Friday, February 1, 2002
Friday, February 1, 2002
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
"Oh?" said the rabbi.
"Please say something wise, rabbi," said the man.
After much pondering, the rabbi spoke as follows: "Ah, my son, I give you wisdom: Go and look
on page 930 of THE NEW YORK TIMES ALMANAC for the year 1970, and you will find peace
of mind maybe."
"Ah," said the man, and he went away and did that thing.
Now this is what he found: The listing of the lifetime batting averages of all the greatest
baseball players. Ty Cobb, the greatest slugger of them all, had a lifetime average of only
.367. Even Babe Ruth didn't do so good.
So the man went back to the rabbi and said in a questioning tone: "Ty Cobb--.367--that's it?"
"Right," said the rabbi. "Ty Cobb--.367. He got a hit once out of every three times at bat. He
didn't even bat .500--so what can you expect already?"
"Ah," said the man who thought he was a wretched failure because only half the time he did
not succeed at what he must do.
All of us get discouraged at times, but Jesus reminds us, "Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not let them be afraid."
(John 14:27
NRSV)
A troubled man paid a visit to his rabbi. A wise and good old rabbi, as all rabbis try to be.
"Rabbi," said he, wringing his hands, "I am a failure. More than half the time I do not succeed
in doing what I must do."
Lord Jesus, thank you for picking me up when I am down. Amen.
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