John and the Hunter’s Bow

It is said that the blessed John was once gently stroking a partridge with his hands when he suddenly saw a philosopher coming toward him, dressed as a hunter. The man was astonished that someone of such great fame and reputation should lower himself to such petty and trivial amusements, and he said: “Can you be that John whose great and famous reputation filled me too with the greatest desire to know you? Then why do you busy yourself with such poor amusements?” The blessed John said to him: “What is it that you are carrying in your hand?” The other replied: “A bow.” John said: “And why do you not carry it everywhere, always bent?” The other replied: “That would not do. The force of its stiffness would be weakened by its being bent all the time, and it would wear down and be ruined. Then, when the time came for it to send stronger arrows after some animal, its stiffness would be gone through the excessive and constant strain, and it would be impossible to shoot the more powerful shafts.” Then the blessed John said: “Well then, my boy, do not let this slight and brief relaxation of my mind trouble you. Unless the mind sometimes relieved and eased the rigor of its purpose by some recreation, the spirit would lose its spring through the unbroken strain, and when need required, it would be unable to follow what is right without hesitation.” [a]