The Village
abracad, · Categories: wise wordsThe following was presented to me at a Spiritualist church. I trust the provider approves of it being passed on.
There was once a village at the foot of a mountain. The village elder was growing old and knew his earth days were drawing to a close. He wanted to choose a successor from his four sons; Albert, Bill, Charles and Dan.
He called them together and set them a task. They were to climb the mountain and report back to the elder what they had seen.
Albert started from the South side, Bill from the West, Charles from the North and Dan from the East.
Albert climbed so far and looked around. All he could see was sea, nothing but sea. He returned to tell his father.
Bill climbed so far and looked around. All he could see was forest, nothing but forest. He returned to tell his father.
Charles climbed so far and looked around. All he could see was snow and ice, nothing but snow and ice. He returned to tell his father.
Dan climbed, and climbed, and climbed until he came to the top of the mountain. He looked around. To the East he could see nothing but desert, as far as the eye could see. To the South he could see nothing but sea,as far as the eye could see. To the West he could see nothing but forest, as far as the eye could see. And to the North he could see nothing but snow and ice, as far as the eye could see.
Dan returned to tell his father. He was disappointed to find his three brothers already waiting. They had all completed their task faster than him and he was afraid his father would be angry. However, after they all told their stories Dan was made the new village elder.
The moral of this story is to avoid being the victim of biased ideas. Be sure to see the whole picture before reaching a conclusion.
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