life’s journey

A story from the Talmud.

November 16, 2015

‘…soft paradox of how we all journey alone together. A Rabbi asks his students, “How do you know the first moment of dawn has arrived?” After a great silence, one pipes up “When you can tell the difference between a sheep and a dog.” The Rabbi shakes his head no. Another offers, “When you can tell the difference between a fig tree and an olive tree.” Again the Rabbi shakes his head no. There are no other answers. The Rabbi circles their silence and walks between them, “You know the first moment of dawn has arrived when you look into the eyes of another human being and see yourself.’

-Mark Nepo