Back to the early Christian monastics, the Desert Fathers. More information on who they are can be found here. More of their stories can be found here. Here is another teaching of theirs:

"It was said of Abba John the Dwarf that he withdrew and lived in the desert at Scetis with an old man of Thebes. His abba, taking a piece of dry wood, planted it and said to him, 'water it every day with a bottle of water, until it bears fruit.' Now the water was so far away that he had to leave in the evening and return the following morning. At the end of three years the wood came to life and bore fruit. Then the old man took some of the fruit and carried it to the church saying to the brethren, 'take and eat the fruit of obedience.'"

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers
translated by Benedicta Ward, SLG

This is a wonderful story and one worth reflecting on. The cultural values of power, money, and sex are usurped by the monastic and spiritual values of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Questioning our cultural assumptions is worthwhile.

The value of obedience is presented in the story. For me, this story presents several questions. Some about the story. What did this old abba have that made John the Dwarf go to such extraordinary lengths to follow his instruction? Did John wonder about his task and its purpose?

Like all stories worth reading, it brings up several questions for me about my life. What is worthy of my obedience? What task do I undertake that have no clear purpose? Whom do I respect enough to follow without cause or concern?