Winnowed Wisdom (Adapted from the Christian and Jewish Traditions)
The Bishop and the Three Hermits
Once upon a time a bishop went to visit three hermits who were living on an Island. The hermits had been isolated for many years, and the bishop longed to offer them pastoral support. The boat trip across the water went well, and the bishop trekked to the three hermit’s simple dwellings. The bishop kindly asked about the prayer life and theological depth of the hermits. The prayer life of the hermits consisted of “We in Thee, Holy Three”. The bishop was somewhat concerned about deepening and broadening the prayer-theological life of the hermits, and the hermits, quite childlike, were delighted and excited to hear more from the bishop. The day came to an end, dusk arrived, and the bishop took to the shoreline, stepped into his coracle and headed back to his diocese on the mainland. The bishop was well into the water crossing when the three hermits came running across the water to the side of the coracle, confessing to the bishop, they had forgotten all he had told them. Each of the hermits apologized for their lapse. The bishop, somewhat surprised and shocked by the hermits appearance on the water, realized he needed their instruction-- “We in Thee, Holy Three”, when rightly internalized, could sail the ship of faith to many places.
A Hasidic Tale
Once upon a time there was a charismatic Jewish Hasidic teacher who was known for his wisdom and insights. Wherever the teacher went, thousands visited the towns and villages he travelled to, just to hear him. There was a young man keen and committed to the deeper meaning of the spiritual journey, and he heard the Hasidic teacher was to visit a town near where he lived. The young man had a friend in the town and he arranged to spend the night at his place. The Hasidic teacher arrived in the village, and, as expected, thousands arrived to meet him and hear his insights. It was a busy time for one and all, but the young man never attended any of the spiritual teachings. The Hasid left the town and the friend of the young man asked him why he never attended any of the lectures. The young man answered, “I was more interested in how he tied the laces on his shoes”.
Ron Dart
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