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Line 138: − + − + − Let me tell you the story of the two psychiatrists — the old psychiatrist and the young psychiatrist — who had a practice together. They’d come into their office every day just bubbling with enthusiasm, always happy, upbeat, smiling, and chipper. Then they’d go into their separate suites and have patients come in and lie on the couch all day and talk about the woes in their lives. At 6:00 p.m. they’d come out and the young psychiatrist would be devastated, wiped out by the day, with a stomachache, and just miserable. The old psychiatrist would be just as chipper and smiling and upbeat as he was when he went in that morning. This went on for a number of months.+ − − Finally one day they came out at 6:00 p.m., the young psychiatrist was devastated as usual, and the old psychiatrist was just as happy and smiling as he was when went in. The young psychiatrist stopped him and said, “I don’t understand it. We do the same thing every day, and I leave wiped out by hearing patients all day, and you come out after patients have been streaming in and out of your office just as upbeat as ever. How do you do it?” Line 152:
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Should the bystander give the smoker a dime so he can purchase the pack of cigarettes?
Should the bystander give the smoker a dime so he can purchase the pack of cigarettes?
The bystander, who is generous by nature, did something more difficult for him: he denied the request and instead urged the smoker to "kick the habit."
The bystander, who is generous by nature, did something more difficult for him: he denied the request and instead urged the smoker to "kick the habit."
The smoker then gathered all his change and left the store.
The smoker then gathered all his change and left the store.
The church was filled for the late-morning service, with many hundreds of worshipers. The woman sat near the back and watched the pews fill up with members of the community, young and old. The service was about to begin. The woman then heard an unusual commotion outside, including several loud noises and shouts. She turned around several times to look at the door to the church. Her intuition told her something was wrong.
The church was filled for the late-morning service, with many hundreds of worshipers. The woman sat near the back and watched the pews fill up with members of the community, young and old. The service was about to begin. The woman then heard an unusual commotion outside, including several loud noises and shouts. She turned around several times to look at the door to the church. Her intuition told her something was wrong.
Suddenly, a large, armed man burst through the door and began firing his gun at the hundreds of worshipers, children and all. The woman mustered all her strength and pulled out her own gun from her bag. She then shot the intruder. Stunned and expecting to die from her shot, the intruder reacted by killing himself. The worshipers in the church were all saved. Afterward, the woman said that she had been "praying to God that he direct me" in what to do in life.<ref>[http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html ''God Guided Me And Protected Me.''] 7 News: The Denver Channel</ref>
Suddenly, a large, armed man burst through the door and began firing his gun at the hundreds of worshipers, children and all. The woman mustered all her strength and pulled out her own gun from her bag. She then shot the intruder. Stunned and expecting to die from her shot, the intruder reacted by killing himself. The worshipers in the church were all saved. Afterward, the woman said that she had been "praying to God that he direct me" in what to do in life .<ref>[http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html ''God Guided Me And Protected Me.''] 7 News: The Denver Channel</ref>
== The Troubled Pregnancy ==
== The Troubled Pregnancy ==
The woman refused to have the [[abortion]] and subsequently gave birth to a baby boy.
The woman refused to have the [[abortion]] and subsequently gave birth to a baby boy.
Twenty years later, the baby boy -- [[Tim Tebow]] -- was recognized as the best college football player in the [[United States]] by winning the [[Heisman Trophy]], the first to win that prestigious award as only a sophomore.<ref>[https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07121108.html This parable is based on the birth and life of Tim Tebow]</ref>
Twenty years later, the baby boy -- [[Tim Tebow]] -- was recognized as the best college football player in the [[United States]] by winning the [[Heisman Trophy]], the first to win that prestigious award as only a sophomore .<ref>[https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07121108.html This parable is based on the birth and life of Tim Tebow]</ref>
== The Lost $40 ==
== The Lost $40 ==
Yet he did not give up and harnessed his competitive spirit to invent a revolutionary style of jumping back-first over the bar. Though lacking the athletic gifts of his competitors, the young man improved his jumping ability by a foot and more. He began to win.
Yet he did not give up and harnessed his competitive spirit to invent a revolutionary style of jumping back-first over the bar. Though lacking the athletic gifts of his competitors, the young man improved his jumping ability by a foot and more. He began to win.
His peculiar style attracted mockery and name-calling, as people derided his technique as the "flop". But that did not faze him, and he continued to jump in the direction opposite to all his competitors. Despite winning the national college high jump event, experts still considered his success to be a fluke and his approach to be a joke.
His peculiar style attracted mockery and name-calling, as people derided his technique as the "flop". But that did not faze him, and he continued to jump in the direction opposite to all his competitors. Despite winning the national college high jump event, experts still considered his success to be a fluke and his approach to be a joke.
When it came time for the [[Olympics]], no one considered the young man to have a chance, and his more athletic competitors were favorites to win the high jump event. The whole world was riveted to the television screen as the young man flawlessly cleared every height as the bar was raised again and again. When the bar was finally raised to an Olympic record height of 7' 4 1/4", only the young man and his "flop" were able to jump over it. He cleared the bar by several inches and won the gold medal in an incredible upset.
When it came time for the [[Olympics]], no one considered the young man to have a chance, and his more athletic competitors were favorites to win the high jump event. The whole world was riveted to the television screen as the young man flawlessly cleared every height as the bar was raised again and again. When the bar was finally raised to an Olympic record height of 7' 4 1/4", only the young man and his "flop" were able to jump over it. He cleared the bar by several inches and won the gold medal in an incredible upset.
Virtually immediately everyone else, including those who had mercilessly mocked him, began praising and imitating his style. To this day it is known as the "[[Fosbury Flop]]."<ref>http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=57</ref>
Virtually immediately everyone else, including those who had mercilessly mocked him, began praising and imitating his style. To this day it is known as the "[[Fosbury Flop]]." <ref>http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=57</ref>
== The Difficult Science Problem ==
== The Difficult Science Problem ==
A good man had two sons. One of them was defiant and insisted on ignoring and disobeying his father, leaving him, and then squandering his money on immoral living in a distant land. He refused to return to his father to ask forgiveness.
A good man had two sons. One of them was defiant and insisted on ignoring and disobeying his father, leaving him, and then squandering his money on immoral living in a distant land. He refused to return to his father to ask forgiveness.
Eventually, the defiant son had children of his own. Living in squalor, his own suffering children would ask him about their grandfather. One day his own children asked why they never visit Grandpa.
Eventually, the defiant son had children of his own. Living in squalor, his own suffering children would ask him about their grandfather. One day his own children asked why they never visited Grandpa.
For the first time, the man looked at himself objectively and realized how illogical and wrong it was for him to abandon his own father. He finally returned home to ask for forgiveness and brought his children with him.
For the first time, the man looked at himself objectively and realized how illogical and wrong it was for him to abandon his own father. He finally returned home to ask for forgiveness and brought his children with him.
he spent his days in basket-weaving classes and was deprived of any formal academic instruction until age 10.
he spent his days in basket-weaving classes and was deprived of any formal academic instruction until age 10.
But he worked hard, and eventually found his way to the [[London School of Economics]], the top school of its kind in the world.
But he worked hard, and eventually found his way to the [[London School of Economics]], the top school of its kind in the world.He was an avid [[socialist]], as were most of his fellow students. But in his senior year, he happened to take an [[economics]] seminar taught by Professor [[Arnold Plant]]. That course was devoted to the "[[invisible hand]]." It did not have any readings and focused on stimulating discussions instead.
He was an avid [[socialist]], as were most of his fellow students. But in his senior year, he happened to take an [[economics]] seminar taught by Professor [[Arnold Plant]]. That course was devoted to the "[[invisible hand]]." It did not have any readings and focused on stimulating discussions instead.
