Once upon a time there lived two neighbors. One is very devout, and the second is also a believer, but always envied the faith of the first.
So it was that one of them did everything to bring the truths of faith into life, while the second, seeing this, only marveled at the energy of the first and his unbending faith. Many different things happened in life, but one of them was always adamant in his decisions and actions, always showed a keen mind in solving problems and always directed the light of his mind to prove matters of faith. The second, seeing that it was beyond his reach to ever become like that, solved his affairs in an everyday way and only calmed himself down, saying that perhaps he would someday be as smart and strong as his more religious neighbor. Either because he was helpless in solving global problems, or because each problem took him much longer than the first, he learned to rejoice even when he encountered a problem. He simply had no choice but to rejoice.
Then fate separated the neighbors, and the second was forced to leave for distant places. He left and eventually forgot the first one. I still solved my problems using my calm methods. Only every year he took life easier and easier, and a quiet joy settled in him.
And then one day he died. He ended up in heaven, and the angels said that he was destined for heaven. He was surprised at first, but then joyfully accepted this news. After some time, he asked the angels if they could fulfill one of his wishes. The angels replied that they would do this with joy. He asked about his neighbor, he wanted to know what happened to him, because he had never seen a more religious person. Then the angels picked him up and carried him to the high mountain where the statue stood.
“He has crystallized faith in himself all his life,” said the angels. - Now he is motionless. He strove for perfection and became it, and now he is completely unaware of ordinary joys.
- But is this a stone? - asked the former neighbor.
“No, this is not a stone, this is a huge crystal, a soul,” answered the angels, “and we can all admire it.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru