THEN WORK LEFT ME

 
Or the story of the great Sufi Master who even after taking the vows of discipleship continued his trade of blacksmithing.

Then one day whilst listening to a blind man reciting The Koran outside his shop, he became so absorbed that he put his hand into the fire without using the pincers and drew out a red-hot piece of iron. Seeing this, his apprentice fainted.

But when the Master came out of his state of ecstasy he left the shop forever, saying, "I left work and returned to it; then work left me and I never returned to it again. It is only God Who in His providence gives and takes away."