Good morning…
Amid the holiday hustle and bustle, I had an early breakfast with a lifelong friend. Sharing meals monthly, we talk like we are riding bikes, peddling naturally to the truth of the matter, to the core of who we are. After our time together, she sent me this story from a picture book called Zen Shorts, by Jon L. Muth.
A Heavy Load
Two traveling monks reached a town where there was a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. The rains had made deep puddles and she couldn’t step across without spoiling her silken robes. She stood there, looking very cross and impatient. She was scolding her attendants….
The younger monk noticed the woman, said nothing, and walked by. The older monk quickly picked her up and put her on his back, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other side. She didn’t thank the older monk, she just shoved him out of the way and departed.
As they continued on their way, the young monk was brooding and preoccupied. After several hours, unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. “That woman back there was very selfish and rude, but you picked her up on your back and carried her! Then she didn’t even thank you!”
“I set the woman down hours ago,” the older monk replied. “Why are you still carrying her?”
Tis the season to ask: “When I am brooding and preoccupied, what heavy load might I set down?”
Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders–he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out, Psalm 55:22a (MSG),
Sue
