Once upon a time a young seeker heard there was a wise and venerable master who could provide all the answers to questions like, “Why,” “What,” and “How.”  She packed her bags, saddled her horse, and prepared for the long and dangerous journey. 
Over mountains, across deserts, and through raging rivers she rode.  Days and weeks turned into months, until finally the exhausted young woman arrived in a far off city where a local scholar told her about a hermit who lived high in the hills.  The next day the seeker set off bright and early and before long she found the elderly recluse sitting in front of the cave where he lived.
     “Oh, wise man, give me enlightenment.”
     The old man sat silently, giving no sign that he had even heard the request.
     Undaunted the youth sat quietly waiting for the elder to respond.  Surely he was meditating and would answer when he roused.  But he sat there hour after hour.
     Finally the young woman asked again, “Please help me, a pilgrim, in search of wisdom.  Give me illumination.”
     But still the old hermit sat without acknowledging her request.
     This scene was repeated throughout the day at intervals.  The seeker pleaded, demanded, and requested all to no avail. 
     Finally as the sun began to set behind the western hills the seeker made one last request, “Please, venerable sage, won't you give me the knowledge I seek?”
     Looking up at her, the wise one quietly asked, “Why didn’t you ask me for a horse?”
     Astonished at this question she replied, “I already have a horse.”
     With that the wise man rose and went into his cave.
     So many times we go asking others for answers, just like our seeker.  “What am I supposed to be doing?”  “Why is this happening to me?”  “Who am I?”  We expect our teachers, guides, or mentors to provide solutions.
     If we would just take the time to listen to the still small voice within, the answers to all our questions would come to us.  We already have everything we need.  It just takes a bit of searching, exploring, discovering.  Others can offer support, ideas, insights but it is up to us to find our own answers.

Affirmation: I listen to that voice within. I acknowledge the questions, suggestions, and thoughts that I receive from others. As I take in all the other informtion my inner voice is what I acknowledge.