When is the Night Over?

I love this story from the Tales of the Hasidim. Words to think about:





An old rabbi was asked by his students how they could tell when the night was ended and the day had begun.


"Could it be," asked one student, "when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it is a sheep or a dog?"


"No!" answered the rabbi.







Another asked, "Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it is a fig tree or a peach tree?"


"No!" said the rabbi again.


"Then when is it that you can tell the night is over?" the pupils demanded.

"It is when you can look at the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because if you cannot see this, it will still be night."

Very wise words. Can you see?