A child's God

One day it occurs to Gulu to find God. He thinks: as God is worshipped by men with flowers, He must be hiding in the rose in the garden. Gulu reflects: "Once I am able to discover God, then I will so befriend Him that He will not be able to desert me any more."

Gulu spends the day in the garden. He shakes the plants in his search for God. But he meets Him nowhere. At last he returns home disappointed.

One day Gulu asks his mother, "I search for God so much still; why do I not find Him, mother?"

"Gulu, God is fond of playing. So He plays hide and seek with us. He is an expert Player. He hides Himself in such a way that even the great saints and sages fail to find Him."

"Who then can discover Him, mother?"

"Nobody can find Him unless He reveals Himself. Still He stays with each and every one and protects all as He did Prahlad. He hides Himself in your heart too."

"In the core of my heart! Believe me, mother, when I search for Him in the garden it seems someone responds from within my heart."

"It is this Indweller that is God. Adore Him, learn to love Him as you love me. He is there not only in your heart but in all hearts. Learn to love all, then He will be pleased to reveal Himself to you, be sure."

Gulu’s mind is set at rest by the words of his mother. He cherishes the hope that some day or other God will come to him.

Gulu visits his maternal uncle’s house along with his mother. And he returns home on the eve of the Pujas. The train is packed with passengers. There is not sufficient room. Gulu is not concerned about that. He peeps out of the window to muse over the scenery. His uncle says, "Don‘t bend forward like that, you may fall down, Gulu."

"How can I fall? I have caught hold of the door."

Suddenly somehow the door opens out. Unable to check himself Gulu falls down below. People inside the compartment raise cries of horror and lamentation. Gulu’s mother is about to jump from the train under the spell of despair. Someone holds her back.

It is night-time. Nothing is visible in the dark. The train is running at top speed. Owing to the excitement no one thinks of pulling the chain. Alerted by the confused noise, passengers of the next compartment pull the chain. Forthwith the motion of the train is arrested.

The train goes backward. Nobody hopes to see Gulu alive. After covering some distance someone becomes visible on a bridge. Gulu’s mother cries out, "Behold, my Gulu is there."

The train stops. Gulu’s mother rushes up to him and takes him in her arms. She asks, "Did you get hurt, Gulu?"

"How can I be hurt, mother? The moment I fell down, my uncle jumped and took me in his arms."

With a surprised voice the mother says, "Your uncle did not come down. He was there inside."

"Do not tell a lie, mother. All this time my uncle held me on his lap. As you all drew near he put me down and went that way. You may look for him."

A thrill passes through the whole body of Gulu’s mother. She says, "Gulu, your God saved you in the form of your uncle." At the words of his mother Gulu is beside himself with wonder.