Author unknown
*
Six humans trapped by happenstance, in bleak and bitter cold,
Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story's told.
Their dying fire in need of logs, the first man held his back,
For of the faces 'round the fire, he noticed one was black.
The next man looking 'cross the way saw one not of his church,
And couldn't bring himself to give the fire his stick of birch.
The third sat in tattered clothes, he gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use to warm the idle rich?
The rich man just sat back and thought of the wealth he had in store,
And how to keep what he had earned from the lazy, shiftless poor.
The black man's face bespoke revenge as the fire passed from sight,
For all he saw in his stick of wood was a chance to spite the white.
The last man of this forlorn group did naught except for gain,
Giving only to those who gave was how he played the game.
Their logs held tight in death's still hand was proof of human sin,
They didn't die from the cold without - they died from the cold within.
*
And God Said, "No"
Author unknown
*
I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, "No."
He said it was not for Him to take away,
But for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, "No."
He said her spirit is whole.
Her body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn't granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, "No."
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, "No."
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from
Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, "No."
He said I must grow on my own,
But he will prune me to make it fruitful.
I asked God if He loved me,
And God said, "Yes."
He gave me His only son, who died for me.
And I will be in Heaven someday
Because... I believe.
I asked God to help me love others
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
"Ah finally, you have the idea."
*
*
I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, "No."
He said it was not for Him to take away,
But for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, "No."
He said her spirit is whole.
Her body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, "No."
He said patience is a by-product of tribulation.
It isn't granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, "No."
He said He gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, "No."
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from
Worldly cares and brings you closer to Me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, "No."
He said I must grow on my own,
But he will prune me to make it fruitful.
I asked God if He loved me,
And God said, "Yes."
He gave me His only son, who died for me.
And I will be in Heaven someday
Because... I believe.
I asked God to help me love others
As much as He loves me,
And God said,
"Ah finally, you have the idea."
*
* 中文版 *
Filed under:
And God Said "No",
神說不
Apple Tree and the Child
Author unknown
*
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow...
He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.
Time went by... the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree everyday.
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.
"Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy.
"I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them."
"Sorry, but I don't have money...but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.
The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.
One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited.
"Come and play with me" the tree said.
"I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"
"Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.
The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said.
"I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?"
"Use my truck to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree truck to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years.
"Sorry, my boy. But I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you..." the tree said.
"I don't have teeth to bite" the boy replied.
"No more truck for you to climb on"
"I am too old for that now" the boy said.
"I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots" the tree said with tears.
"I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years." The boy replied.
"Good! Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, Come sit down with me and rest."
The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears...
*
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow...
He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.
Time went by... the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree everyday.
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.
"Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy.
"I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them."
"Sorry, but I don't have money...but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.
The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.
One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited.
"Come and play with me" the tree said.
"I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"
"Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.
The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said.
"I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?"
"Use my truck to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree truck to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years.
"Sorry, my boy. But I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you..." the tree said.
"I don't have teeth to bite" the boy replied.
"No more truck for you to climb on"
"I am too old for that now" the boy said.
"I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots" the tree said with tears.
"I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years." The boy replied.
"Good! Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, Come sit down with me and rest."
The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears...
Filed under:
Apple Tree and the Child,
大樹與小孩
What God Hath Promised
Author unknown
*
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through.
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer, light for the way;
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.
*
*
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through.
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer, light for the way;
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, Undying love.
*
Filed under:
What God Hath Promised
Why Jesus Be a Human
Author unknown
*
There was once a man who didn't believe in the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and was skeptical about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised her children in her faith. He sometimes gave her a hard time about her faith and mocked her religious observance of Christmas.
One snowy Christmas eve she was taking the kids to the Christmas eve service at church. She pleaded with him to come, but he firmly refused. He ridiculed the idea of the incarnation of Christ and dismissed it as nonsense. "Why would God lower himself and become a human like us?! It's such a ridiculous story!" he said.
So she and the children left for church while he stayed home.
After they left, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As he looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window. And another thump. He looked outside but couldn't see. So he ventured outside to see.
In the field near his house he saw, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese! They were apparently flying to look for a warmer area down south, but got caught in the snow storm. The snow had became too blinding and violent for the geese to fly or see their way. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just fluttered their wings and flew around in circles around the field blindly and aimlessly.
He had compassion for them and wanted to help them. He thought to himself, "The barn would be a great place for them to stay! It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm."
So he walked over to the barn and opened the barn doors for them. He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But they just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. So he started whistling and calling to them. He shouted, jumped up and down, waved his arms. They didn't pay attention. He moved closer toward them to get their attention, but they just moved away from him out of fear. He went into the house and came back out with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on.
Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them, run after them, and chase them toward the barn. They only got scared and scattered into every direction except toward the barn. None of his attempts to get them into the barn succeeded. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was warmth, safety, and shelter; nothing he did could make them enter the one place where they could survive.
Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, "Why don't they listen to me! Why don't they follow me! What's wrong with them! Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm! How can I possibly get them into the one place to save them!"
He thought for a moment and realized that they just won't follow a human. He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them? The only way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I could become like one of them! Then I could show them the way! Then I could save them! They would follow me, not fear me. They would trust me, and I would lead them to safety."
He stood silently for a moment as the words that he just said reverberated back to himself in his mind: "If only I could become like one of them--then I could show them the way--then I could save them." He thought about his words, and remembered what he said to his wife: "Why would God want to be like us? That's so ridiculous!" Something clicked in his mind as he put these two together. It was like a revelation, and he began to understand the incarnation. We were like the geese--blind, gone astray, perishing. God became like us so He could show us the way and make a way available to save us. That is the meaning of Christmas, he realized in his heart.
As the winds and blinding snow abated, his heart became quiet and pondered this epiphany. He understood what Christmas was all about. He knew why Christ had come. Suddenly years of doubt and disbelief were shattered, as he humbly and tearfully bowed down in the snow, and embraced the true meaning of Christmas.
*
*
There was once a man who didn't believe in the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and was skeptical about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised her children in her faith. He sometimes gave her a hard time about her faith and mocked her religious observance of Christmas.
One snowy Christmas eve she was taking the kids to the Christmas eve service at church. She pleaded with him to come, but he firmly refused. He ridiculed the idea of the incarnation of Christ and dismissed it as nonsense. "Why would God lower himself and become a human like us?! It's such a ridiculous story!" he said.
So she and the children left for church while he stayed home.
After they left, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As he looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window. And another thump. He looked outside but couldn't see. So he ventured outside to see.
In the field near his house he saw, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese! They were apparently flying to look for a warmer area down south, but got caught in the snow storm. The snow had became too blinding and violent for the geese to fly or see their way. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just fluttered their wings and flew around in circles around the field blindly and aimlessly.
He had compassion for them and wanted to help them. He thought to himself, "The barn would be a great place for them to stay! It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm."
So he walked over to the barn and opened the barn doors for them. He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But they just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. So he started whistling and calling to them. He shouted, jumped up and down, waved his arms. They didn't pay attention. He moved closer toward them to get their attention, but they just moved away from him out of fear. He went into the house and came back out with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on.
Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them, run after them, and chase them toward the barn. They only got scared and scattered into every direction except toward the barn. None of his attempts to get them into the barn succeeded. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was warmth, safety, and shelter; nothing he did could make them enter the one place where they could survive.
Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, "Why don't they listen to me! Why don't they follow me! What's wrong with them! Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm! How can I possibly get them into the one place to save them!"
He thought for a moment and realized that they just won't follow a human. He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them? The only way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I could become like one of them! Then I could show them the way! Then I could save them! They would follow me, not fear me. They would trust me, and I would lead them to safety."
He stood silently for a moment as the words that he just said reverberated back to himself in his mind: "If only I could become like one of them--then I could show them the way--then I could save them." He thought about his words, and remembered what he said to his wife: "Why would God want to be like us? That's so ridiculous!" Something clicked in his mind as he put these two together. It was like a revelation, and he began to understand the incarnation. We were like the geese--blind, gone astray, perishing. God became like us so He could show us the way and make a way available to save us. That is the meaning of Christmas, he realized in his heart.
As the winds and blinding snow abated, his heart became quiet and pondered this epiphany. He understood what Christmas was all about. He knew why Christ had come. Suddenly years of doubt and disbelief were shattered, as he humbly and tearfully bowed down in the snow, and embraced the true meaning of Christmas.
*
Filed under:
Why Jesus Be a Human
The Pineapple Story
Author unknown
*
"The pineapple story took place in Dutch New Guinea. It covered a period of seven years. It is a humorous yet profound illustration of applying a basic Scriptural principle. As you read this first-hand account, you will discover that it is a classic example of the kinds of struggles which each of us faces until we learn and apply the principle of yielding personal rights."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My family and I work with these people way back in the bush.
One day I decided that I was going to bring in some prineapples. The people had heard of pineapples. They had tasted them, but they didn't have any source to get them.
So I got them from another mission station. I got about one hundred plants. Then I got one of the local men to work for me. He planted all these pineapple shoots for me. I paid him, of course. I paid him salt or whatever he wanted for the days he worked.
It seemed to take awfully long for those little shoots of pineapple to become big bushes and finally yield pineapples. It took about three years. Back in the jungle you long for fresh fruit. You don't get much fresh fruit or vegetables. So finally that third year we could see fresh pineapples coming on, and we were just waiting for Christmas time because that is when they are ripe.
When Christmas finally came, my wife and I would go for walks to see if any were ripe enough to eat. Finally, when they got ripe, we didn't get a single one of them! The natives stole every one! They stole them before they were ripe. That is their art. Steal it before it is ripe or the owner gets it.
Here I am, a missionary, getting mad at these people. Missionaries aren't supposed to get mad. You all know that. But I got angry. I said, "Look, you guys! I have been waiting for these pineapples for three years. I didn't get any of them. Now there are others getting ripe. If any more of these pineapples are stolen, no more clinic for you." My wife was running a clinic. She was giving them all their pills free. They didn't have anything to pay.
We were knocking ourselves out trying to help these people, taking care of their sick, saving the lives of their babies. One by one the pineapples got ripe, and one by one they were stolen. So I felt I had stand my ground with these people. I wanted to eat those pinapples. So no more clinic.
Then they let their sick babies die. They couldn't care less. Life was cheap over there. People with bad pneumonia would be coughing and begging us for medicine. We would say, "No! Remember you stole our pineapples." "I didn't steal them," they would say. "It was the other guys that did it." They would go on coughing and begging. We couldn't take it any longer. I broke down and said, "Okay, tomorrow morning we will open the clinic again."
When we opened the clinic they started stealing the pineapples, and I felt bad again. Man! These rascals! But finally we found out who was doing it - the guy who had planted them.
I called him on the carpet and said, "Look, buddy! What are you doing stealing my pineapples? You are my gardener."
He said, "My hands plant them. My mouth eats them." That is the rule of the jungle. If they plant something, that is theirs. They had never heard of the idea of paying for services.
So he said, "They are all mine."
I said, "Oh no! They are mine. I paid you to plant them." But he just couldn't understand how that made them my plants.
I thought, "Well, what do I do now? It was the rule of their tribe. I'd better learn to live by their rule." So I said, "All right, I will give you half of these plants. "Everything from here to over there is yours. If they get ripe, they are yours. And these are mine."
He sounded like he was in agreement. But my pineapples still got stolen.
Then I thought, "Maybe I should let them have all those pineapples, and I'll get some new ones." But I knew that I would have to wait three more years. That was hard for me to do. Finally I said, "Look, I will give you all these pineapples, and then I will start all over again. Now you make a garden and you take all these pineapples out of my garden so I will have room to plant new ones. I don't want your pineapples in my garden if you feel they are yours."
So they said, "Too-wan, (which means outsider, foreigner) you will have to pay us."
I said, "Now look!"
They said, "No, no! You are asking us to move your pineapple bushes and that is work."
Now they are mine. I said, "All right, I'll pay you one day's work. Take them all away."
Then they said, "We don't have a garden ready. Will you pay us to get it ready?"
I said, "Forget it!" I was so fed up with them.
I told my wife, "This is impossible! I am just going to pay some guy to root them all out and throw them on the trash heap. Then if they want them, they can just take them."
So we did. We rooted them all out and threw them on a heap. That was hard to do. They were nice pineapple bushes. Then I bought new plants.
I said, "Now look, all you guys. I am going to pay you to plant them, but I eat them, me and my family. You don't eat any." They said, "You can't do that. If we plant them, we eat them."
I said, "Look, I don't have time to mess with a garden. I have too much to do. There are so many of you, and there is only one me. You have got to help me. I want you to plant, and I will eat them."
I said, "I will pay you. What do you want? I will give you this nice knife if you will agree to do it."
They started to think. "He will pay us that knife so he can eat our pineapples." Finally they agree.
During the next three years I reminded the guy who planted them, "Look! Who is going to eat these pineapples?"
He said, "You are."
I said, "Fine! Have you still got the knife?"
He said, "Yes."
I said, "Well, take good care of it."
If he lost the knife I am in trouble again. The pay is gone. Finally, after three more years the pineapples began to ripen.
My wife and I walked through the garden again. I said, "Man! Pretty soon we are going to have a crop of our own pineapples." We started to thank God that He was providing them for us. But do you know what happened? Everyone of them was stolen! I would see the natives go through the garden in the daytime to spot where the pineapples were, and then at night they would be able to go right to them.
I thought, "What am I going to do? We can't cut out the trade store." That's where they get their matches, salt, fish hooks, and things like that. They used to do without them. That won't kill them.
I said, "Okay, no more store. You stole my pineapples."
When we closed the store they began to say, "We had better leave because we don't have any salt. If he is not going to have a store, there is no advantage for us being here with him. We might as well go back to our jungle houses." So they took off to live in the jungle.
There I was sitting by myself eating pineapples. No people, no ministry.
I said to my wife, "Look, we can eat pineapples back in the States, I mean, if that is all we are here to do." A runner returned and I said, "Get them all back. We will open the store next Monday."
I thought and thought. How am I going to get to eat those pineapples? There must be a way. Then I got an idea.
A German shepherd! I got the biggest German shepherd I could get on the island. I brought him in there and let him loose. They were afraid of him. They had never seen a dog that big. They had little, mangy dogs. They never fed them. They were all diseased. And there was this well-fed German Shepherd dog. They looked at the food he got. I would always have to feed him when the people weren't around because they would resent the dog's food. It was better than anything they got.
