The Old Man's Prayer

I heard of an old man who kept vigil through the night, and at dawn raised his hands to God in need. A voice from the unseen dropped these words in his ear: 'You waste your time. Turn back and mind your own way. Your prayer is not accepted at this door. Leave in disgrace, or stand here weeping in vain.' The next night too he did not sleep, but kept to remembrance and worship. A disciple learned of his state and spoke: 'Since you have seen the door shut in your face, why pour out so much effort for nothing?' Tears the color of rubies fell over his face; grieving, he said: 'My boy, if I turned away from this road in despair, tell me, what other road could I ever find? Do not imagine that because he pulled back the reins, I would let go of his saddle-straps. When a beggar is turned away from one door, what does it matter, if he knows no other door to try? I have heard I have no path in this street, yet there is no other street for me to walk.' He was in this state, his head pressed to the ground in surrender, when a call came to the ear of his soul: 'He is accepted, even if he has no merit, for he has no other refuge but Us.'