This young man's prior educational background may not have given him as much knowledge as his classmates, but it did give him an open mind. This single course changed his life, as he embraced the logic and power of the free market.
This young man's prior educational background may not have given him as much knowledge as his classmates, but it did give him an open mind. This single course changed his life, as he embraced the logic and power of the free market.
His extraordinary insight was that the free market always reaches the most efficient level of productive activity, in the absence of [[transaction costs]].
His extraordinary insight was that the free market always reaches the most efficient level of productive activity, in the absence of [[transaction costs]].
In 1991, he was the sole recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics. His name is [[Ronald Coase]]. To this day [[liberals]] fail to give him the recognition he earned.<ref>[http://www.jpands.org/vol12no2/schlafly.pdf The Coase Theorem: The Greatest Economic Insight of the 20th Century]</ref>
In 1991, he was the sole recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics. His name is [[Ronald Coase]]. To this day [[liberals]] fail to give him the recognition he earned .<ref>[http://www.jpands.org/vol12no2/schlafly.pdf The Coase Theorem: The Greatest Economic Insight of the 20th Century]</ref>
== The Wall ==
== The Wall ==
The leader of a nation traveled to a distant land and planned to deliver a speech there. This leader was not known for having great intelligence, and in fact, was often ridiculed within his own country. He wondered what he should say in the foreign country while he was there.
The leader of a nation traveled to a distant land and planned to deliver a speech there. This leader was not known for having great intelligence, and in fact, was often ridiculed within his own country. He wondered what he should say in the foreign country while he was there.
For decades, there had been a massive wall in this foreign land that denied its inhabitants the freedom to travel and visit relatives or simply move to places having greater opportunities. Inhabitants who tried to surmount the wall were shot and killed. The region enclosed by the wall was subjected to communism; outside the wall capitalism and freedom existed.
For decades, there had been a massive wall in this foreign land that denied its inhabitants the freedom to travel and visit relatives or simply move to places having greater opportunities. Inhabitants who tried to surmount the wall were shot and killed. The region enclosed by the wall was subjected to communism; outside the wall, capitalism and freedom existed.
The leader began to focus on the wall in connection with his planned speech, and proposed uttering the bold command, "tear down this wall."
The leader began to focus on the wall in connection with his planned speech, and proposed uttering the bold command, "tear down this wall."
But his top advisers, who were very experienced in politics and foreign policy, were adamantly against such a bold statement. They insisted on removing it from the speech. As each draft circulated these experts took the phrase out, but each time the leader inserted this phrase back in. The experts felt the phrase made the leader look foolish and hopelessly naive, and could not possibly have a positive effect. The experts were sure it would subject their leader to even more ridicule than he already endured.
But his top advisers, who were very experienced in politics and foreign policy, were adamantly against such a bold statement. They insisted on removing it from the speech. As each draft circulated these experts took the phrase out, but each time the leader inserted this phrase back in. The experts felt the phrase made the leader look foolish and hopelessly naive, and could not possibly have a positive effect. The experts were sure it would subject their leader to even more ridicule than he already endured.
The leader's advisers were horrified when they heard the words delivered in the actual speech. They braced for a backlash and criticism.
The leader's advisers were horrified when they heard the words delivered in the actual speech. They braced for a backlash and criticism.
But two years later, to the amazement of the entire world, this wall that had stood for decades was torn down exactly as the leader courageously suggested.<ref>https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070610/18speeches.htm</ref>
But two years later, to the amazement of the entire world, this wall that had stood for decades was torn down exactly as the leader courageously suggested .<ref>https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070610/18speeches.htm</ref>
== The Fly Ball ==
== The Fly Ball ==
The coach, against his better judgment, told her to be the right-fielder. The coach knew that the ball is hit to right field less frequently than to other positions (due in large part to most hitters being right-handed; right-handed batters tend to hit the ball to left field); thus, she would have few if any fielding chances, and usually on lightly hit balls which would be easier for her to catch.
