There was once a very old and venerable rabbi by the name of Zusya. As it seemed that the end of his days was approaching, his students had gathered around him, and were asking him questions, hoping to profit from his wisdom while they could. They asked him many points about the law and scripture and life. Finally, one student asked him, “Rabbi, is there anything you fear about dying?”
“I am a man,” said the rabbi. “Of course I have fear.”
“But what do you fear, rabbi?”
“I fear the question they will ask me when I get to heaven.”
“What question is that?”
“They won’t ask me, ‘Zusya, why weren’t you like Moses?’ No. And they won’t ask me, ‘Why weren’t you like Abraham/’ or ‘Why weren’t you like Solomon?’ No. The question I fear is, they will ask me, ‘Zusya, why weren’t you Zusya?'”
Thank you so much. I read the tale above and I wanted to cry. I was thinking about how just last week I felt so alone in my quests for change and that sometimes I just want to give up because I don’t have the support of many people. But when I read this…I thought: well why am I wanting to give up my own burning desires…just to conform. Oh so fitting. Love Faieza