A young student asked an...
Illustration
A young student asked an aging monk for advice on how to live a pure and holy life. The monk told him that each day he must ride his bicycle thirty miles, fast one day each week, bathe himself entirely in olive oil once each month, and read the Bible through at least once each year.
After following this regimen for two years, the student happened to encounter the monk again. With a bit of anger in his voice, he began to accuse the monk of having misled him. "I have done what you said," he told him. "I have ridden my bicycle, I have fasted, I have bathed in olive oil, and I have read the Bible through twice in its entirety. In reading the Bible, though, I discovered that all of that other stuff wasn't necessary. I am made pure by God's grace."
"I know," said the monk. "But if I had told you it was that easy, you wouldn't have believed me."
After following this regimen for two years, the student happened to encounter the monk again. With a bit of anger in his voice, he began to accuse the monk of having misled him. "I have done what you said," he told him. "I have ridden my bicycle, I have fasted, I have bathed in olive oil, and I have read the Bible through twice in its entirety. In reading the Bible, though, I discovered that all of that other stuff wasn't necessary. I am made pure by God's grace."
"I know," said the monk. "But if I had told you it was that easy, you wouldn't have believed me."
