When the Night Ends

October 2008

"How can we determine the hour of dawn - when the night ends and the day begins?"  the teacher asked of his students one day.

"When, from a distance, you can distinguish between a dog and a cat?"  one of his students suggested.

"No," the teacher answered.

"Is it when you can distinguish between a tree and a bush?"  another student asked.

"No," he replied, again.

"Please tell us the answer, then," said the students.

"It is when you can look into the face of another human being and have enough light to see that in spite of the differences which might separate you, he is still your brother," the wise teacher replied.  "Until then, it is night, and the darkness is still with us."

Good night, gentlemen.