Parable of What Matters More
Is it Truth or Truth and Spirit?
By Robert Winkler Burke, Copyright 1/23/07
www.inthatdayteachings.com
Once upon a time a farmer had 100 sheep on his north acreage. They had eaten the grass down to the dirt so he needed them to move to fresh grass on his south acreage. But his sheep were stubborn and hard to move.
So the farmer asked Mr. Dog to speak to them. But Mr. Dog had a weak spirit.
“Yip, yip, you sheep,” said Mr. Dog to the sheep in a very weak voice. “Oh, bark, bark and growl, growl, move to the south acreage. It is for your own good, I say.”
But the sheep did not respond to the weak spirit of Mr. Dog. They thought to themselves, Silly animal! If Mr. Dog does not care what spirit he is of, we do not care what he says.
Next the farmer tried Mr. Owl. But Mr. Owl was in love with his own wisdom.
“Be enraptured to the south,” said Mr. Owl in a very patronizing voice. “I am holding a seminar on south pasture enrapture enablement tonight under the big oak.”
But the sheep did not respond to the condescending spirit of Mr. Owl. They thought, Silly animal! If Mr. Owl does not care what spirit he is of, we do not care what he says.
Next the farmer tried Mr. Chicken. But Mr. Chicken was preoccupied with prosperity.
“Pluck, pluck, I’ll make a buck! GO SOUTH, hear my mouth! Pluck, pluck, I’ll make a buck! I’ll get pay, if you do what I say!” screeched Mr. Chicken.
But the sheep did not respond to the greedy spirit of Mr. Chicken. They thought, Silly animal! If Mr. Chicken does not care what spirit he is of, we do not care what he says.
Next the farmer tried Mr. Goose. But Mr. Goose was in love with the sound of his voice.
“Honk! Honk! Hearken to my heralding! I am loud! I am great! Honk, honk, honk, honk, honk, honk! Oh yes, move south. And HONK, HONK, HONK, HONK!”
But the sheep did not respond to the narcissistic spirit of Mr. Goose. They thought, Silly animal! If Mr. Goose does not care what spirit he is of, we do not care what he says.
Next the farmer tried Mr. Cow. Mr. Cow had a low opinion of himself.
“Before I am butchered, eaten and forgotten – move south, you sheep! ” said Mr. Cow.
The sheep moved south because they thought, “Mr. Cow speaks with a true spirit.”
And the farmer kept the cow and his sheep, but he shot the dog, owl, chicken and goose.
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