KINGDOM IN MY HEART

Alistair MacLean quotes a story from Tauler, the German mystic:

One day Tauler met a beggar. "God give you a good day, my friend." he said. The beggar answered, "I thank God I never had a bad one."

Then Tauler said, "God give you a happy life, my friend." "I thank God," said the beggar, "I am never unhappy."

Tauler in amazement said, "What do you mean?" "Well," said the beggar, "When it is fine, I thank God; when it rains, I thank God; when I have plenty, I thank God; when I am hungry, I thank God; and since God’s will is my will, and whatever pleases Him, pleases me, why should I say I am unhappy when I am not?"

Tauler looked at the man in astonishment. "Who are you?" he asked. "I am a king," said the beggar. "Where then is your kingdom?" asked Tauler. And the beggar answered quietly: "In my heart."

Isaiah 26:6: "You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."

Source: From a sermon by Ajai Prakash, "First Things First" 2/18/2009.