Who's Driving?

A wealthy man was once riding along the countryside and saw a crippled beggar sitting on the side of the road. After receiving a few coins from the wealthy man, the cripple asked him for a ride into the city.

The wealthy man felt compassion for the cripple, and helped him up to the horse, giving him the front seat and even allowing him to hold the reins. The cripple was most appreciative. The wealthy man got up behind the cripple, and together they rode the horse into the city.

Strangely enough, upon arriving in the city and into the crowded marketplace, the cripple turned to the wealthy many and said: "Now you may get off the horse, and I will ride myself to my house."

The wealthy man was shocked! 

"This is my horse, not yours!" the wealthy man said, angrily. "Stop the foolish talk, or I will let you off right here!" 

The cripple responded by yelling loudly, for all the townspeople to hear: "Save me! Save me! This man has no mercy on a poor cripple! I was kind enough to offer him a ride into the city, and now he is trying to rob me of my horse!"

The townspeople gathered around to protest the travesty.

"This man is a liar!" protested the wealthy man. "It is I who gave him a ride into the city! And now he is trying to rob me of my horse!"

The townspeople brought the quarreling duo to judge.

Upon hearing from both parties, the judge turned to the wealthy man and said: "It seems to me that what you are saying is true, yet, what can I do? The circumstances happen to rule in favor of the cripple. 

"Had you sat yourself in the front, and the cripple behind you, it would have been obvious that you are the owner, the one in charge. Had you held on to the reins, even while being kind to the cripple, there would have been no doubt as to who is the true owner, and who is the thief..."

***

When going to eat, Hillel would say that he is going to do kindness with the pitiful [being]; meaning, his body. (Vayikra Rabba, 34:3)

Even when he needed to tend to his physical needs, Hillel had the proper perspective, and knew that his body was only something that needed to be taken care of, but it wasn't the focus of his life. 

Hillel teaches us how to understand the true parameters of our "needs": Granted, there are physical limitations I must tend to in order to live and be healthy, yet I remember that I am in charge of my body, not vice versa. Of course, I will make sure to care for it with the proper respect, yet, I will never forget that I am the owner; I hold the reins; I am in charge.

And in doing so, my body, too, will know who is in charge.

As will all the townspeople, and the world around me.


Story from the Ben Ish Chai