Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

HOW PEACE WILL COME A certain man had two sons. One was rich and the other was poor. The rich son had no children, while the poor son was blessed with many sons and daughters. In time, the father fell ill. He was sure he would not live through the week, so on Saturday he called his sons to his side and gave each of them half of his land as their inheritance. Then he died. Before sundown, the sons buried the father with respect. That night, the rich son could not sleep. He said to himself, "What my father did was not just. I am rich; my brother is poor. I have plenty of bread, while my brother's children eat one day and trust God for the next. I must move the landmark that our father has set in the middle of the land so that my brother will have the greater share. Ah, but he must not see me; if he sees me, he will be shamed. I must arise early in the morning before it is dawn and move the landmark." With this, he fell asleep, and his sleep was secure and peaceful. Meanwhile, the poor brother could not sleep. As he lay restless on his bed, he said to himself, "What my father did was not just. Here I am surrounded by the joy of many sons and many daughters, while my brother daily faces the shame of having no sons to carry on his name and no daughters to comfort him in his old age. He should have the land of our fathers. Perhaps this will in part compensate him for his indescribable poverty. Ah, but if I give it to him he will be shamed; I must awake early in the morning before it is dawn and move the landmark that our father has set." With this, he went to sleep, and his sleep was secure and peaceful. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, a long time before it was day, the two brothers met at the ancient landmark. They fell with tears into each other's arms, and on that spot was built the New Jerusalem.