The coach, against his better judgment, told her to be the right-fielder. The coach knew that the ball is hit to right field less frequently than to other positions (due in large part to most hitters being right-handed; right-handed batters tend to hit the ball to left field); thus, she would have few if any fielding chances, and usually on lightly hit balls which would be easier for her to catch.
This was supposed to be a friendly game between churches but turned out to be far more competitive than that.
This was supposed to be a friendly game between churches, but turned out to be far more competitive than that.
The game went smoothly for several innings. But the other team was good, and it was hitting the ball hard.
The game went smoothly for several innings. But the other team was good, and it was hitting the ball hard.
== The Story of Two Psychiatrists -- Or How To Deal With Liberal Critics ==
== The Story of Two Psychiatrists -- Or How To Deal With Liberal Critics ==
''Rowland Evans, the famed columnist, was having lunch with Ronald Reagan in 1987, six years into his presidency, a milestone by which the previous five presidents had been defeated, resigned in disgrace, refused to consider reelection, or assassinated. Somehow, Reagan was shining through, making it look easy, and was enormously popular. Evans, a tough old newsman, was in awe. He looked Reagan in the eye and said, “You know, Mr. President, I’ve known you for more than twenty years. I first met you in 1966, and the amazing thing is that you don’t look any older now than you did back then, and the criticism never gets you down. How do you do it?”''
''Rowland Evans, the famed columnist, was having lunch with Ronald Reagan in 1987, six years into his presidency, a milestone by which the previous five presidents had been defeated, resigned in disgrace, refused to consider reelection, or been assassinated. Somehow, Reagan was shining through, making it look easy, and was enormously popular. Evans, a tough old newsman, was in awe. He looked Reagan in the eye and said, “You know, Mr. President, I’ve known you for more than twenty years. I first met you in 1966, and the amazing thing is that you don’t look any older now than you did back then, and the criticism never gets you down. How do you do it?”''
In response, Reagan offered a parable. "Let me explain it this way":
In response, Reagan offered a parable. "Let me explain it this way":Let me tell you the story of the two psychiatrists — the old psychiatrist and the young psychiatrist — who had a practice together. They’d come into their office every day just bubbling with enthusiasm, always happy, upbeat, smiling, and chipper. Then they’d go into their separate suites and have patients come in and lie on the couch all day and talk about the woes in their lives. At 6:00 p.m., they’d come out and the young psychiatrist would be devastated, wiped out by the day, with a stomachache, and just miserable. The old psychiatrist would be just as chipper and smiling and upbeat as he was when he went in that morning. This went on for a number of months.
Finally, one day they came out at 6:00 p.m. The young psychiatrist was devastated as usual, and the old psychiatrist was just as happy and smiling as he was when he went in. The young psychiatrist stopped him and said, “I don’t understand it. We do the same thing every day, and I leave wiped out by hearing patients all day, and you come out after patients have been streaming in and out of your office just as upbeat as ever. How do you do it?”
'''The old psychiatrist paused a minute and said, “I never listen.” ''' <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33189 Bob Novak, a Giant of Journalism ]</ref>
'''The old psychiatrist paused a minute and said, “I never listen.” ''' <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33189 Bob Novak, a Giant of Journalism ]</ref>
== Welfare ==
== Welfare ==
So, I was talking to this little girl Catherine, the daughter of some friends, and she said she wanted to be President someday.
So, I was talking to this little girl Catherine, the daughter of some friends, and she said she wanted to be president someday.
Both of her parents, [[liberal]] [[Democrats]], were standing there with us - and I asked Catherine - "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?"
Both of her parents, [[liberal]] [[Democrats]], were standing there with us - and I asked Catherine - "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?"
