- Jul 1, 2002
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A businessman was in a great deal of financial trouble. His business was
failing. he had put everything he had into the business. He owed
everybody.
It was so bad that he was even contemplating suicide. As a last resort he
went to his Rabbi and poured out his story of tears and woe.
When he had finished, the Rabbi said, "Here's what I want you to do:
Put a beach chair and your Bible in your car and drive down to the beach.
Take the beach chair and the Bible to the water's edge. Sit down in the
beach chair, and put the Bible in your lap. Open the Bible. The wind will
riffle the pages, but finally the open Bible will come to rest on a single
page. Look down at the page and read the first thing you see. That will be
your answer; that will tell you what to do."
A year later the businessman went back to the Rabbi and brought his wife
and children with him. The man was in a new custom-tailored suit, his wife
was in a mink coat. The businessman pulled an envelope stuffed with money
out of his pocket and gave it to the Rabbi as a donation in thanks for his
advice.
The Rabbi recognized the benefactor, and was curious, "You did as I
suggested?" he asked.
"Absolutely," replied the businessman.
"You went to the beach?"
"Absolutely."
"You sat in a beach chair with the Bible in your lap?"
"Absolutely."
"You let the pages riffle until they stopped?"
"Absolutely"
"And what were the first words you saw?"
"Chapter 11."
failing. he had put everything he had into the business. He owed
everybody.
It was so bad that he was even contemplating suicide. As a last resort he
went to his Rabbi and poured out his story of tears and woe.
When he had finished, the Rabbi said, "Here's what I want you to do:
Put a beach chair and your Bible in your car and drive down to the beach.
Take the beach chair and the Bible to the water's edge. Sit down in the
beach chair, and put the Bible in your lap. Open the Bible. The wind will
riffle the pages, but finally the open Bible will come to rest on a single
page. Look down at the page and read the first thing you see. That will be
your answer; that will tell you what to do."
A year later the businessman went back to the Rabbi and brought his wife
and children with him. The man was in a new custom-tailored suit, his wife
was in a mink coat. The businessman pulled an envelope stuffed with money
out of his pocket and gave it to the Rabbi as a donation in thanks for his
advice.
The Rabbi recognized the benefactor, and was curious, "You did as I
suggested?" he asked.
"Absolutely," replied the businessman.
"You went to the beach?"
"Absolutely."
"You sat in a beach chair with the Bible in your lap?"
"Absolutely."
"You let the pages riffle until they stopped?"
"Absolutely"
"And what were the first words you saw?"
"Chapter 11."
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