Rabbi Zusia tramped through his native Poland — this admittedly is an odd way of introducing a story about Zen — collecting money to ransom Jews unjustly imprisoned, victims of the rampant anti-Semitism then prevailing. At a wayside inn he saw birds in a cage. Zusia, simple soul that he was, promptly freed the birds.
The innkeeper was not amused. Enraged, he thrashed Zusia soundly. Well — so what? Poverty, hunger, illness, persecution — what were they next to the joy of being alive in God's world? Zusia went serenely on his way.
Later a disciple asked him, "How can one praise God even for our suffering, as our sages command us?"