The Pencil and the Eraser

Metropolitan Cyprian II of Oropos and Phyle

June 15, 2025 (O.S.)

 

Do we sacrifice something of ourselves every day?

The eraser asked the pencil:
— How are you, my friend?
The pencil answered angrily:
— I am not your friend, I hate you!
The eraser, surprised and saddened, replied:
— Why?
The pencil answered:
— Because you erase what I write.
And the eraser replied:
— I only erase mistakes.
— And why do you do that? …asked the pencil.
— I am protective, and that is my job.
— That’s not a job… responded the pencil.
The eraser answered:
— My job is just as useful as yours.
The pencil, in a harsh tone, said:
— You’re wrong and arrogant, because the one who writes is better than the one who erases.
The eraser replied:
— Removing the mistake is equal to writing what is right.
The pencil remained silent for a moment, then, with a veil of sorrow, said:
— But I see you getting smaller every day.
The eraser replied:
— Because I sacrifice a little of myself every time I erase a mistake.
The pencil, in a very sorrowful voice, said:
— I feel shorter than before.
The eraser comforted him, saying:
— We cannot do good to others if we are not ready to sacrifice something of ourselves.
Then she looked at the pencil with affection and said:
— Do you still hate me?
The pencil smiled and replied:
— How can I hate you when you sacrifice so much?

 

Every day you wake up, and you have one less day.
If you cannot be a pencil to write the happiness of others,
be a good eraser to erase their sorrows and sow hope and optimism in their soul, reminding them that the future is brighter.

 

Greek source: https://www.imoph.org/pdfs/2025/06/28/20250628aMolivi-goma.pdfBottom of Form