Tag Archives: The Heifer and the Ox

178.The Heifer and the Ox

A HEIFER saw an ox hard at work harnessed to a plow, and tormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate in being compelled to labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, the owner released the ox from his yoke, but bound the heifer with cords and led him away to the altar to be slain in honor of the occasion. The ox saw what was being done, and said with a smile to the heifer:

“For this you were allowed to live in idleness, because you were to be sacrificed.”

Consider as much as you can of the total picture before your mind gets set on lots of things. “Why here” is a help toward ongoing reflection.