Where Do I Belong?

An old Hasidic tale summarizes the need to move

from solitude to community in the spiritual life

in order to find our true home in the world.

--- Darkness and the Dawn ---

The rabbi asked his students: 

"How can we determine the hour of dawn,

when the night ends and the day begins?"

One student suggested: 

"When from a distance you can distinguish 

between a dog and a sheep?"

"No," was the answer of the rabbi.

A second student said,

"It is when one can distinguish between a fig tree

and a grapevine?"

"No," the rabbi said.

"Please tell us the answer then," said the students.

"It is then," said the wise teacher,

"when you can look into the face of another human being

and you have enough light in you to recognize 

your brother and sister.

Until then it is night, and darkness is still with us."