==The University Assignment==
==The University Assignment==
A young student studying his first [[Politics]] assignment picked to answer the question - "Have we reached the end of political ideology?" The young student, as this was his first paper, studied hard and long to argue that there has been a rise in conservative thought in recent years as a response to growing [[globalization]] and encroaching [[liberalism]]. The lecturer gave the paper low marks despite solid referencing and an extensive bibliography. The young student felt slighted by this as he had put in many hours of work. Instead of bowing down and re-writing the assignment according to [[professor values|his lecturer's standards]], the student petitioned the head of the department to have his paper and final mark reviewed and also got several others to back him. In the end, the student got an A grade.
A young student studying his first [[Politics]] assignment picked to answer the question - "Have we reached the end of political ideology?" The young student, as this was his first paper, studied hard and long to argue that there has been a rise in conservative thought in recent years as a response to growing [[globalization]] and encroaching [[liberalism]]. The lecturer gave the paper low marks despite solid referencing and an extensive bibliography. The young student felt slighted by this as he had put in many hours of work. Instead of bowing down and rewriting the assignment according to [[professor values|his lecturer's standards]], the student petitioned the head of the department to have his paper and final mark reviewed and also got several others to back him. In the end, the student got an A grade.
== The Little Red Hen - Ronald Reagan Version ==
== The Little Red Hen - Ronald Reagan Version =='''''"About a year ago I imposed a little poetry on you. It was called " The Incredible Bread Machine" and it made a lot of sense with reference to matters economic. You didn't object too much, so, having gotten away with it once, I'm going to try again. This is a little treatise on basic economics called 'The Modern Little Red Hen.'"''''' <ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wS6LcPIDRFIC&lpg=PA381&dq=%22Ronald%20Reagan%3A%20the%20power%20of%20conviction%20and%20the%20success%20of%20his%20presidency%22%20%22Little%20Red%20Hen%22&pg=PA380#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''Ronald Reagan'' By Peter J. Wallison]</ref>
'''''"About a year ago I imposed a little poetry on you. It was called "The Incredible Bread Machine" and made a lot of sense with reference to matters economic. You didn't object too much so having gotten away with it once I'm going to try again. This is a little treatise on basic economics called 'The Modern Little Red Hen.'"''''' <ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wS6LcPIDRFIC&lpg=PA381&dq=%22Ronald%20Reagan%3A%20the%20power%20of%20conviction%20and%20the%20success%20of%20his%20presidency%22%20%22Little%20Red%20Hen%22&pg=PA380#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''Ronald Reagan'' By Peter J. Wallison]</ref>
----
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Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'
Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said, 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'
"Not I, " said the cow.
"Not I, " said the cow.
And the pig just grunted.
And the pig just grunted.
And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched round and around the little red hen shouting obscenities.
And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched round and round the little red hen, shouting obscenities.
When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You must not be greedy."
When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You must not be greedy."
"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.
"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen."Exactly," said the agent. "That's the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants.
"Exactly," said the agent. "That's the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants.
But under our modern government regulations, productive workers must divide their products with the idle."
But under our modern government regulations, productive workers must divide their products with the idle."
== Socialism ==
== Socialism ==
===Socialism In The Classroom===
===Socialism In The Classroom===
An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single
An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student, but had once failed an entire class.
student, but had once failed an entire class.
The class (students) insisted that socialism worked since no one would be poor and
The class (students) insisted that socialism worked, since no one would be poor and no one would be rich: a great equalizer. The professor then said, "OK, we.""We will have an experiment in this class on socialism."
no one would be rich: a great equalizer. The professor then said, "OK, we
will have an experiment in this class on socialism."
"All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no
"All grades will be averaged, and everyone will receive the same grade, so no
one will fail and no one will receive an A," said the professor.
one will fail and no one will receive an A," said the professor.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who had studied hard were upset while the students who had studied very little were happy.
