Hello friends,
Today I’m taking you to a quiet Italian village nestled in the hills: Altavilla Irpina — the Upper Town.
It’s here, at a bend in a dense forest, that two wandering souls crossed paths for the first time: Pellegrino and Angelo.
Pellegrino, a weathered pilgrim with a steady step and a heart full of doubt — still searching for a land to call home.
And Angelo, an angel fallen from the heavens, unsure of his place among men.
“What are you doing on this earth?” Pellegrino asked.
“I’m looking for a destination,” replied Angelo. “And you?”
“I’m looking for a place to lay down my burden.”
That night, under the stars, they shared bread and silence — and the next morning, they chose to walk together.
Their quests were different, but their steps now shared a rhythm.
One day, they reached a raging river.
Pellegrino, burdened by his belongings, couldn’t cross.
“Let go of what weighs you down,” said Angelo.
“If I abandon them,” Pellegrino replied, “what will I have left?”
“You’ll have me,” said the angel. “And I will carry you.”
Pellegrino let go. The river no longer blocked his path.
Later, on a plain swept by violent winds, it was Angelo who faltered.
“Hold on to me,” said Pellegrino. “I’ll shield you from the wind.”
Through storm and silence, climb and descent, they learned to lean on each other.
One gave his strength, the other his lightness.
One offered roots, the other wings.
At last, they came to a fork in the road.
To the left: a peaceful valley.
To the right: a steep, demanding mountain.
“The valley looks safe,” said Pellegrino.
“But the mountain calls us,” replied Angelo.
They chose the climb.
The ascent was harsh, but at the summit — they stood breathless, not from fatigue, but from the view.
And there, in the stillness above the clouds, they understood:
The true treasure was not the destination.
It was the brotherhood they’d forged — from courage, solidarity, and the willingness to keep climbing.
So, the next time you find yourself on a path —
Don’t just look for a place to arrive.
Look for someone to walk with.
Because in the end, true wealth lies not in where you’re going, but in who you’re becoming along the way.
🎙️ See you soon for more inspiring stories from around the world.
📱 April 2025 podcast by Francaisdanslemonde.fr – radios and podcasts for French speakers preparing for or living abroad.
Free app available on Android & Apple — search: “FRENCH IN THE WORLD”.
📡 Hosted by Ausha. Visit ausha.co/privacy-policy for more info.