But that dog did the trick. Most of the people didn't dare come around anymore. So now we had the same result as closing the store. People didn't come. I didn't have anybody to talk to. I couldn't get anybody to teach me the language. I thought, "What do we do?"
The dog wasn't working. But in the meantime, the dog was starting to breed with the village dogs and would raise up a wicked half-shepherd, wild and hungry. The doctor said, "Look! If your kids or anybody gets bitten by that dog, I am not going to treat them." He was using the same tactics on me that I was using on the natives. I said to my wife, "We've got to get rid of the dog." Well, I got rid of the dog. I hated to do it.
Now the dog was gone. The people came back and no more pineapples.
I thought, "Boy! There must be a way. What can I do?" Then I came home on furlough and went to a Basic Youth Seminar. I learned that we must give everything we own to GOd. The Bible says if you give, you will have; if you keep for yourself, you will lose. Give your things to God, and God will see that you have enough. This is a basic principle.
I thought, "Man! I don't have anything to lose. I will give that pinapple garden to God because I am not eating the pineapples anyway." Now I know that is not a very good sacrifice. You are supposed to sacrifice something that is valuable to you. But I would give it to God and see if He could control it. I said, "Man! I am going to see how He is going to do it."
So I stood out in the garden one night. The people had gone home. I didn't want them to see me out there praying.
I prayed, "Lord, see these pineapple bushes? I have fought to have fruit from them. I have claimed them. I have stood up for my rights. It is all wrong, and I realize it now. I have seen that it is wrong and I give them to You. From now on, if You want me to eat any of Your pineapples, fine. You just go right ahead and give them to us. If not, fine, It doesn't matter ."
So I gave them to God, and the natives stole the pineapples as usual. I thought to myself, "See, God, You can't control them either. Then one day they came to me and said, "Too-wan, you have become a Christian, haven't you?"
I was ready to react and say, "Look here, I have been a Christian for twenty years." But instead I said, "Why do you say that?'
They said, "Because you don't get angry anymore when we steal your pineapples."
This was a real revelation. Now I was living what I had been preaching to them. I had been telling them to love one another, be kind to one another, and I had always been standing up for my rights, and they knew it. Finally, one bright lad started thinking and said, "Now, why don't you get angry anymore?"
I said, "I have given that garden away. It isn't my garden anymore. So you are stealing my pineapples. I don't have to get angry anymore."
Another guy started to think even more and he said, "Who did you give that garden to?"
They looked around, "Did he give it to you?"
"Did he give it to you ?"
"Whose is it anyway?"
"Whose pinepples are we stealing?"
Then I said, "I have given the garden to God."
They said, "To God! Hasn't He got any pineapples where He is?"
I said, "I don't know whether He has or not, but I have given it to God."
They went to the village and said, "Do you know whose pineapples we are stealing? Too-wawn has given them to God." They all started thinking about that one.
They came back in a group and said, "Too-wan, you should not have done it. Why don't you get them back from God?
No wonder we aren't getting the pigs when we go out hunting.
No wonder our babies are getting sick.
No wonder our wives are not giving birth.
No wonder the fish aren't biting."
Then they said, "We souldn't steal them anymore if they are God's, should we?" They were afraid of God. So then the pineapples began to ripen. The natives came and said, "Too-wan, your pineapples are ripe." I said, "They are not mine. They belong to God." They said, "But they are going to get rotten. You had better pick them." And so, I got some and I let the natives take some.
When my family sat down to eat them, I said, "Lord, we are eating Your pineapples. Thank you for giving them to us." All those years those natives were watching me and listening to my words. They saw that the two didn't match. But when I began to change, they did too. Soon many natives decided to become Christians.
Then one day I saw something in the Bible. I had never noticed it before.
"And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, ... three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you; it shall not be eaten of. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord withal. And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:23-25).
Finally I understood!
God never intended me to eat those pineapples the first year they were ripe! He wanted me to dedicate them to Him. Then He wanted me to give them to the natives so that they could see my good works and glorify my Father who was in heaven. If I had only done this, the natives would have urged me to eat the pineapples the fifth year.
Man! All the trouble I could have avoided!
*
*
"The pineapple story took place in Dutch New Guinea. It covered a period of seven years. It is a humorous yet profound illustration of applying a basic Scriptural principle. As you read this first-hand account, you will discover that it is a classic example of the kinds of struggles which each of us faces until we learn and apply the principle of yielding personal rights."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My family and I work with these people way back in the bush.
One day I decided that I was going to bring in some prineapples. The people had heard of pineapples. They had tasted them, but they didn't have any source to get them.
So I got them from another mission station. I got about one hundred plants. Then I got one of the local men to work for me. He planted all these pineapple shoots for me. I paid him, of course. I paid him salt or whatever he wanted for the days he worked.
It seemed to take awfully long for those little shoots of pineapple to become big bushes and finally yield pineapples. It took about three years. Back in the jungle you long for fresh fruit. You don't get much fresh fruit or vegetables. So finally that third year we could see fresh pineapples coming on, and we were just waiting for Christmas time because that is when they are ripe.
When Christmas finally came, my wife and I would go for walks to see if any were ripe enough to eat. Finally, when they got ripe, we didn't get a single one of them! The natives stole every one! They stole them before they were ripe. That is their art. Steal it before it is ripe or the owner gets it.
Here I am, a missionary, getting mad at these people. Missionaries aren't supposed to get mad. You all know that. But I got angry. I said, "Look, you guys! I have been waiting for these pineapples for three years. I didn't get any of them. Now there are others getting ripe. If any more of these pineapples are stolen, no more clinic for you." My wife was running a clinic. She was giving them all their pills free. They didn't have anything to pay.
We were knocking ourselves out trying to help these people, taking care of their sick, saving the lives of their babies. One by one the pineapples got ripe, and one by one they were stolen. So I felt I had stand my ground with these people. I wanted to eat those pinapples. So no more clinic.
Then they let their sick babies die. They couldn't care less. Life was cheap over there. People with bad pneumonia would be coughing and begging us for medicine. We would say, "No! Remember you stole our pineapples." "I didn't steal them," they would say. "It was the other guys that did it." They would go on coughing and begging. We couldn't take it any longer. I broke down and said, "Okay, tomorrow morning we will open the clinic again."
When we opened the clinic they started stealing the pineapples, and I felt bad again. Man! These rascals! But finally we found out who was doing it - the guy who had planted them.
I called him on the carpet and said, "Look, buddy! What are you doing stealing my pineapples? You are my gardener."
He said, "My hands plant them. My mouth eats them." That is the rule of the jungle. If they plant something, that is theirs. They had never heard of the idea of paying for services.
So he said, "They are all mine."
I said, "Oh no! They are mine. I paid you to plant them." But he just couldn't understand how that made them my plants.
I thought, "Well, what do I do now? It was the rule of their tribe. I'd better learn to live by their rule." So I said, "All right, I will give you half of these plants. "Everything from here to over there is yours. If they get ripe, they are yours. And these are mine."
He sounded like he was in agreement. But my pineapples still got stolen.
