Because What You Expect Holiness To Be Is Often Wrong…

Last updated on: June 7, 2015 at 11:35 pm by Frank Weathers

Because What You Expect Holiness To Be Is Often Wrong… 2015-06-07T23:35:55-05:00 Frank Weathers

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Like at my house after dinner, but without the habits…

Have you ever noticed how when you haven’t experienced something before, be it a person, a place, or a thing, your idea of what that experience would be like, and how it actually turned out to be, didn’t always jive? In fact it’s probably not much of a stretch to say that usually what you expected, and what you actually experienced, were as different from each other as night is to day.

Break: I’m sort of back from vacation, but blogging may still be light. That’s because I’ve been spirited away by Shusaku Endo’s novel The Samurai. More on that in another post.

Back to my line of thought. This story I saw on Lifehacker (H/T Tom McDonald) reminded me of this fact. It also reminds me of a similar story I came across (in an unlikely place) while doing research related to genealogy.

I’ll share it with you here.

The story is told that a disciple of Shmelke of Nikolsburg asked his rebbe to teach him the mystery of serving God. The tsaddik told him to go to Rabbi Abraham Hayyim, who in those days was still an innkeeper. The student did as he was instructed and took up residence in the inn for several weeks. During all this time he failed to observe any special indication of holiness in the man. He seemed only to attend to his business. Finally, in desperation, the disciple went up to the innkeeper and asked what he did all day.

“My most important job,” said Rabbi Abraham, “is to make sure the dishes are cleaned properly. I do my best to make sure that no trace of food remains on the dishes. I also clean and dry the pots and pans carefully so that they do not rust.”

“That’s it?” asked the student incredulously.

“That’s it,” replied the innkeeper.

Whereupon the disciple returned home and reported what he had seen and heard to his master.

“Now you know everything you need to know,” Rabbi Shmelke said.

See kids? It’s like Qoheleth says,

“See what I discovered: God made man simple, but they get lost in their many thoughts.”–Ecclesiastes 7:29

Explore more Hasidic tales here.

Previous Post

July 22, 2013

Patheos Catholic Bloggers Spotted in Pasadena!

Next Post

July 26, 2013 “That our own government is knowingly displaying such a lack of tolerance for faithful Christians is outrageous"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog News Conversion Story Culture Learning Living Nature Prayer Uncategorized Working

Select a Month June 2016 May 2016 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who prayed for rain after a long drought and sent his servant to look seven times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hosea Isaiah Elijah Samuel