The gentle face

The Gentle Face

By: John Kazerooni

Once, in a quiet and forgotten corner of the world, there stood a rock—immense in size, heavy in weight, and so unyielding that no force on earth could move it. The rock was proud of its strength and permanence. It saw only itself, never the world around it. It stood as a barrier to any who wished to pass, blocking the path without a flicker of empathy or thought for another’s journey.

One day, a stream of water arrived, flowing freely along its course. The water met the rock head-on, but the rock, steadfast and unmoved, stood tall in its defiance. Days passed. The water, for all its persistence, could not push the rock aside. Still, it did not give up.

Gradually, with quiet patience, the water began to find another way—not to conquer the rock by force, but to move around it. Slowly, drop by drop, it carved a new path. It smoothed the rock’s sharp edges, reshaped its surface, and with time, the proud, immovable mass became smaller, softer, and less of an obstacle.

In the end, the rock was no longer a blockade. The path was open, and others could pass freely. The water, without raising its voice or showing its strength in a single burst, had accomplished what seemed impossible.

This is not merely the story of rock and water—it is our story.

Sometimes, we are called to be like water: gentle, steady, and unwavering in purpose, able to soften even the hardest of hearts. At other times, we may find ourselves like the rock—unyielding, controlling, determined to hold our ground and keep everything for ourselves. Yet the truth remains: the world changes more by the quiet persistence of compassion than by the force of pride.

Lingering Questions:

When have you been the rock, unwilling to see another’s path?

When have you been the water, shaping change through patience rather than force?

Which leaves a greater mark on the world—the show of strength, or the gentle face of persistence?

And in your own journey, which will you choose to be?

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