There is a marvelous Sufi tale of a fox that had somehow lost his hind legs. One day a man noticed the fox and felt sorry for him, but then he noticed a tigress approaching the fox. The tigress had game in her mouth. She ate what she wanted and then left the rest for the fox. The man was inspired at how Nature takes care of her children in such miraculous ways. And so, he decided that he would simply rest and trust that whatever he needed would come to him without any effort. Weeks later, emaciated and near death, the man was wondering why Nature had not provided for his needs as abundantly as She had for the fox. And then, deep within his soul, he heard the voice of Wisdom say, “Foolish man! You are suffering because you are following the wrong example. Instead of imitating the disabled fox, start imitating the mighty tigress.”
Our thoughts, attitudes, habits, and choices set in motion dynamic forces that return to us what we have generated. To reap abundance, we must sow generosity. To reap joy, we must sow goodwill. To reap success, we must sow honest effort. To reap tranquility, we must sow peace. By doing what we can for ourselves and helping those who can’t do as much, we are sowing the seeds of a good life that will produce an abundant harvest. As Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you! A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6.38).
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