After the first test, the grades were averaged, and everyone got a B. The students who had studied hard were upset, while the students who had studied very little were happy.But, as the second test rolled around, the students who had studied little studied even less, and the ones who had studied hard decided that since they couldn't make an A, they also studied less. The second test average was a D.
No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average grade was an F.
The scores never increased, as bickering, blame, and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings, and no one would study for anyone else.
The scores never increased as bickering, blame, and name-calling, all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for anyone else.
To their great surprise, they all failed.
To their great surprise, they all failed.
The professor told them that socialism, too, would ultimately fail because of the same basic human principles of incentive.
The professor told them that socialism, too, would ultimately fail because of the same basic human principles of incentive.
The harder people try to succeed the greater their reward (capitalism), but when a government takes all the reward away (socialism) no one will try or succeed.
The harder people try to succeed, the greater their reward (capitalism), but when a government takes all the reward away (socialism), no one will try or succeed.
= Other Parables =
= Other Parables =
== The Missing Child ==
== The Missing Child ==
A little girl is late home from school one day. Her mother becomes increasingly worried and after 15 minutes have passed is beside herself with anxiety. Afraid to leave the house in case the child returns, and desperate to go look for her, she is on the verge of telephoning the police when the child waltzes in through the door as though nothing is amiss. Relieved and angry the mother cries: "Where have you been?! I've been so worried!"
A little girl was late home from school one day. Her mother became increasingly worried, and, after 15 minutes had passed, was beside herself with anxiety. Afraid to leave the house in case the child returned, and desperate to go look for her, she was on the verge of telephoning the police when the child waltzed in through the door as though nothing was amiss. Relieved and angry, the mother cried: "Where have you been?! I've been so worried!"
The child answers that she had been with the woman who lived just next door, who had very recently lost her husband. "What have you been doing bothering the poor lady next door?" the mother asks crossly.
The child answered that she had been with the woman who lived just next door, who had very recently lost her husband. "What have you been doing bothering the poor lady next door?" the mother asked crossly.
"I haven't been bothering her, I've been comforting her," says the little girl.
"I haven't been bothering her, I've been comforting her," said the little girl.
"Comforting her? You're just a child, what could you do to comfort her?"
"Comforting her? You're just a child, what could you do to comfort her?"
"I sat in her lap and I cried with her."
"I sat in her lap and I cried with her."
Sometimes there are ''no'' solutions, no smart come-backs, no quick fixes that can be determined through intellectual reasoning or policymaking. As Dreher says: '''Politics and economics won't save us; if our culture is to be saved at all, it will be by faithfully living by the Permanent Things, conserving these ancient moral truths in the choices we make in our everyday lives.'''<ref>Dreher, Rod. "A Crunchy Con Manifesto" [http://crunchycon.nationalreview.com/about/ National Review Online]. 26 December 2007.</ref><ref>Cottrell, Stephen. ''I Thirst.'' (Zondervan; Grand Rapids, [[Michigan]]; 2003.) ISBN 0-310-25069-2</ref>
Sometimes there are ''no'' solutions, no smart comebacks, no quick fixes that can be determined through intellectual reasoning or policymaking. As Dreher says: '''Politics and economics won't save us; if our culture is to be saved at all, it will be by faithfully living by the Permanent Things, conserving these ancient moral truths in the choices we make in our everyday lives.'''<ref>Dreher, Rod. "A Crunchy Con Manifesto" [http://crunchycon.nationalreview.com/about/ National Review Online]. 26 December 2007.</ref><ref>Cottrell, Stephen. ''I Thirst.'' (Zondervan; Grand Rapids, [[Michigan]]; 2003.) ISBN 0-310-25069-2</ref>
== The Atheist and the Believer ==
== The Atheist and the Believer ==
Said he, "I bring enlightenment!"
Said he, "I bring enlightenment!"
"Umgawa!" they all cried
"Umgawa!" they all cried.
"If you'd but follow our advice!"
"If you'd but follow our advice!"
"Umgawa!" they replied.
"Umgawa!" they replied.
