Thursday, March 12, 2009

The Three Answers

I am becoming increasingly aware that life in the most complete sense of the word is found in the little moments that are so easy to overlook--a child's request to have his picture taken, a glance at the stirrings of Spring outside my window, a walk in the park, the still small voice of my Creator as he persistently and lovingly pursues my heart.

Leo Tolstoy, the same Russian novelist who gave us Anna Karenina and War and Peace, also wrote several collections of short stories. One is entitled "The Three Questions". In that story, a king determines that he can cope with anything in life if he can answer three critical questions:

What is the best time to begin everything?
Who are the best people to listen to?
What is the most important thing to do?

After seeking and being disappointed by the wisdom of many scholars, the King turns to a nearby hermit. He comes to the hermit disguised as a poor man and spends the day helping in the garden. After a long silence, the hermit finally responds:

The most important time is now.
The most important person is whoever you are with.
The most important thing is to do that person good.

I have hopes of spending today in the awareness of these three answers.

Won't you join me?