The Barefoot Traveller

In India, a man named Isaac had to travel to a distant city. But he was so poor that he could not even buy sandals for his feet, so he started on his way barefooted. The hot sand on the road burned his feet, and the poor man became sad and discouraged over the difficulties of his trip.

He complained bitterly about his hard lot and said that God was unjust toward him because others had more ease and comfort and many good things in life. But he had not even as much as the beasts of the field.

On his journey he passed St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and at the doors was sitting a poor beggar who had lost both feet. Seeing how much worse off this beggar was, Isaac was so shaken up with sorrow that he said to himself, “How ungrateful I was to complain to God. How did I merit to be more fortunate than this poor man who has to crawl like a worm from place to place?”

Then Isaac went into the church and fell on his knees, “O God, have mercy on me a poor sinner. I complained that I had no sandals and now I have seen a man with no feet. I am sorry for offending Thee my God and please have pity on that poor man without any feet. He does not complain!”

Just then an old priest came up to Isaac and asked if he could help him. Isaac said he wanted to go to confession. After confessing his sin, Isaac arose a changed man. He got a glass of cold water for the man with no feet and asked the man to pray for him, which the man gladly did. Then he drank some water himself and continued on his trip. In a few days his feet had hardened and he reached the city without realizing that he had walked on the burning sand.

In your suffering always think of those who are worse off than you and beg God for patience. Then you will be happy.

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