A Parable

Three young men stood on the beach in Cape Cod, looking out over the ocean. One of them lifted up his voice and spoke:

“Just think, my brothers. Across the sea to the east lies the ancient land of England. I have always wanted to go there.”

The others murmured their assent. They too had often longed to see the British isles.

The first one turned again and said, “See, it is east of here, and a little north. Therefore let us head to the northeast.”

The second said, “No, brother, for the way is long and the ocean deep. Let us rather head south and west to New York City, there to board an airplane to London.”

The third said, “If to go south and west is the best way to reach the British isles, then why stop part-way, O my brother? Let us keep going to the south-west!”

After much debate each man held fast to his own way. So the three parted, each to his chosen course.

An hour later, the first brother swam wearily back to the Cape Cod shore, wet and shivering. “It is a shame that I shall never see England, for I lack strength to swim so far.”

The next day, the second brother landed at Heathrow and stepped off the plane. “So much to see and do here! Ah, I hope my brothers shall be able to join me shortly.”

A week later, the third brother stood in the terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, holding a ticket for Sydney, Australia. For a moment he paused, looking thoughtfully at his ticket. But the call sounded, and he boarded the plane. “The road I have taken thus far has not got me any closer to England,” he reasoned, “but it must surely lead there sooner or later.”

- The Herald

~ by thefourhumours on February 2, 2008.