There was a country where the people changed a king every year. The king had to agree to a contract that he’d be sent to a remote island to live after his one year. A youngster was chosen king and agreed to the conditions. After 3 days of being king, he asked the ministers to show him the island where the other kings were sent. They took him to the island which was covered in thick jungle and sounds of wild animals were heard. The king went a little in to check. He saw the dead bodies of the past kings and realised animals came and killed them soon after they landed. He went back to the country and got 100 strong workers. He took them secretly to the island and instructed them to clean the jungle, remove the deadly animals and cut down the trees. He visited monthly to see the progress. The animals were removed, trees cut down and gardens planted. He took animals like chickens, ducks, birds, goats, cows, etc. He then ordered the building of big houses. The island turned into a beautiful place.
The young king wore simple clothes and spent very little on himself. He sent all the earnings to the island for storage and construction. After a year, the people took him. He was unusually happy to leave and people asked, ‘The other kings would cry at this moment, why are you laughing?’ ‘While all the other kings were lost into the luxuries of the kingdom, I thought about the future and planned for it. I turned the deadly island into a beautiful place for me.’ This is how we should live our life in this world; preparing for the life hereafter. We shouldn't get lost in the attractive things of this world and forget about what is to come. %
THE KING & THE ISLAND
