An old hermit lived deep in the forests where very few people ever saw him. He would study the holy books. wisdom and had a very special student. The student learned how to recognize the holy aspects of the world around him and the spiritual elements of the plainest of things. Every day the old hermit and his student studied ancient wisdom together and, after a time, became friends.

When the old hermit died, relatives who hadn’t seen or spoken to him for years came to collect his valuables. When the relatives arrived, they saw the old shack the old hermit lived in. Inside the shack, next to the rock fireplace, was a cracked table with an old tree stump that served as a chair, and two brass candlesticks that served as the centerpiece for the table. In a dark corner of the little room was a rundown cot with a threadbare bedroll on it and an old wooden chest.

The relatives took a quick look around, looked into the old wooden chest and saw nothing but old books and paper. They picked up the candlesticks and started to leave. As they were leaving, an old friend and student of the old hermit, flagged them down. “Do you mind if I help myself to what’s left in my friend’s cabin?” he asked. “Go right ahead,” they replied. After all, they thought, what inside that shack could be worth anything?

The old student and friend entered the shack and walked directly over to the old wooden chest. He opened the lid and then took out one of the old books and began to study after some time he began to look at the papers in the old chest. Each page was filled with mysteries that touched the heart and soul. The words in the books and papers were filled with holy writing by the old hermit.

The first page he took began with, “This book of the law – Torah (Scriptures) shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.” (Joshua 1:8) It was filled with so many holy words and wisdom that the student/friend’s heart was filled with so much joy. The last words on the page, “Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18), encouraged him to read more of the mysteries in the old wooden chest.

The old hermit died with only his student and friend knowing his true worth. As he looked out of the little window and watched the cloud of dust behind the relative’s departure disappear, he said, “They should have gotten to know him better.”

People go about their whole lives so caught up in the physical world, they never take time to explore the spirituality that surrounds them. Never once realizing how special and holy they are.

It is written, “then the L-rd G-d formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) The Holy One, blessed be He “formed man from the dust of the ground” means that man was created of this world and realm – the physical world. The verse goes on and says “and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” This means that man was created also from the spiritual realm. Man has the ability to live in the physical and spiritual realm at the same time.

It is the spiritual part of man that allows us to see the beauty, wonder and mystery of the world around us. Since we are made up of the spiritual and physical worlds, we can raise the most mudane and common aspect and actions up to the spiritual and holy level.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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