The Fly or the Bee

"If you ask a fly, 'Are there flowers nearby?' it will answer, 'I don’t know; but down there in that hole, there are some cans, garbage, filth,' and it will list all the dirt it has been to. But if you ask a bee, 'Have you perhaps seen any dirt around here?' it will reply, 'Dirt? No, I haven’t noticed any dirt. This place is full of fragrant flowers,' and it will list all the garden and wildflowers it has found. You see, the fly knows only where the garbage is, while the bee knows that over there is a lily and further away, a hyacinth..." This is how I understand things: Some people are like bees, and others are like flies. Those who resemble flies seek out something bad in every situation and occupy themselves with it; they see nothing good anywhere. Those who resemble bees find goodness in everything. A corrupted person thinks corrupted thoughts; they interpret everything negatively and see things the wrong way. But a person with good thoughts, no matter what they see or hear, will always have a good perspective.

+ St. Paisios of Mount Athos