Then I thought, "Maybe I should let them have all those pineapples, and I'll get some new ones." But I knew that I would have to wait three more years. That was hard for me to do. Finally I said, "Look, I will give you all these pineapples, and then I will start all over again. Now you make a garden and you take all these pineapples out of my garden so I will have room to plant new ones. I don't want your pineapples in my garden if you feel they are yours."
So they said, "Too-wan, (which means outsider, foreigner) you will have to pay us."
I said, "Now look!"
They said, "No, no! You are asking us to move your pineapple bushes and that is work."
Now they are mine. I said, "All right, I'll pay you one day's work. Take them all away."
Then they said, "We don't have a garden ready. Will you pay us to get it ready?"
I said, "Forget it!" I was so fed up with them.
I told my wife, "This is impossible! I am just going to pay some guy to root them all out and throw them on the trash heap. Then if they want them, they can just take them."
So we did. We rooted them all out and threw them on a heap. That was hard to do. They were nice pineapple bushes. Then I bought new plants.
I said, "Now look, all you guys. I am going to pay you to plant them, but I eat them, me and my family. You don't eat any." They said, "You can't do that. If we plant them, we eat them."
I said, "Look, I don't have time to mess with a garden. I have too much to do. There are so many of you, and there is only one me. You have got to help me. I want you to plant, and I will eat them."
I said, "I will pay you. What do you want? I will give you this nice knife if you will agree to do it."
They started to think. "He will pay us that knife so he can eat our pineapples." Finally they agree.
During the next three years I reminded the guy who planted them, "Look! Who is going to eat these pineapples?"
He said, "You are."
I said, "Fine! Have you still got the knife?"
He said, "Yes."
I said, "Well, take good care of it."
If he lost the knife I am in trouble again. The pay is gone. Finally, after three more years the pineapples began to ripen.
My wife and I walked through the garden again. I said, "Man! Pretty soon we are going to have a crop of our own pineapples." We started to thank God that He was providing them for us. But do you know what happened? Everyone of them was stolen! I would see the natives go through the garden in the daytime to spot where the pineapples were, and then at night they would be able to go right to them.
I thought, "What am I going to do? We can't cut out the trade store." That's where they get their matches, salt, fish hooks, and things like that. They used to do without them. That won't kill them.
I said, "Okay, no more store. You stole my pineapples."
When we closed the store they began to say, "We had better leave because we don't have any salt. If he is not going to have a store, there is no advantage for us being here with him. We might as well go back to our jungle houses." So they took off to live in the jungle.
There I was sitting by myself eating pineapples. No people, no ministry.
I said to my wife, "Look, we can eat pineapples back in the States, I mean, if that is all we are here to do." A runner returned and I said, "Get them all back. We will open the store next Monday."
I thought and thought. How am I going to get to eat those pineapples? There must be a way. Then I got an idea.
A German shepherd! I got the biggest German shepherd I could get on the island. I brought him in there and let him loose. They were afraid of him. They had never seen a dog that big. They had little, mangy dogs. They never fed them. They were all diseased. And there was this well-fed German Shepherd dog. They looked at the food he got. I would always have to feed him when the people weren't around because they would resent the dog's food. It was better than anything they got.
But that dog did the trick. Most of the people didn't dare come around anymore. So now we had the same result as closing the store. People didn't come. I didn't have anybody to talk to. I couldn't get anybody to teach me the language. I thought, "What do we do?"
The dog wasn't working. But in the meantime, the dog was starting to breed with the village dogs and would raise up a wicked half-shepherd, wild and hungry. The doctor said, "Look! If your kids or anybody gets bitten by that dog, I am not going to treat them." He was using the same tactics on me that I was using on the natives. I said to my wife, "We've got to get rid of the dog." Well, I got rid of the dog. I hated to do it.
Now the dog was gone. The people came back and no more pineapples.
I thought, "Boy! There must be a way. What can I do?" Then I came home on furlough and went to a Basic Youth Seminar. I learned that we must give everything we own to GOd. The Bible says if you give, you will have; if you keep for yourself, you will lose. Give your things to God, and God will see that you have enough. This is a basic principle.
I thought, "Man! I don't have anything to lose. I will give that pinapple garden to God because I am not eating the pineapples anyway." Now I know that is not a very good sacrifice. You are supposed to sacrifice something that is valuable to you. But I would give it to God and see if He could control it. I said, "Man! I am going to see how He is going to do it."
So I stood out in the garden one night. The people had gone home. I didn't want them to see me out there praying.
I prayed, "Lord, see these pineapple bushes? I have fought to have fruit from them. I have claimed them. I have stood up for my rights. It is all wrong, and I realize it now. I have seen that it is wrong and I give them to You. From now on, if You want me to eat any of Your pineapples, fine. You just go right ahead and give them to us. If not, fine, It doesn't matter ."
So I gave them to God, and the natives stole the pineapples as usual. I thought to myself, "See, God, You can't control them either. Then one day they came to me and said, "Too-wan, you have become a Christian, haven't you?"
I was ready to react and say, "Look here, I have been a Christian for twenty years." But instead I said, "Why do you say that?'
They said, "Because you don't get angry anymore when we steal your pineapples."
This was a real revelation. Now I was living what I had been preaching to them. I had been telling them to love one another, be kind to one another, and I had always been standing up for my rights, and they knew it. Finally, one bright lad started thinking and said, "Now, why don't you get angry anymore?"
I said, "I have given that garden away. It isn't my garden anymore. So you are stealing my pineapples. I don't have to get angry anymore."
Another guy started to think even more and he said, "Who did you give that garden to?"
They looked around, "Did he give it to you?"
"Did he give it to you ?"
"Whose is it anyway?"
"Whose pinepples are we stealing?"
Then I said, "I have given the garden to God."
They said, "To God! Hasn't He got any pineapples where He is?"
I said, "I don't know whether He has or not, but I have given it to God."
They went to the village and said, "Do you know whose pineapples we are stealing? Too-wawn has given them to God." They all started thinking about that one.
They came back in a group and said, "Too-wan, you should not have done it. Why don't you get them back from God?
No wonder we aren't getting the pigs when we go out hunting.
No wonder our babies are getting sick.
No wonder our wives are not giving birth.
No wonder the fish aren't biting."
Then they said, "We souldn't steal them anymore if they are God's, should we?" They were afraid of God. So then the pineapples began to ripen. The natives came and said, "Too-wan, your pineapples are ripe." I said, "They are not mine. They belong to God." They said, "But they are going to get rotten. You had better pick them." And so, I got some and I let the natives take some.
When my family sat down to eat them, I said, "Lord, we are eating Your pineapples. Thank you for giving them to us." All those years those natives were watching me and listening to my words. They saw that the two didn't match. But when I began to change, they did too. Soon many natives decided to become Christians.
Then one day I saw something in the Bible. I had never noticed it before.
"And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, ... three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you; it shall not be eaten of. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord withal. And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:23-25).
Finally I understood!
God never intended me to eat those pineapples the first year they were ripe! He wanted me to dedicate them to Him. Then He wanted me to give them to the natives so that they could see my good works and glorify my Father who was in heaven. If I had only done this, the natives would have urged me to eat the pineapples the fifth year.
