This is a story about a very beautiful and special mirror. It hung on a wall in the dining room of a fine house belonging to a rich man. The mirror was large and square, with a wide, thick gold frame carved with beautiful designs of leaves and flowers. Everyone who saw the mirror admired it, but everyone also noticed that it was imperfect. On one of the corners, you see, the silver backing had been scraped off so that this part of the mirror was plain transparent glass. People would remark upon its beauty and then say, “Oh, what a pity! Too bad the mirror is damaged.” To everyone’s surprise, the mirror’s owner would tell his visitors that it was he himself who had deliberately scraped the silver backing off!
Many years ago, in a small town, there lived a man who owned a small store from which he earned just enough money to take care of his family. He was not a rich man, but he also was not a very poor man. He had only a few customers. Sometimes people left without buying anything because the merchant did not have many things to choose from.
The merchant was happy with his life. Though he was not rich, he always had enough to share. No visitor ever left his home hungry. Every time a poor person needed help, the merchant always found money to give them. The merchant and his wife lived a very simple life. Their home was small. The house really needed to be painted, but there was never enough money for that. It seemed to them that it was more important to help someone in real trouble than to paint a house. Their furniture was old and worn for the same reason. The curtains on the window were thin and faded. The merchant and his wife had no carpets on their floor. Their clothes were plain, and they did not often buy new things. Many of their cups and plates had chips and cracks. The food they ate was simple.
Yes, it was not a very fancy house, but it was a comfortable home. It was a warm and inviting place. Everyone felt peaceful and relaxed there. The merchant had many visitors because everyone knew that he was kind and liked to be helpful.
One day as the merchant stood in the doorway of his store waiting for customers, he noticed a stranger approaching. When the stranger was near the store, the merchant asked the stranger, “Maybe you would like to come to my home and rest awhile,” he continued. “If you are hungry, please be my guest. If you are thirsty, please come for something to drink. Perhaps you need money? We will help you.” The merchant’s invitation was so warm and friendly that the stranger decided to stop in his house for a rest.
What the merchant did not know was this was no ordinary stranger. The traveling stranger was a very holy man. The holy man was known to many people who would gather to listen to his words of wisdom, or a source of blessings or prayers in time of need.
The holy man was impressed by the merchant’s kindness and generosity. He knew many rich people who could have helped the poor much more easily than the merchant, but who did much less than he. The holy man enjoyed his visit with the merchant and his wife. As he was leaving, he blessed the merchant with riches, so that he would be able to continue helping the poor and needy.
After the holy man left, the merchant’s store became very busy. Everyone found what they wanted, and no longer did people leave his store to shop somewhere else. Each day the merchant had more and more new customers and more money to bring home. In a short time, the became one of the wealthiest men in the town. The holy man’s blessing that the merchant should become wealthy was realized.
As the merchant became more successful, he spent less and less time studying the Holy Word and he did not pray as often. He did not even devote much time to helping travelers and the needy. The merchant was only available by special appointment. His servants were told to give money to needy people who came for help, but the merchant had no time to listen to their problems.
The merchant and his wife built a brand-new house that had many rooms. All the rooms were large and beautiful. On the windows hung soft velvet drapes. The floors were covered with thick rugs. There was wallpaper on the walls. The kitchen was filled with new pots and pans. There were lots of fine dishes in the cabinets. All the furniture was new and expensive. The dining room table was made of fine wood and was highly polished. The living room was filled with soft and cushiony chairs. On the walls hung fine paintings. A huge mirror hung in the living room. It was so big it almost covered the whole wall. All around this mirror there was a wide, thick frame of gold. Everyone who saw the mirror commented on its beauty.
There were many servants in this new house, and travelers and beggars were not allowed in. Strangers were no longer invited for a meal. Servants would only open the door and give some food and money to the needy.
The people noticed that the merchant changed since he became rich. He was always so kind and good natured as in the past. They remembered the days when the merchant had never been too busy to help others.
One day a messenger from the holy man came to visit the merchant. The news of the merchant’s good fortune had reached the holy man who needed his help. An innocent man had been put in prison on false charges, and a great deal of money was needed for his ransom. Of course, the merchant was happy to help. He gave the messenger the money and sent him off with good wishes for a safe trip home.
