20 SEC READING: the screwdriver

by Paulo Coelho on July 6, 2011


Shortly before he died, my father-in-law summoned his family.

 
‘I know that death is only a passageway into the next world. When I have gone through it, I will send you a sign that it really is worthwhile helping others in this life.’ He wanted to be cremated and for his ashes to be scattered over Arpoador Beach while a tape recorder played his favourite music.

 
He died two days later. A friend arranged the cremation in São Paulo and – once back in Rio – we went straight to the beach armed with a tape recorder, tapes and the package containing the cremation urn. When we reached the sea, we got a surprise. The lid of the urn was firmly screwed down. We couldn’t open it.

 
The only person around was a beggar, and he came over to us and asked: ‘What’s the problem?’

 
My brother-in-law said:

 
‘We need a screwdriver so that we can get at my father’s ashes inside this urn.’

 
‘Well, he must have been a very good man, because I’ve just found this,’ said the beggar.

 
And he held out a screwdriver.
 
 
 

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{ 172 comments… read them below or add one }

Meenal July 21, 2011 at 6:44 pm

Tomorrow is our father’s bday and I am missing him so much, chanced to read your article.
Missing him all the more.

Thanks for sharing the article.

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sonal vrishni July 16, 2011 at 8:01 am

Hello……….the story is a deja vu for me………i feel so blessed by m dad……..sometimes i feel him around helping me……..I love you dad and always miss you……..

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Rama July 15, 2011 at 10:45 am

O My god
I lost my papa.0n july 14 th.living all the resposbility on my sholder .when I remember him ,realy it is very painful
Ithank my perents verymuch . every movement they have spend 4 me.

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Sheela nandini July 16, 2011 at 10:55 am

I feel your pain,dear Rama.I lost my Uncle on 25th June.And the memories are still fresh…

Love&hugs,
sheela

sri July 11, 2011 at 12:01 pm

I like this story very much. Yes. Life is full of miracles.Thanks.

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Michelle July 11, 2011 at 4:26 am

<3

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Nancy Mota July 10, 2011 at 12:34 am

ME GUSTA MUCHO TU LECTURA. ESTAR EN LOS ÚLTIMOS MOMENTOS CON UN SER QUERIDO ES ALGO DOLOROSO ES EL FIN DE UNA VIDA Y EL INICIO DE OTRA

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nancy mota July 10, 2011 at 12:21 am

ME GUSTA MUCHO TU LECTURA ESTAR EN LOS ÚLTIMOS MOMENTOS CON UN SER QUERIDO ES LO MAS HERMOSO Y DOLOROSO

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Awais July 9, 2011 at 4:54 pm

‎”Death does not exist. It is life that is a predominant reality, not death.”

Allama Iqbal

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tanya July 9, 2011 at 12:31 pm

what a short story !!!!!!…. but full of meaning!!!!

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kammarac July 9, 2011 at 12:08 pm

july 11 is my birthday, im sure u will post what i need to read for that day, hehhee; every time, when i read ur blog i hear GOD´s message, sadly i dont read ur post dayli, hehhe…

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Florence July 9, 2011 at 10:52 am

Amazing story !!! I Love synchronicities like this So much !!! :) Thanks for sharing Paulo :)xx

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Poornima July 9, 2011 at 6:03 am

Sir, When my father died eight months ago, he summoned me and my kids. I reached there on the next day’s flight. When I reached his side, he wanted me to go to the doctor and ask him to save him somehow. He had cancer and their was fluid in his chest and abdomen. He was diagnosed at a very advanced stage and nothing much could be done. when the doctor came she called me out and said that his condition was very very bad. When I re-entered his room, he asked me “What did she say? will I survive?” I asked him not to think of his health. I reminded him about his successful career, his wonderful wife ,his loving children and grand children. I told him he was a very successful man in life. He nodded his head and didn’t ask anything after that. He passed away that night.
He never wanted to trouble anybody in his life. He died on a saturday night and his funeral could be attended by all as it was a sunday; a holiday; the next day.
I still cry when I remember the last day. When he knew that there was no hope for him, when he knew he was dying, he wanted his daughter to save him; why did me ask me that? what could I do…

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MONAAM July 9, 2011 at 12:52 pm

WE ALL KNOW CHRISTIEN OR MUSLUM THAT DEADH IS A REALITY WE CAN NOT DNIED ITS THE DSIRE OF ALLAH GOD .SO WAHTEVER THE SYMPTOME OR THE CAUSES WE MUST ACCEPT.MY FATHER DIED SEVEN YEARS AGO BUT I CANT THINK HE IS FAR FROM ME HE IS ALLAWYS BETWEEN MY THAUT I REMEMBER ALL THE DAY I HAVE SPENT WITH HIM FOR SEVENTYTWO YAERS.

