Special thanks to Hasidic Rebbele for this
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of G-d, the barber said: “I don’t believe that G-d exists.” ”
Why do you say that?” asked the customer.
“Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that G-d doesn’t exist.
Tell me, if G-d exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If G-d existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can’t imagine a loving G-d who would allow all of these things.” The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: “You know what? Barbers do not exist.”
“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!” “No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”
“Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens, is people do not come to me.” “Exactly!”- affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! G-d, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him.”
I have always enjoyed these little parables, I think that they are simple with a strong message. Regardless of whether you believe in G-d or not I think the real message here is that it is up to you to go out and do things to help the world.
You’ll never convince everyone that G-d exists, but you don’t have to rely on G-d to try and engage in some simple acts to make life better for you and everyone around you. Start small and big things will come of it.
I liked this. And I agree w/you about tikkun olam.