Man! All the trouble I could have avoided!
*
Filed under:
The Pineapple Story
Parable of the Turtle Picnic
Author unknown
*
A turtle family went on a picnic. The turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outings. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place.
During the second year of their journey they found it. For about six months they cleaned up the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed.
After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.
Three years passed... and the little turtle had not returned.
Five years...
Six years...
Then in the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and began to unwrap a sandwich.
At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, "SEE I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt."
*
*
A turtle family went on a picnic. The turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outings. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place.
During the second year of their journey they found it. For about six months they cleaned up the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed.
After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.
Three years passed... and the little turtle had not returned.
Five years...
Six years...
Then in the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and began to unwrap a sandwich.
At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, "SEE I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt."
*
Filed under:
Parable of the Turtle Picnic
Money Will Buy...
Author unknown
*
Beds but not sleep
Books but not brains
Food but not satisfaction
Makeup but not beauty
A house but not a home
Medicine but not health
Luxuries but not contentment
Amusement but not happiness
Conveniences but not time
Balloons but not joy
Bibles but not faith
A calendar but not a future
A ring but not love
The best things in life are free.
They are gifts from above.
*
*
Beds but not sleep
Books but not brains
Food but not satisfaction
Makeup but not beauty
A house but not a home
Medicine but not health
Luxuries but not contentment
Amusement but not happiness
Conveniences but not time
Balloons but not joy
Bibles but not faith
A calendar but not a future
A ring but not love
The best things in life are free.
They are gifts from above.
*
Filed under:
Money Will Buy...
Man's Desires
Author unknown
*
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college for many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's show room, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrap ped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said "with all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago.
With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt. 7:11, " And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As the read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words "PAID IN FULL".
*
*
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college for many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's show room, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrap ped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said "with all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago.
With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt. 7:11, " And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As the read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words "PAID IN FULL".
*
Filed under:
Man's Desires
The Love of God
Author unknown
*
The church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pupit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.
In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service.
With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.
The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not.
The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.
"As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw out the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.
"The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our heavenly father sacrificed His only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service."
With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.
The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal.
Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side.
"That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "But I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn bible.
A big smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see—I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend."
*
*
The church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pupit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.
In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service.
With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."
The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.
The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son's friend was not.
The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.
"As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw out the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth.
"The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our heavenly father sacrificed His only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service."
With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.
The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal.
Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side.
"That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "But I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn bible.
A big smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His son for me. You see—I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend."
*
Filed under:
The Love of God
How Rich You Are
Author unknown
*
One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip...
The father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh Yeah" said the son.
"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.
With this the boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks, dad, for showing me how poor we are."
*
*
One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip...
The father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh Yeah" said the son.
"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.
With this the boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks, dad, for showing me how poor we are."
*
Filed under:
How Rich You Are
Footprint
Author unknown
*
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life has flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed You most You would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
*
*
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life has flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed You most You would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
*
The Emperor and the Horseman
Author unknown
*
A long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horseman that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he likes, then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered. Sure enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible. Came to a point when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted and was dying.
Then he asked himself, "Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I only need a very small area to bury myself."
*
*
A long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horseman that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he likes, then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered. Sure enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible. Came to a point when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted and was dying.
Then he asked himself, "Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I only need a very small area to bury myself."
*
Filed under:
The Emperor and the Horseman
The Cracked Pot
Author unknown
*
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
*
*
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
*
Filed under:
The Cracked Pot
足印
Author unknown
*
某天晚上，我造了一個夢，
夢見我與主漫步沙灘，
又見到我一生的每個片段在空中掠過。
每個片段裡面，
我都看見沙上有兩對足印，
一對是我的，另一對是主的。
看過最後的一個片段，
我再回頭一望沙上的足印。
怎料我發現有許多時候，
沙上只有一對足印；
並且是在我最低沉和難過的時候，
每每會這樣。
這真令我困惑，於是我質問主道：
「主啊，您曾經應許過，
當我立志跟從您，您便一生一世與我同行。
可是我卻發現，在我最受困擾的時候，
沙上只留下一對足印。
我真不明白，
為何在我最需要您的時候，
您卻偏偏要離我而去。」
主就這樣回答我說：
「我所寶貝的兒子，我愛你，
我絕對不會在你痛苦和試探的時候離開你。
當你看見沙上只有一對足印的時候，
其實那時是我保抱著你。」
*
*
某天晚上，我造了一個夢，
夢見我與主漫步沙灘，
又見到我一生的每個片段在空中掠過。
每個片段裡面，
我都看見沙上有兩對足印，
一對是我的，另一對是主的。
看過最後的一個片段，
我再回頭一望沙上的足印。
怎料我發現有許多時候，
沙上只有一對足印；
並且是在我最低沉和難過的時候，
每每會這樣。
這真令我困惑，於是我質問主道：
「主啊，您曾經應許過，
當我立志跟從您，您便一生一世與我同行。
可是我卻發現，在我最受困擾的時候，
沙上只留下一對足印。
我真不明白，
為何在我最需要您的時候，
您卻偏偏要離我而去。」
主就這樣回答我說：
「我所寶貝的兒子，我愛你，
我絕對不會在你痛苦和試探的時候離開你。
當你看見沙上只有一對足印的時候，
其實那時是我保抱著你。」
*
大樹與小孩
Author unknown
*
從前有棵樹... ...
她疼愛一個小男孩。
每一天，小男孩都跑來，接飄下來的葉子;編桂冠，跟樹玩[森林之王] 。
他攀上樹，抓著枝子盪鞦韆，吃蘋果， 跟樹捉迷藏。玩累了，就在樹蔭下打盹。
男孩甚愛樹，樹就快樂。
日子過去，男孩長大了，樹時常孤單。
有一天，男孩來到樹這裡，
樹說:「孩子，爬上來，抓著枝子盪鞦韆，吃我的蘋果，快樂的在我蔭下玩吧!」
男孩說:「我已經長大了，不爬樹也不玩了。我要買東西，要享受，我也需要錢。你能給我錢嗎?」
樹說:「錢，我沒有。我只有葉子和蘋果。.你何不摘下我的蘋果，送到城裡賣。這樣，你會有錢，也就會快樂。」
於是男孩爬上樹，摘了蘋果，背著走了。樹就快樂。
但男孩久去不回... ... 樹就憂傷。
有一天，男孩回來了。
樹喜出望外，說:「孩子，爬上來，抓住我的枝子盪鞦韆，快樂吧! 」
男孩說:「我現在太忙，不能爬了。我需要一幢房子使我溫暖。我需要妻子，我需要兒女，所以我需要一幢房子。你能給我房屋嗎?」
樹說:「我沒有房屋，森林就是我的房屋，但你可以砍下我的枝子蓋幢房子，這樣，你就會快樂。」
於是，男孩砍下她的枝子，去蓋他的房子。樹就快樂。
男孩離開了很久，回來時，樹高興得說不出話來。
她輕輕地說:「來，孩子，來玩吧。 」
男孩說:「我現在又衰老，又悲傷，我已經沒有心情玩了。我想要一隻船，帶我到遙遠的地方去。你能不能給我一隻船?」
樹說:「你可以砍下我的軀幹，做一隻船，開到遠方去並且快樂。 」
男孩就砍下樹的軀幹，造了一隻船，到遠方去了。樹就快樂... ... 但不真正快樂。
過了很久很久，男孩回來了。
樹說:「孩子，我已經沒有甚麼可給你，我的蘋果沒有了。 」
男孩:「我的牙齒太鬆，咬不動蘋果了。 」
樹說:「我的枝子沒有了，你不能再來盪鞦韆。 」
男孩:「我老了，沒有力氣盪鞦韆了。 」
樹說:「我的軀幹也沒有了，你不能再爬上來了。 」
男孩:「我太累，爬不上來了。」
樹就嘆息說:「我希望還能給你些東西... ... 但我已一無所有.我只是根老樹樁，已經沒有用了。 」
男孩說:「我現在沒有別的需要，我只需要一個安靜的地方，能坐下休息，我已精疲力竭了。」
「這樣，」樹就挺起身來，「老樹樁還是有用的。來吧，孩子，你可以坐下來──坐下來休息。」
那孩子坐了下來。樹就快樂。
*
*
從前有棵樹... ...