LoveM July 10, 2011 at 9:34 am

Dear Poornima,
Thank you for sharing a story so close to your heart…
I love the answer you gave your father…Please know how perfect it was…
The only way to save a moment or a life is to savour it and this you affirmed for him by reminding him of his joys, treasures and successes…
Rest assured you did the right thing… all you could do
Bless You
LoveM

karen July 11, 2011 at 7:26 pm

Dear Poornima,
A heartfelt moment when
You gave him the perfect gift
Knowing his life
Was well lived.

Just know
You gave him love.

How could one ask for a brighter light to leave this time with.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
hugs & blessings, karen

ARCH October 19, 2011 at 10:04 pm

DEAR POORNIMA,
YOU GAVE THE BEST POSSIBLE REPLY TO YOUR DAD WHEN HE ASKED YOU IF HE WILL SURVIVE….NOTHING ELSE COULD HAVE MADE HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE…IN CASE YOU TOLD HIM TO BE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HIS HEALTH AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING …HE WOULD HAVE BEEEN ANXIOUS ABOUT HIS HEALTH…AND HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN PEACE….YOU REMAINDED HIM HIS SUCCESSFUL CAREER…WONDERFUL WIFE…LOVING CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN…..HE WOLD HAVE THOUGHT HE HAD LIVED HIS LIFE TO THE FULLEST….HE WOULD HAVE LAID IN PEACE…..I DON’T THINK A DAUGHTER CAN PROVIDE BETTER MORAL SUPPORT TO HER DYING FATHER.

Celso July 8, 2011 at 11:05 pm

Two months ago my mother-in-law passed away. In the night before her death I could see an engel in her eyes.

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Maria July 8, 2011 at 10:35 pm

Lindo.
O amor vai conosco em todos os vagões de todas as vidas.

Bjos

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HECTOR July 8, 2011 at 5:15 pm

“EL DESTORNILLADOR” OJALA Y NOSOTROS TAMBIEN ENCONTREMOS UNO POR SI LLEGARAMOS A NESECITAR.

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Ishpal Singh July 8, 2011 at 4:37 pm

Very touchy….. When Alive we look for all amenities in our life, and when we go we are just bunch of ashes and that even sometimes dependant to be freed by the help of a beggar’s assets. A beggar to whom we not even try to look at. A sheer truth of life.
Sir, your father in law really gave a good lesson to all.

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Kat July 8, 2011 at 4:22 pm

There is no such thing as “coincidence”…..things happen for a reason….the miracle of life…

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dhandho July 8, 2011 at 3:29 pm

at times I find it difficult to make out whether my father whom I have lost 5yrs back is still with me..whenever I was in any problem I always had this on my mind ‘my father will not let anything or anybody harm me’ but recently I havr started losing faith in my own belief..
difficult to comment on ur story thus..

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Kat July 8, 2011 at 4:20 pm

dear Dhando, if I may comment your words….I believe your father’s soul has reached a degree of very high spirituality, difficult to reach for us here, still embodied. Please do not give up your faith – eventualy you will receive a sign or even several. Be patient. I had similar feelings, but then got signs..but they come when you least expect it, when you have really let go and have stopped attaching to a certain outcome. All my best to you, sincerely, Kat.

bhupendra July 8, 2011 at 10:26 am

hey paulo. meet me when u come to india.

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Sunil July 8, 2011 at 7:39 am

Nice

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aditya July 8, 2011 at 6:59 am

wow.

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Akshay July 8, 2011 at 5:35 am

:)
nice one…paulo…!!

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barbara July 8, 2011 at 3:08 am

que…estamos aqui por alguna razon y por medio de esa razon nos cruzamos estamos conectados,y cada persona que vemos, estan cumpliendo una funcion que al mismo tiempo esta conectado al universo que nos rodea..y nosotros estamos o pasamos por aqui.somos parte de esto .

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carola July 8, 2011 at 1:21 am

tantas oportunidades de aprender….de que entendamos lo que realmente significa la vida…y solo unos instantes nos detenemos a mirar nuestro camino …luego las miradas se pierden en nuestro egoísmo.

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carola July 8, 2011 at 1:33 am

So many …. Learning Opportunities We understand what life really means … and only stop for a few moments we look our way … THEN itself looks lost in our selfishness.

carola July 8, 2011 at 1:12 am

y luego que paso?…….me gustaria saber mas….

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au-au July 8, 2011 at 1:09 am

dear paulo, i have always been asking my father in my prayers who passed away 14 yrs ago for signs that he is still there for me especially in my hardest and darkest hours, i was not so keen enough to feel the presence and the love of the people around me and instead of being thankful i have pushed them away only to find out later on that they were there for me as my father was there for them in their darkest moments.

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