I received this in an email from a pastor friend.   There is no source, so I quote it in its entirety.

“There is a story from the Desert Fathers about a young monk who asked one of the old men of the desert why it is that so many people came out to the desert to seek God and yet most of them gave up after a short time and returned to their lives in the city.

The old monk told him, “Last evening my dog saw a rabbit running for cover among the bushes of the desert and he began to chase the rabbit, barking loudly. Soon other dogs joined in the chase, barking and running. They ran a great distance and alerted many other dogs. Soon the wilderness was echoing the sounds of their pursuit but the chase went on into the night.

After a little while, many of the dogs grew tired and dropped out. A few chased the rabbit until the night was nearly spent. By morning, only my dog continued the hunt. “Do you understand,” the old man said, “what I have told you?”

“No,” replied the young monk, “please tell me father.”

“It is simple,” said the desert father, “my dog saw the rabbit.”

You see the rabbit, and there is no way, that you will stop running.”

Our presence in worship, our presence in faith, allows us to see the rabbit.

As people of faith we believe that God exists in each of us.   When we look at one another and see the brokenness, the mistakes, the less than perfect nature of our existence,…we are not supposed to turn away.

Instead, those broken parts become the very filter through which we see Jesus.
We approach our broken neighbors and they approach us.

We acknowledge the Jesus that is in each of us, and pass it along.

I guess ultimately, its that knowledge… Knowing that Jesus exists in us and in our neighbors, which should help drive our actions.

No matter where we see Jesus,…be it in the passing of the peace,…or the food pantry,…or in your offices…   If we recognize him,….we become like the dog that sees the rabbit.

We will give everything to obtain it, and wont stop running.