她疼愛一個小男孩。
每一天，小男孩都跑來，接飄下來的葉子;編桂冠，跟樹玩[森林之王] 。
他攀上樹，抓著枝子盪鞦韆，吃蘋果， 跟樹捉迷藏。玩累了，就在樹蔭下打盹。
男孩甚愛樹，樹就快樂。
日子過去，男孩長大了，樹時常孤單。
有一天，男孩來到樹這裡，
樹說:「孩子，爬上來，抓著枝子盪鞦韆，吃我的蘋果，快樂的在我蔭下玩吧!」
男孩說:「我已經長大了，不爬樹也不玩了。我要買東西，要享受，我也需要錢。你能給我錢嗎?」
樹說:「錢，我沒有。我只有葉子和蘋果。.你何不摘下我的蘋果，送到城裡賣。這樣，你會有錢，也就會快樂。」
於是男孩爬上樹，摘了蘋果，背著走了。樹就快樂。
但男孩久去不回... ... 樹就憂傷。
有一天，男孩回來了。
樹喜出望外，說:「孩子，爬上來，抓住我的枝子盪鞦韆，快樂吧! 」
男孩說:「我現在太忙，不能爬了。我需要一幢房子使我溫暖。我需要妻子，我需要兒女，所以我需要一幢房子。你能給我房屋嗎?」
樹說:「我沒有房屋，森林就是我的房屋，但你可以砍下我的枝子蓋幢房子，這樣，你就會快樂。」
於是，男孩砍下她的枝子，去蓋他的房子。樹就快樂。
男孩離開了很久，回來時，樹高興得說不出話來。
她輕輕地說:「來，孩子，來玩吧。 」
男孩說:「我現在又衰老，又悲傷，我已經沒有心情玩了。我想要一隻船，帶我到遙遠的地方去。你能不能給我一隻船?」
樹說:「你可以砍下我的軀幹，做一隻船，開到遠方去並且快樂。 」
男孩就砍下樹的軀幹，造了一隻船，到遠方去了。樹就快樂... ... 但不真正快樂。
過了很久很久，男孩回來了。
樹說:「孩子，我已經沒有甚麼可給你，我的蘋果沒有了。 」
男孩:「我的牙齒太鬆，咬不動蘋果了。 」
樹說:「我的枝子沒有了，你不能再來盪鞦韆。 」
男孩:「我老了，沒有力氣盪鞦韆了。 」
樹說:「我的軀幹也沒有了，你不能再爬上來了。 」
男孩:「我太累，爬不上來了。」
樹就嘆息說:「我希望還能給你些東西... ... 但我已一無所有.我只是根老樹樁，已經沒有用了。 」
男孩說:「我現在沒有別的需要，我只需要一個安靜的地方，能坐下休息，我已精疲力竭了。」
「這樣，」樹就挺起身來，「老樹樁還是有用的。來吧，孩子，你可以坐下來──坐下來休息。」
那孩子坐了下來。樹就快樂。
*
* English Version *
Filed under:
Apple Tree and the Child,
大樹與小孩
神說不
Author unknown
*
我求神拿走我的驕傲， 神說不。
祂說，驕傲不是由祂拿走的，
乃是要我放下的。
我求神使我殘障的小孩健全， 神說不。
祂說，她的靈是健全的，
她的身體只是暫時的。
我求神賜我忍耐， 神說不。
祂說，忍耐是從患難而生，
不是賜下的，乃是磨練而來的。
我求神給我快樂， 神說不。
祂說，祂賜祝福，
是否快樂，取決於我。
我求神免我受苦， 神說不。
祂說，痛苦使你遠離世俗的掛慮，
更加親近我。
我求神使我的靈命長進， 神說不。
祂說，我自己必須付出努力，
但祂會把我修剪，好結果子。
我問神，祂愛我嗎？ 神說，是的。
祂賜下祂的獨生兒子，為我而死。
有一天，我必在天國裡， 因為... ... 我信。
我求神幫助我愛其他人
好像祂愛我一樣，
神說， 啊，您終於明白了。
*
*
我求神拿走我的驕傲， 神說不。
祂說，驕傲不是由祂拿走的，
乃是要我放下的。
我求神使我殘障的小孩健全， 神說不。
祂說，她的靈是健全的，
她的身體只是暫時的。
我求神賜我忍耐， 神說不。
祂說，忍耐是從患難而生，
不是賜下的，乃是磨練而來的。
我求神給我快樂， 神說不。
祂說，祂賜祝福，
是否快樂，取決於我。
我求神免我受苦， 神說不。
祂說，痛苦使你遠離世俗的掛慮，
更加親近我。
我求神使我的靈命長進， 神說不。
祂說，我自己必須付出努力，
但祂會把我修剪，好結果子。
我問神，祂愛我嗎？ 神說，是的。
祂賜下祂的獨生兒子，為我而死。
有一天，我必在天國裡， 因為... ... 我信。
我求神幫助我愛其他人
好像祂愛我一樣，
神說， 啊，您終於明白了。
*
* English Version *
Filed under:
And God Said "No",
神說不
專一
Author unknown
*
春秋時候，楚國有個擅長射箭的人叫養叔。他能在百步之外射中楊枝上的葉子，並且百發百中。楚王羨慕養叔的射箭本領，就請養叔來教他射箭。
養叔把射箭的技巧傾囊相授。
楚王興緻勃勃地練習了好一陣子，漸漸能得心應手，就邀請養叔跟他一起到野外去打獵。打獵開始了，楚王叫人把躲在蘆葦叢裡的野鴨子趕出來。野鴨子被驚擾地振翅飛出。楚王彎弓搭箭，正要射獵時，忽然從他的左邊跳出一隻山羊。
楚王心想，一箭射死山羊，可比射中一隻野鴨子划算多了！於是楚王又把箭頭對準了山羊，準備射牠。
可是正在此時，右邊突然又跳出一隻梅花鹿。楚王又想，若是射中罕見的梅花鹿，價值比山羊又不知高出了多少，於是楚王又把箭頭對準了梅花鹿。
忽然大家一陣子驚呼，原來從樹梢飛出了一隻珍貴的蒼鷹，振翅往空中竄去。楚王又覺得不如還是射蒼鷹好。可是當他正要瞄準蒼鷹時，蒼鷹已迅速地飛走了。
楚王只好回頭來射梅花鹿，可是梅花鹿也逃走了。只好再回頭去找山羊，可是山羊也早溜了，連那一群鴨子都飛得無影無蹤了。
楚王拿著弓箭比畫了半天，結果甚麼也沒有射著。
*
*
春秋時候，楚國有個擅長射箭的人叫養叔。他能在百步之外射中楊枝上的葉子，並且百發百中。楚王羨慕養叔的射箭本領，就請養叔來教他射箭。
養叔把射箭的技巧傾囊相授。
