A story from the Far East recounts that a vicious general plundered the countryside and terrorized the villagers. He was, they said, particularly cruel to the monks of the place, whom he despised.

One day, the the end of his most recent assult, he was informed by one of his officers that, fearing him, all the villagers had already fled the town, with the excepion of one monk who had remained in the monestary going about the order of the day.

The general was infuriated at the audacity of the monk and sent soldiers to drag him to his tent.

“Do you know who I am”? He roared at the monk. “I am he who can run you through with a swird and never bat an eyelash.”

But the monk replied quietly, “And do you not kniw who I Am? I am he who can let you run me through with sword and not blink an eyelash.”

[Story taken from The Rule of Benedict. Chittister.]