Once there was a sweeper in a temple. Being very devoted and sincere, he thought that the lord standing all the time and giving help must be feeling very tired.

So one day very innocently he asked the lord whether he can take his place for a day so that the lord can have some relief and rest.

The deity of the temple replied, “I do not mind taking a break. I will transform you like myself, but you must do one thing.

You must just stand here like me, smile at everyone and just give benedictions. Do not interfere with anything and do not say anything.

Remember you are the deity and you just have faith that I have a master plan for everything.”

The sweeper agreed to this.

The next day the sweeper took the position. First a rich man came and prayed to the lord. offered a small donation and prayed that his business should be prosperous.

While going, the rich man inadvertently left his wallet full of money right there.

Now the sweeper in the form of deity could not call him and so he decided to control himself and keep quiet.

Just then a poor man came and he put one coin in the bowl and said that it was all he could afford and he prayed to the lord that he should continue to be engaged in the lord’s service.

He also said that his family was in dire need of some basic needs but he left it to the good hands of the lord to give some solution.

When he opened his eyes, he saw the wallet left by the rich man.

The poor man thanked the lord for his kindness and took the wallet very innocently.

The sweeper in the form of the deity could not say anything and he had to just keep smiling.

At that point a sailor walked in. He prayed for his safe journey as he was going on a long trip.

Just then the rich man came with the police and said that somebody has stolen his wallet and seeing the sailor there, he asked the police to arrest him thinking that he might have taken it.

Now the sweeper in the form of deity wanted to say that the sailor is not the thief but he could not say so and he became greatly frustrated.

The sailor looked at the lord and asked why he, an innocent person, is being punished.

The rich man looked at the lord and thanked Him for finding the thief.

The sweeper in the deity form could no more tolerate it, and he thought that even if the real lord had been here, he would have definitely interfered, and hence he started speaking and said that the sailor is not the thief but it was the poor man who took away the wallet. The rich man was very thankful as was the sailor.

In the night, the real lord came and He asked the sweeper how the day was.

The sweeper said, “I thought it would be easy, but now I know that Your days are not easy, but I did one good thing.”

Then he explained the whole episode to the lord.

The lord became very upset on hearing this whereas the sweeper thought the lord would appreciate him for the good deed done.

The lord asked, “Why did you not just stick to the plan? You had no faith in Me. Do you think that I do not understand the hearts of all those who come here?

All the donations which the rich man gave was all stolen money and it is only a fraction of what he really has and he wants me to reciprocate unlimitedly.

The single coin offered by the poor man was the last coin he had and he gave it to me out of faith.

The sailor was to die because of bad weather but if he would’ve been arrested and in the jail, he would have been saved from a greater calamity.

I intended the wallet should go to the poor man because he will use it in my service.

I was going to reduce the rich man’s karma also by doing this and save the sailor also.

But you cancelled everything because you made your own plans.”

Moral — God has plans and justice for everyone….we just have to have patience!

source::::input from a friend of mine
Natarajan