A Jewish peasant boy came to the big town to participate in a synagogue service during the celebration of a biblical feast. He didn’t know how to pray. He could not even read the Hebrew letter ‘Alef.’ He only saw that everyone was traveling to the synagogues to participate in the holy prayers. He thought, “If everybody is going to town I must go too!”
He arrived at the town’s synagogue with his father and watched the congregants crying and singing together swaying to and fro. He turned to his father and asked, “Father, what is this all about?”
His father turned to him and said, “The Holy One blessed be He, sits enthroned in the heavens and we pray all year long to Him.”
The son responded, “Father, what am I to do since I do not know how to pray?”
His father quickly said to him condescendingly, “All you have to do is be quiet and listen to the other Jews praying. That is enough for you.”
“Father, if I don’t know what these people are saying how is being silent going to help me?”
His father became unnerved and blurted out, “Listen, you should be quiet so no one will know you’re an ignorant peasant!”
The son stood still for a couple of minutes as his father and the rest of the congregation continued praying, and then the young boy stood up and spoke loudly.
“I am going to pray to God in the way I know best. I will whistle to God as I whistle to my flock of sheep.”
He began whistling the sweet calling as most shepherds know. His father was enraged but the boy continued whistling with all his might not caring what other people thought.
The little peasant boy was not politically correct yet attained the highest approval ratings from the One person who really mattered! He rejected everything that came in between his desire to worship and serve God; anything that sought to dampen his wholehearted devotion and love for His creator. And so, his prayers rose above all others present blessing the One who searches the depths and intents of our hearts.
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