A novice came to an elder and said:
“Abba, I spend six weeks fasting and study the Old and the New Testament daily.”
The elder replied:
“Do you treat penury as wealth?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Do you treat dishonor as praise?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Do you treat your enemies as your friends?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then,” the wise elder said, “go back and do what you’ve got to do. You haven’t achieved anything.”
Prepared by Catalog of Good Deeds
