our team
has an important
game, which is
part of the
championship
between schools.
Oh, my God! I do
not know what to
do!
His father
smiled and
said:
- Free will is
just that, son.
Between two or
more options,
you have to
decide. Right
now, you have to
choose: pleasure
or duty.
- Now I get it,
Dad. But it is
very difficult
to make
decisions!
The father
agreed with him,
recommending
that he thought
hard enough
until the next
day as to not
make a wrong
decision.
- Son, free will
is a gift from
God but it is
also an
achievement of
the Spirit in
the evolutionary
path taken. So
we need to think
carefully before
making a
decision. Be it
right or wrong,
we will always
be subjected to
the consequences
of our actions,
according to the
Law of Action
and Reaction or
the Law of Cause
and Effect.
As it was late
they went to
bed.
The next day,
Gustavo was sat
at the table
eating breakfast
when his father
asked him:
- So, son? Have
you decided?
- I thought a
lot about it but
have not decided
yet. I’ll figure
it out before
leaving in the
afternoon.
When it was
almost time to
leave, Gustavo
showed up in the
living room with
his backpack and
a wrapped gift
on his hand.
- I see you have
decided to go to
the party,
Gustavo. That
means that the
pleasure won -
said his
father.
The boy shook
his head.
- No? Then,
you’re going to
the training.
You chose duty.
Gustavo shook
his head again:
- Also not
correct, Dad.
- I do not
understand!
- A third
alternative came
up, Dad. I
remembered that
we have a maths
test on Monday.
So I will study
at the home of a
classmate who
really knows the
subject. First,
however, I will
go to George’s
house to give
him
congratulations
and deliver the
gift I bought
for him. Thus,
pleasure and
duty will be
met.
The father was
surprised and
amazed. His son
Gustavo, who he
always had
thought was a
little sloppy
with respect to
his duties,
showed that he
was thoughtful
and responsible,
making decisions
with skill.
He stood up,
reaching his
arms out to the
boy:
| |
|
 |
-
Congratulations,
son. You managed
to decide
between pleasure
and duty. But
tell me, what
about training?
The team has a
big game next
week...
Hugging his
father with a
huge smile on
his face, the
boy said:
- Yes, Daddy.
But I learned
earlier today
that the game
will be
postponed. So I
had no more
doubts. Now I am
quiet sure that
I did my best.
Gustavo said
goodbye to his
father and
mother, grabbed
the backpack
with his books,
the present and,
waving one last
|
|
time,
closed
the door
behind
him. |
His father was
happy. He felt
accomplished for
having a son who
had used free
will so
responsibly.
Aunt Celia