The messenger had completed his mission but felt empty. It had been difficult for him to speak with the merchant in person. His servants would not let the stranger into the merchant’s office. The merchant had given him the money, but he had not invited him into his home for some food and rest. The messenger was surprised. The holy man had praised the merchant and often spoken of his hospitality and charitable ways. The messenger could not understand what had happened.
When he came back to the holy man, he gave him the money and told him everything about his trip. The holy man shook his head sadly. He understood that the merchant, the poor man, had a heart of gold, but the merchant, the rich man, with all his gold, seemed to have a heart more like stone. The holy man decided to visit the merchant to see what could be done.
When the holy man arrived at the merchant’s house, the merchant welcomed him warmly and invited him into his home. This house looked very different from the home that the merchant had lived in when the holy man first visited him. It was big and beautiful, but gone was the friendliness, warmth and comfort one had felt in the simple, old home. The holy man walked on the heavy rug. He saw the costly paintings. He looked at the expensive, new furniture, and at the drapes made from the finest, softest velvet. And then he noticed the mirror. He looked at its shiny gold frame. It was the biggest mirror he had ever seen.
The merchant told the holy man. “That mirror is my favorite treasure. Of all the lovely things I own, I like that mirror the best. It cost a great deal of money, but it was worth it. It is truly a masterpiece, a work of art, is it not?”
“Yes, I see,” the holy man answered. “The mirror is really beautiful.” He said softly, in a serious voice, his face sad.
Suddenly, the holy man called to the merchant. “Come here,” he said, and asked him to walk over to the mirror and stand in front of it. The holy man then walked away a bit and asked the merchant to tell him what he saw.
The merchant was puzzled, but answered, “Myself. That is what I see in this mirror. My own reflection — that is all I can see.”
“Look closely,” the holy man said. “What else do you see?”
“I see my lovely furniture reflected in the mirror. I see my paintings, I see my rugs and drapes. I can see many things in my beautiful home,” answered the merchant.
The holy man then walked over to the window with the merchant. He pushed aside the drapes and told the merchant to look out into the street. The merchant’s home was on the main street and people were always passing by. Since it was a small town, the merchant knew almost all the people walking past his house. The holy man asked him many questions about all the people they saw. The merchant told him that the woman with the basket was a poor widow with many small children. She was hoping that kind people would put food in the basket for her family. He told the holy man about the old water carrier who found it hard to carry the water. He pointed out the tailor, who prayed every day, but was very poor and never had enough money for his family.
The merchant was wondering why the holy man was asking him all these questions. The holy man was a serious man who never had time to waste. Why should he be so curious about all these people?
Then the holy man said, “It is strange, is it not? A mirror and a window are both made of glass, yet they are very different.”
“What do you mean?” asked the merchant.
“Well,” said the holy man, “when you looked in the mirror, you could only see yourself and your house. You could see much more when you looked out the window. Then you could see all your neighbors and townspeople.”
“That is true,” said the merchant. “A mirror and a window are both made from glass. The window is transparent. Light can pass right through it. It is clear and you can see everything through it. The mirror, on the other hand, is covered with silver on one side. The rays of light cannot pass through, and therefore a mirror can only reflect what is in front of it.”
“I see,” said the holy man and nodded his head. “I see. The piece of glass that is plain is clear through and through, allowing you to see others and their lives. Yet the same glass, when it is covered with silver, only allows you to see only yourself.”
The merchant’s eyes filled with tears. He felt so ashamed. Finally, he understood everything that had happened to him since he became rich.
That evening, the merchant had a big party in his home. The whole town was invited, especially all the poor people. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Then the merchant asked for silence. He made a short speech and asked for everyone’s forgiveness. He told his guests that he was sorry for the way he had acted after he became rich. His life would now be different. He promised them that his doors would always be open for everyone and that he never would be too busy to help those who needed him.
After all the guests had left, the merchant walked over to his beautiful mirror. With a sharp knife he scraped off the silver covering in one corner. He did not stop until that part was as clear as glass. Only then was he satisfied.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us
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