This week’s spiritual wisdom is an old Eastern parable adapted by Phillip Cousineau:

A very long time ago there was a traveler who was making a journey across the wild steppes when he suddenly heard the roar of a tiger. Terrified, he turned and saw the beast charging him. The traveler wasted no time. He ran for his life across the barren land – but saw no refuge until a dried up well loomed in the distance. He felt his blood surging as he gripped the end of the well and leapt inside.

The traveler fell, and as he fell he noticed to his horror a fire-snorting dragon far below, its jaws snapping viciously.
Desperately, the traveler reached out and grabbed hold of a long vine growing out of the bricks in the well. Miraculously, the vine held him and for a few precious moments he clung for his life against the cold brick walls of the well.

Above him, the tiger gnashed his teeth. Below him, the dragon licked its chops. The poor traveler’s arms grew weary. His thoughts knotted. Fate was very near. Still, he held on. Hope flickered in his heart.

While he pondered his strange dilemma he noticed two mice, one black, one white, nibbling at the branch to which is was clinging. The sight put him into rapture. Every molecule of the bark on the branch glowed as if on fire. It was then he noticed a few drops of luscious honey
glistening on the leaves at the root of the vine.

Smiling he stretched out his tongue and tasted the honey.

- From The Soul Aflame: A Modern Book of Hours