A Little Hand is a Big Thing ...

My reflection from last week focused on all the small things I do to sabotage my progress.  All the little excuses I can create and justify to stifle my success.  Interestingly, I ran across this story regarding spiritual progress from Paulo Coelho.  I thought it was cool enough to quote here.

Quoted from the June edition of Ode Magazine - www.odemagazine.com

Covering the Sun with One's Hand

A disciple sought out Rabbi Nahman of Braslaw and said, "I will no longer study the sacred texts. I live in a small house with my brothers and parents, and I never have the ideal conditions to be able to concentrate on what is important."

Nahman pointed to the sun and asked his disciple to place his hand in front of his face, so as to hide it. The disciple did as he was told.

"Your hand is small. However, it was able to entirely block the strength, the light and the majesty of the huge sun.  In the same way, small problems are able to give you the necessary excuse not to go on your spiritual search. Just as the hand has the power to hide the sun, mediocrity has the power of hiding your inner light. Do not blame others for your own incompetence."