Suppose there are two ladders, one going upwards to heaven, and
the other leading down to hell. You are
standing on the earth between the two ladders.
You would not reason it all out and say, “How can I fly from the earth
and be once and for all on the top of the ladder?” This is impossible and God does not ask it of
us, but He does ask that we meanwhile keep from going downwards, and do not
harm our neighbor nor offend him…nor demean him. And so at last we begin to do a little good
and are of help to him in speech, and bear with him, and if he needs something
give it to him freely, so we go up one rung at a time until finally, with God’s
help, we reach the top of the ladder.
For through this repeated coming to your neighbor’s rescue, you come to
long for what is advantageous for him as well as advantageous for
yourself. This is “love your neighbor as
yourself.” If we seek, we shall find:
and if we ask God, He will enlighten us.
