Once upon a time, a pious old man said to God, “God, look how faithfully I’ve served you all my life, right?” Of course, he heard no answer.
“Right,” said he to himself. “Now, I’ve never asked you for anything, right?”
“Right,” said he, talking on behalf of God, of course. And he said, “Now, I’m going to ask you for just once favour and you can’t say no to me. All my life I’ve served you, I’ve observed the law, I’ve kept the rites. I’ve done good to people, I’ve observed your commandments. Just do me this one favour: Let me win the lottery, and then I can retire in peace and security.”
So he was convinced that God would grant him his desire, and he waited and waited and waited. And he kept on praying every night. After six months, nothing had happened. And then one night, in sheer frustration, he yelled: “God, give me a break. let me win the lottery.”
And imagine the fright he got when he heard a voice reply, “Give me a break yourself. Buy s ticket.”
Source | Anthony de Mello, Rediscovering Life. Pages 104-105
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IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FORMAT
A devout religious man fell on hard times. So he took to praying in the following fashion: “Lord, remember all the years I served you as best as I could, asking for nothing in return. Now that I am old and bankrupt I am going to ask you for a favour for the first time in my life and I am sure you will not say No: allow me to win the lottery”
Days passed. Then weeks and months. But nothing happened. Finally,almost driven to despair, he cried out one night, “Why don’t you give me a break, God?”
He suddenly heard the voice of God replying, ” Give me a break yourself! Why don’t you buy a lottery ticket?”
Source | Anthony de Mello, The Prayer Of The Frog. Page 52
or in the US edition, Taking Flight., page 104
PONDER AND CONSIDER
- Did you buy your ticket? Are you expecting magic or are you responsible enough to daily do your part?
WISDOM STORIES TO LIVE BY 