(L)Be...
Illustration
(L)
"Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven ..."
Once there was a little saint who had lived a long and happy life. One day God's angel came to the saint as he was washing pots and pans in the kitchen of the monastery. "God sent me," the angel said. "The time has come for you to shine as a heavenly light from your eternal abode."
"I thank God for thinking of me," said the little saint, "but as you can see, there's a great heap of pots and pans to be washed. I don't want to seem ungrateful, but do you think I might put off shining my light in eternity until I have finished?" The angel looked at him, and in the wise and loving way of angels said, "I'll see what I can do." And he vanished.
Then one day the little saint was hoeing the garden that fed the whole monastery, and the angel returned. "It's time," said the angel. The little saint pointed up and down the garden rows, indicating how much hoeing there was yet to be done, and said, "Do you think eternity can hold off a while longer?" The angel smiled and again vanished. This went on several more times, each time the little saint trying to "put off" the angel's summons.
Then one night the saint retired to his bedroom. As he sat on his bed he felt very old and tired. He said, "God, if you would like to send your angel again, I think I would like to see him now."
Suddenly the angel appeared, and the saint said, "If you still want me, I'm ready to shine as a light from eternity." The angel looked at the saint and in the wise and loving ways of angels said:
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING?"
-- Schroeder
"Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven ..."
Once there was a little saint who had lived a long and happy life. One day God's angel came to the saint as he was washing pots and pans in the kitchen of the monastery. "God sent me," the angel said. "The time has come for you to shine as a heavenly light from your eternal abode."
"I thank God for thinking of me," said the little saint, "but as you can see, there's a great heap of pots and pans to be washed. I don't want to seem ungrateful, but do you think I might put off shining my light in eternity until I have finished?" The angel looked at him, and in the wise and loving way of angels said, "I'll see what I can do." And he vanished.
Then one day the little saint was hoeing the garden that fed the whole monastery, and the angel returned. "It's time," said the angel. The little saint pointed up and down the garden rows, indicating how much hoeing there was yet to be done, and said, "Do you think eternity can hold off a while longer?" The angel smiled and again vanished. This went on several more times, each time the little saint trying to "put off" the angel's summons.
Then one night the saint retired to his bedroom. As he sat on his bed he felt very old and tired. He said, "God, if you would like to send your angel again, I think I would like to see him now."
Suddenly the angel appeared, and the saint said, "If you still want me, I'm ready to shine as a light from eternity." The angel looked at the saint and in the wise and loving ways of angels said:
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING?"
-- Schroeder
