Daily Meditation: Monday, October 15, 2007

One day an acorn said to an old oak: ‘My heart is full of …

10/15/2007

One day an acorn said to an old oak: ‘My heart is full of love, and I am going off to do good in the world.’ The old oak shook his head and replied: ‘Don’t be in such a hurry. Go down into the earth for a bit and develop yourself. When you are a beautiful tree, you will shelter birds, you will feed the animals of the forest, you will provide shade for people and inspire painters…’ ‘You are old and tired,’ said the acorn. ‘You understand nothing of youthful enthusiasm. Farewell, I’m leaving…’ He stood proudly at the side of the road, ready to leave, when a pig passing by saw him and had him for lunch! This is what happens to young people who are presumptuous and imagine they can change the world without having studied and prepared themselves: they are eaten up by the first pig that comes along. They must understand that we can only help others according to our abilities and knowledge, and that this demands humility above all else.