damned if you do, damned if you don't

Once a man and his daughter were travelling with their bull. On the way, the man said, ''My dear, please sit and ride on the bull during this journey.''

She obeyed and mounted the bull while her father walked alongside.

The village folk and other strangers bitterly criticized: ''What a selfish woman! She is young and healthy and yet she chooses to comfortably ride while forcing the old man to walk.''

Hearing this, the man changed his mind. ''The people are mocking you. It is wiser that I sit and you walk.''

So saying, the man sat on the bull's back. Further along, other strangers came with sharper comments, ''Oh look at this mean, bully of a man. He's fat and robust, and evil too. He enjoys the ride while forcing this young and gentle lady to walk on foot.''

Hearing this both of them climbed on the bull. At least, this would ward off the criticisms. But they were gravely mistaken and no sooner had they come to the next village, people sneered and jeered. ''Look at this nasty couple. Both of them have mercilessly climbed upon the bull. They'll kill the poor creature!''

Now there was only one option left. They dismounted and allowed the bull to walk freely. They accompanied it on either side. While they walked, they met new people with new bitterness. The people laughed at them, shouting: ''What foolishness! They have taken a bull as a vehicle and neither of them is using it.''

Straight away the man told his daughter, ''Come let us do what we think is right, and live the way we want to. The world will never appreciate or see what we do as correct.''

In this world, even if we perform a good deed not everyone will like it and support it. This is the line of thinking our world works on. It is crooked from both ends and whatever you do, the world will never see you straight. Do what you feel is right. Because you can’t please everybody!!! Only you know what your true intentions are. Keep them pure and sincere and you will be rewarded justly.

“Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”