In the city of Tabriz lived a middle aged jewelry merchant named Ardashir. He felt a great sense of responsibility for the jewelry store as it has belonged to his family for generations. For this reason, he was strict with his workers and often distrustful of them. Workers are innately unreliable and lazy was his belief, and they needed close supervision and discipline. This belief was backed by experience, 19 years of firsthand experience to be precise.

Over the years, he learned to deal with his unreliable workers. Cameras were installed to prevent stealing, fines were established to discourage tardiness and a no-tolerance policy was in place to combat insubordination.

The competitive external struggle with other jewelry stores along with his own internal struggle with his workers took a toll on the aging man. He was exhausted! He thought of Babak, one of his best workers who resigned two months ago. “Why do my best workers leave me?” In reflection, he noticed that Babak was no exception, none of his few exceptional workers ever stayed beyond two months.

Ardashir! “One who rules with Truth,” this was the meaning of his name. A name he was always so proud to bear. But now Ardashir sounded distant, as if it no longer belonged to him. The constant distrust of his employees had so poisoned this man’s heart that he no longer sought the guidance of Truth. In this tender moment, the word “Love” rung out loud and clear. “Assign no task to an employee that you would not perform yourself, first seek the happiness of those under your authority ahead of your store’s prosperity.” The flood gates opened up and these words kept flowing. Lastly, he heard… “do to them as you would like to be done by.”

Milton and Claudia have been dating for five years and were friends two years before that. He is comfortable with their relationship as it currently stands but senses a silent expectation from his girlfriend. Claudia has not been herself lately, she is aloof despite Milton’s various attempts at cheering her up. He sent her a text last night and is yet to receive a reply, never has this happened in their five years of dating.

On a train ride to the grocery store, Milton’s thoughts grow heavy. Yes, Claudia is in her mid-thirties but she is happy with our relationship as it is… Are you sure? …She mentioned that word last week but it was just in passing. Does she really want that?  These thoughts so consumed the young man that he missed his stop.

That word which Claudia mentioned last week signified bondage, it signified unhappiness. That word was Marriage! Milton never intimately experienced a home in which a happy marriage resided. He vividly remembers his parents’ arguments as a child and their subsequent divorce. As a teenager, he witnessed the yelling and name-calling that was ever so prevalent in his uncle’s home.

“Is Claudia expecting a proposal?” He cares for his girlfriend and does not want to hurt her.  In his pondering as to whether or not to propose, he raises his head involuntarily and catches a glimpse of a young woman who just came on-board the train. Every movement of this woman was noble. Her long bright green dress swayed gently as she glided across the train. In her face was an inner warmth that unconsciously made Milton tuck in his shirt. As if awoken from a dream, Milton felt free of his heavy thoughts. Without a word, this young woman on the train had done something Milton in his limited understanding could only call magic. She awoke in him the longing for something higher, for a nobler purpose.

Claudia soon noticed a change in Milton. He spoke less, there seemed to be an aura of calmness around him which gave evidence to the peaceful nature of his thoughts. She herself began to change, the nature of their conversations took on a nobler form. They talked about the purpose of life and their aspirations. Milton’s view on marriage evolved. What other purpose could there be to marriage than for a joint deepening and nurturing of high spiritual values, he wondered. Marriage took on a new meaning for the young man who was now confident that he had found a true partner in Claudia.