楚王興緻勃勃地練習了好一陣子，漸漸能得心應手，就邀請養叔跟他一起到野外去打獵。打獵開始了，楚王叫人把躲在蘆葦叢裡的野鴨子趕出來。野鴨子被驚擾地振翅飛出。楚王彎弓搭箭，正要射獵時，忽然從他的左邊跳出一隻山羊。
楚王心想，一箭射死山羊，可比射中一隻野鴨子划算多了！於是楚王又把箭頭對準了山羊，準備射牠。
可是正在此時，右邊突然又跳出一隻梅花鹿。楚王又想，若是射中罕見的梅花鹿，價值比山羊又不知高出了多少，於是楚王又把箭頭對準了梅花鹿。
忽然大家一陣子驚呼，原來從樹梢飛出了一隻珍貴的蒼鷹，振翅往空中竄去。楚王又覺得不如還是射蒼鷹好。可是當他正要瞄準蒼鷹時，蒼鷹已迅速地飛走了。
楚王只好回頭來射梅花鹿，可是梅花鹿也逃走了。只好再回頭去找山羊，可是山羊也早溜了，連那一群鴨子都飛得無影無蹤了。
楚王拿著弓箭比畫了半天，結果甚麼也沒有射著。
*
Filed under:
專一
一切都是最好的安排
Author unknown
*
從前有一個國家，地不大，人不多，但是人民過著悠閒快樂的生活，因為他們有一位不喜歡做事的國王和一位不喜歡做官的宰相。國王沒有什麼不良嗜好，除了打獵以外，最喜歡與宰相微服私訪民隱。宰相除了處理國務以外，就是陪著國王下鄉巡視，如果是他一個人的話，他最喜歡研究宇宙人生的真理，他最常掛在嘴邊的一句話就是「一切都是最好的安排」。
有一次，國王興高采烈又到大草原打獵，隨從們帶著數十條獵犬，聲勢浩蕩。國王的身體保養得非常好，筋骨結實，而且肌膚泛光，看起來就有一國之君的氣派。隨從看見國王騎在馬上，威風凜凜地追逐一頭花豹，都不禁讚歎國王勇武過人！花豹奮力逃命，國王緊追不捨，一直追到花豹的速度減慢時，國王才從容不迫彎弓搭箭，瞄準花豹，嗖的一聲，利箭像閃電似的，一眨眼就飛過草原，不偏不倚鑽入花豹的頸子，花豹慘嘶一聲，仆倒在地。國王很開心，他眼看花豹躺在地上許久都毫無動靜，一時失去戒心，居然在隨從尚未趕上時，就下馬檢視花豹。誰想到，花豹就是在等待這一瞬間，使出最後的力氣突然跳起來向國王撲過來 。國王一愣，看見花豹張開血盆大口咬來，他下意識地閃了一下，心想：「完了！」還好，隨從及時趕上，立刻發箭射入花豹的咽喉，國王覺得小指一涼，花豹就們不吭聲跌在地上，這次真的死了。隨從忐忑不安走上來詢問國王是否無恙，國王看看手，小指頭被花豹咬掉小半截，血流不止，隨行的御醫立刻上前包紮。
雖然傷勢不算嚴重，但國王的興致破壞光了，本來國王還想找人來責罵一番，可是想想這次只怪自己冒失，還能怪誰？所以悶不吭聲，大夥兒就黯然回宮去了。
回宮以後，國王越想越不痛快，就找了宰相來飲酒解愁。宰相知道了這事後，一邊舉酒敬國王，一邊微笑說：「大王啊！少了一小塊肉總比少了一條命來得好吧！想開一點，一切都是最好的安排！」國王一聽，悶了半天的不快終於找到宣洩的機會。他凝視宰相說：「嘿！你真是大膽！你真的認為一切都是最好的安排嗎？」
宰相發覺國王十分憤怒，卻也毫不在意說：「大王，真的，如果我們能夠超越『 我執』，確確實實，一切都是最好的安排！」
國王說：「如果寡人把你關進監獄，這也是最好的安排？」
宰相微笑說：「如果是這樣，我也深信這是最好的安排。」
國王說：「如果寡人吩咐侍衛把你拖出去砍了，這也是最好的安排？」
宰相依然微笑，彷彿國王在說一件與他毫不相干的事。「如果是這樣，我也深信這是最好的安排。」
國王勃然大怒，大手用力一拍，兩名侍衛立刻近前，他們聽見國王說「你們馬 上把宰相抓出去斬了！」侍衛愣住，一時不知如何反應。
國王說：「還不快點，等什麼？」侍衛如夢初醒，上前架起宰相，就往門外走去。
國王忽然有點後悔，他大叫一聲說：「慢著，先抓去關起來！」
宰相回頭對他一笑，說：「這也是最好的安排！」
國王大手一揮，兩名侍衛就架著宰相走出去了。
過了一個月，國王養好傷，打算像以前一樣找宰相一塊兒微服私巡，可是想到是自己親口把他關入監獄裏，一時也放不下身段釋放宰相，嘆了口氣，就自己獨自出遊了。
走著走著，來到一處偏遠的山林，忽然從山上衝下一隊臉上塗著紅黃油彩的蠻人，三兩下就把他五花大綁，帶回高山上。國王這時聯想到今天正是滿月，這一帶有一支原始部落明逢月圓之日就會下山尋找祭祀滿月女神的犧牲。他唉歎一聲，這下子真的是沒救了。心裏很想跟蠻人說：我乃這裏的國王，放了我，我就賞賜你們金山銀海！可是嘴巴被破布塞住，連話都說不出口。
當他?搢ㄕ菑v被帶到一口比人還高的大鍋爐，柴火正熊熊燃燒，更是臉色慘白。大祭司現身，當眾脫光國王的衣服，露出他細皮嫩肉的龍體，大祭司嘖嘖稱奇，想不到現在還能找到這麼完美無暇的犧牲！原來，今天要祭祀的滿月女神，正是「完美」的象徵，所以，祭祀的牲品醜一點、黑一點、矮一點都沒有關係，就是不能殘缺。就在這時，大祭司終於發現國王的左手小指頭少了小半截，他忍不住咬牙切齒咒罵了半天，忍痛下令說：「把這個廢物趕走，另外再找一個！」脫困的國王大喜若狂，飛奔回宮，立刻叫人釋放宰相，在御花園設宴，為自己保住一命、也為宰相重獲自由而慶祝。
國王一邊向宰相敬酒說：「愛卿啊！你說的真是一點也不錯，果然，一切都是最好的安排！如果不是被花豹咬一口，今天連命都沒了。」宰相回敬國王，微笑說：「賀喜大王對人生的體驗又更上一層樓了。」過了一會兒，國王忽然問宰相說：「寡人救回一命，固然是『一切都是最好的安排』，可是你無緣無故在監獄裏蹲了一個月，這又怎麼說呢？ 」宰相慢條斯理喝下一口酒，才說：「大王！您將我關在監獄裏，確實也是最好的安排啊！」
