When the darkness leaves and the dawn comes

A venerable, old sage once asked his disciples, “How can we know when the darkness is leaving and the dawn is coming?”

“When we can see a tree in the distance and know that it is an elm and not a juniper,” ventured one student.

“When we can see an animal and know that it is a fox and not a wolf,” chimed in another.

“No,” said the old man, “those things will not help us.”

Puzzled the students demanded, “How then can we know?”

The master teacher drew himself up to his full stature and replied quietly, “We know the darkness is leaving and the dawn is coming when we can see another person and know that this is our brother or our sister; otherwise, no matter what time it is, it is still dark.”

- Story found in Prayer Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard J. Foster