The Reflection
A king’s daughter had her priceless diamond necklace stolen. A reward of £50,000 was offered if any-one found it.
One day, a clerk was walking home along a polluted river next to an industrial area. Suddenly a shimmering in the river caught his eye. Looking closer, he saw the necklace.
He put his hand in the filthy, dirty river and grabbed at the necklace, but some how missed it. He took his hand out and looked again. There it was glimmering in amongst the filth. He tried again. This time he stepped into the stinking river getting covered in the rancid pollution, but strangely, he still missed the necklace! He came out and started walking away, feeling depressed. Then again, he saw the necklace, right there. This time he was determined to get it, no matter what. He decided to plunge into the river. Although it was disgusting, he plunged in and searched everywhere for the necklace. Yet one more time, he failed. He was really confused.
Just then, a wise man, walked by and asked the clerk if what was the matter. The clerk refused to say; worried the man might take the necklace for himself.
The compassionate man promised to keep his confidence. The clerk mustered some courage. He told him about the necklace and how he tried and tried to catch it, but kept failing.
Look up rather than down, was the advice he received. There, in the branch of a tree, the necklace was dangling. He had been trying to capture a mere reflection of the real necklace all this time.
