The Master's wisdom

Here's another little story told by Anthony de Mello in One Minute Wisdom:

A writer arrive at the monastery to write a book about the Master.

"People say you are a genius. Are you?" he asked.

"You might way so," said the Master, none too modestly.

"And what makes one a genius?"

"The ability to recognize."

"Recognize what?"

"The butterfly in a caterpillar; the eagle in an egg; the saint in a selfish human being."

My own spiritual director of many years standing is like that. He is able to see the illuminated, enlightened, resurrected reality of the person sitting before him - no matter how troubled or messed up that person is at the time. It is a very great gift and one we would all do well to cultivate.