他饒富深意看了國王一眼，舉杯說：「您想想看，如果我不是在監獄裏，那麼不是陪伴您微服私巡的人，不是我，還會有誰呢？等到蠻人發現國王不適合拿來祭祀滿月女神時，那麼，誰會被丟進大鍋爐中烹煮呢？不是我，還會有誰呢？
所以，我要為大王將我關進監獄而向您敬酒，您也救了我一命啊！」國王忍不住哈哈大笑，朗聲說：「乾杯吧！果然沒錯，一切都是最好的安排！」
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從前有一個國家，地不大，人不多，但是人民過著悠閒快樂的生活，因為他們有一位不喜歡做事的國王和一位不喜歡做官的宰相。國王沒有什麼不良嗜好，除了打獵以外，最喜歡與宰相微服私訪民隱。宰相除了處理國務以外，就是陪著國王下鄉巡視，如果是他一個人的話，他最喜歡研究宇宙人生的真理，他最常掛在嘴邊的一句話就是「一切都是最好的安排」。
有一次，國王興高采烈又到大草原打獵，隨從們帶著數十條獵犬，聲勢浩蕩。國王的身體保養得非常好，筋骨結實，而且肌膚泛光，看起來就有一國之君的氣派。隨從看見國王騎在馬上，威風凜凜地追逐一頭花豹，都不禁讚歎國王勇武過人！花豹奮力逃命，國王緊追不捨，一直追到花豹的速度減慢時，國王才從容不迫彎弓搭箭，瞄準花豹，嗖的一聲，利箭像閃電似的，一眨眼就飛過草原，不偏不倚鑽入花豹的頸子，花豹慘嘶一聲，仆倒在地。國王很開心，他眼看花豹躺在地上許久都毫無動靜，一時失去戒心，居然在隨從尚未趕上時，就下馬檢視花豹。誰想到，花豹就是在等待這一瞬間，使出最後的力氣突然跳起來向國王撲過來 。國王一愣，看見花豹張開血盆大口咬來，他下意識地閃了一下，心想：「完了！」還好，隨從及時趕上，立刻發箭射入花豹的咽喉，國王覺得小指一涼，花豹就們不吭聲跌在地上，這次真的死了。隨從忐忑不安走上來詢問國王是否無恙，國王看看手，小指頭被花豹咬掉小半截，血流不止，隨行的御醫立刻上前包紮。
雖然傷勢不算嚴重，但國王的興致破壞光了，本來國王還想找人來責罵一番，可是想想這次只怪自己冒失，還能怪誰？所以悶不吭聲，大夥兒就黯然回宮去了。
回宮以後，國王越想越不痛快，就找了宰相來飲酒解愁。宰相知道了這事後，一邊舉酒敬國王，一邊微笑說：「大王啊！少了一小塊肉總比少了一條命來得好吧！想開一點，一切都是最好的安排！」國王一聽，悶了半天的不快終於找到宣洩的機會。他凝視宰相說：「嘿！你真是大膽！你真的認為一切都是最好的安排嗎？」
宰相發覺國王十分憤怒，卻也毫不在意說：「大王，真的，如果我們能夠超越『 我執』，確確實實，一切都是最好的安排！」
國王說：「如果寡人把你關進監獄，這也是最好的安排？」
宰相微笑說：「如果是這樣，我也深信這是最好的安排。」
國王說：「如果寡人吩咐侍衛把你拖出去砍了，這也是最好的安排？」
宰相依然微笑，彷彿國王在說一件與他毫不相干的事。「如果是這樣，我也深信這是最好的安排。」
國王勃然大怒，大手用力一拍，兩名侍衛立刻近前，他們聽見國王說「你們馬 上把宰相抓出去斬了！」侍衛愣住，一時不知如何反應。
國王說：「還不快點，等什麼？」侍衛如夢初醒，上前架起宰相，就往門外走去。
國王忽然有點後悔，他大叫一聲說：「慢著，先抓去關起來！」
宰相回頭對他一笑，說：「這也是最好的安排！」
國王大手一揮，兩名侍衛就架著宰相走出去了。
過了一個月，國王養好傷，打算像以前一樣找宰相一塊兒微服私巡，可是想到是自己親口把他關入監獄裏，一時也放不下身段釋放宰相，嘆了口氣，就自己獨自出遊了。
走著走著，來到一處偏遠的山林，忽然從山上衝下一隊臉上塗著紅黃油彩的蠻人，三兩下就把他五花大綁，帶回高山上。國王這時聯想到今天正是滿月，這一帶有一支原始部落明逢月圓之日就會下山尋找祭祀滿月女神的犧牲。他唉歎一聲，這下子真的是沒救了。心裏很想跟蠻人說：我乃這裏的國王，放了我，我就賞賜你們金山銀海！可是嘴巴被破布塞住，連話都說不出口。
當他?搢ㄕ菑v被帶到一口比人還高的大鍋爐，柴火正熊熊燃燒，更是臉色慘白。大祭司現身，當眾脫光國王的衣服，露出他細皮嫩肉的龍體，大祭司嘖嘖稱奇，想不到現在還能找到這麼完美無暇的犧牲！原來，今天要祭祀的滿月女神，正是「完美」的象徵，所以，祭祀的牲品醜一點、黑一點、矮一點都沒有關係，就是不能殘缺。就在這時，大祭司終於發現國王的左手小指頭少了小半截，他忍不住咬牙切齒咒罵了半天，忍痛下令說：「把這個廢物趕走，另外再找一個！」脫困的國王大喜若狂，飛奔回宮，立刻叫人釋放宰相，在御花園設宴，為自己保住一命、也為宰相重獲自由而慶祝。
國王一邊向宰相敬酒說：「愛卿啊！你說的真是一點也不錯，果然，一切都是最好的安排！如果不是被花豹咬一口，今天連命都沒了。」宰相回敬國王，微笑說：「賀喜大王對人生的體驗又更上一層樓了。」過了一會兒，國王忽然問宰相說：「寡人救回一命，固然是『一切都是最好的安排』，可是你無緣無故在監獄裏蹲了一個月，這又怎麼說呢？ 」宰相慢條斯理喝下一口酒，才說：「大王！您將我關在監獄裏，確實也是最好的安排啊！」
他饒富深意看了國王一眼，舉杯說：「您想想看，如果我不是在監獄裏，那麼不是陪伴您微服私巡的人，不是我，還會有誰呢？等到蠻人發現國王不適合拿來祭祀滿月女神時，那麼，誰會被丟進大鍋爐中烹煮呢？不是我，還會有誰呢？
所以，我要為大王將我關進監獄而向您敬酒，您也救了我一命啊！」國王忍不住哈哈大笑，朗聲說：「乾杯吧！果然沒錯，一切都是最好的安排！」
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一切都是最好的安排
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