Caroline, a primary school teacher, always worry about herstudents' poor academic results. At last she thought of an ideato help them. One day, she asked all her students to bring a bigbag full of potato to school. Her students wondered what potatohad to do with study but they still followed her instruction.When the class began next morning, each student had a big bagfull of potato on their table. They waited curiously for Carolineto give them further instruction. One of her student, Mikethought, "Are we having a potato eating competition?"Finally Caroline began to give her instruction, "Please put allthe potatoes on the table. Everyone should only have an emptybag." So the children emptied their potato bag, causing noisythump sound of potato hitting the table.When the classroom was silent again, Caroline continued, "Boysand girls, has someone hurt you before and you won't forgivethem?" Most of the students nodded slowly."Now, choose a potato to represent a person you could notforgive. Write their name down on that potato and throw it intoyour potato bag," Caroline added.
The potato game begins
Suddenly, the silent class became a noisy market with little kidsbuying potatoes.Mike threw his first potato into the bag and said, "Sam hit myhead last week. So I throw one here." Then he threw the secondpotato and said, "Jane said my hair is ugly. So I throw anotherone for her.""Mary didn't want to lend me her exercise book. So I throw onemore here," Mike continued to fill his potato bag. He felt upsetwith his classmates and swore never to forgive them. At last, hehad 10 potatoes in his bag.When the students finished their potato business, the bell rangsignaling the class was over.Caroline told her students, "For this week, bring your potato bagwherever you go. This is your homework. If anyone hurt you, justwrite their name on a new potato and throw it into your potatobag."
Releasing the hatred
Initially the students were happy. They can release their hatredthrough throwing the potatoes. And most of the potato bags werefull. Michelle had more than 50 potatoes in her bag!After a few days, excitement turned to burden. Their potato bagbecame heavier. The kids no longer had the energy to carry theirheavy potato bag all the time. So they turned to their teacher.Mike complained, "Teacher! When can we complete this exercise? Weare almost buried under these potatoes!"
The burden of hatred
Caroline smiled and said, "So now you know the burden of notforgiving others, don't you?" Puzzled faces across the classroomlooked at Caroline. The students couldn't get it.
"You're burdening yourself with these potatoes. The more you couldn't forgive others, the heavier your load becomes,"explained Caroline
"So what shall we do?" Mike asked again.
"Simple. Just let go. Forgive everyone and take out all the potatoes from your bag. This will ease your entire burden. Andyou'll be free." Caroline said.
"But they have hurt me before. And I hate them!" Mike protested.
"Just... let it go..." Caroline said slowly.
From Dr. Lee's Ezine, Copyright 2007 James Pang. All Rights Reserved
