“Three Old Men.” Wisdom on the last day of Christmas
“The three were hermits on an island in the Black Sea, very pious and humble and loving to all men but terribly ignorant. A bishop goes in a steamer to see them and teach them a few prayers, but finds them too old and stupid to learn. At last, he gets—or thinks he has got—one very short and simple prayer into their heads, and leaves the island, feeling rather contemptuous. Then, when night falls, he sees a bright light advancing swiftly over the sea behind the steamer. The old men have come, walking on the waves, to beg him to be patient with their great stupidity and teach them the prayer again.”—Tolstoy.
My husband sends me this story. He tries to read it to me, but is so moved that he cannot speak. Alas, if all of us could be that way when we hear this story. I think of people I have talked with leading retreats, hoping to share the word of God with them. But instead, I learn more about God by listening to them.
I learn this truth first from recovery meetings, where I hear wisdom from people I would never have previously listened to. Wisdom comes from those with no education who can barely speak intelligently. Wisdom comes from men and women who have spent most of their lives in prison. Wisdom comes from those who have lost their children because of their addiction. Wisdom comes from women who have lived on the streets. Wisdom comes from the homeless.
I also heard this wisdom at our Food Pantry, where people come each week for just enough food to survive. They tell us how grateful they are and bless us. They tell us how blessed they are. They share what they receive with other families. They teach us how to turn our lives and our wills over to God. They teach us how to live in community.
On this last day of Christmas and into this new year, may we keep our ears and hearts open to hear wisdom in people at all places, in each precious moment, and especially where we once least expected it.
Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/