Umgawa underfoot!"
Umgawa underfoot!"
== The Graduate's Gift ==
== The Graduate's Gift ==An arrogant young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his wealthy father could easily afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
An arrogant young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his wealthy father could easily 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 wrapped 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.
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 wrapped 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.
The chicken began flapping its wings and strutted up to the crow. "No fair!" squawked the chicken, "the greedy farmer hasn't given us enough water." The crow shrugged and began hopping around the pitcher, looking at it this way and that.
The chicken began flapping its wings and strutted up to the crow. "No fair!" squawked the chicken, "the greedy farmer hasn't given us enough water." The crow shrugged and began hopping around the pitcher, looking at it this way and that.
The chicken strutted off and went to complain to the farmer. It squawked and squawked, but the farmer ignored it. It went back to the crow, who was grabbing pebbles in his beak and dropping them into its pitcher with pebbles. "Come with me!" it said, "Let's demand that the farmer give us our water!" The crow ignored it and returned to his work.
The chicken strutted off and went to complain to the farmer. It squawked and squawked, but the farmer ignored it. It went back to the crow, who was grabbing pebbles in his beak and dropping them into his pitcher. "Come with me!" it said, "Let's demand that the farmer give us our water!" The crow ignored it and returned to his work.
The chicken went again to the farmer and decided to take its protest to the next level. It scratched and pecked at the farmer's leg, cutting the skin, until the farmer angrily kicked it away. Indignant, the chicken went back to the crow, squawking more than ever. "That brutal farmer kicked me," it complained. "when all I was doing was demanding my rights."
The chicken went again to the farmer and decided to take its protest to the next level. It scratched and pecked at the farmer's leg, cutting the skin, until the farmer angrily kicked it away. Indignant, the chicken went back to the crow, squawking more than ever. "That brutal farmer kicked me," it complained. "when all I was doing was demanding my rights."
By this point, the crow was standing on the top of his pitcher, happily drinking. He had dropped enough pebbles into the pitcher that the water level had risen nearly to the top. The chicken saw this and walked up to the crow to complain. "Unfair!" it cried. "I want water too."
By this point, the crow was standing on top of his pitcher, happily drinking. He had dropped enough pebbles into the pitcher that the water level had risen nearly to the top. The chicken saw this and walked up to the crow to complain. "Unfair!" it cried. "I want water too."
The crow looked over at the chicken and told him: "I have water because while you were complaining, I was looking for a way to get the water. The first two ways did not work, but I kept trying until I came up with something better. Then I patiently put in the hard work to put my plan into action, and now, finally, I can drink. You can do the same with your pitcher, and you will have water too. You are bigger and stronger than me, so it will be even easier for you."
The crow looked over at the chicken and told him: "I have water because while you were complaining, I was looking for a way to get the water. The first two ways did not work, but I kept trying until I came up with something better. Then I patiently put in the hard work to put my plan into action, and now, finally, I can drink. You can do the same with your pitcher, and you will have water too. You are bigger and stronger than me, so it will be even easier for you."
"I am sorry," said the crow, "but you are only a few pebbles short. Surely you can do the tiny bit of work yourself."
"I am sorry," said the crow, "but you are only a few pebbles short. Surely you can do the tiny bit of work yourself."
The crow flew off, its thirst satiated. The chicken scratched at the ground and squawked and squawked but nobody would listen and it stayed thirsty.
The crow flew off, its thirst satiated. The chicken scratched at the ground and squawked and squawked, but nobody would listen, and it stayed thirsty.
== References ==
== References ==
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Conservative]]
[[Category:Conservative]][[Category:Parables]]
[[Category:Parables]]
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Essay:Greatest Conservative Parables]]
* [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Parables]]
*[[New Testament understanding through the Jewish perspective]] Example 3 [the enacted parable]
* [[New Testament understanding through the Jewish perspective]] Example 3 [the enacted parable]
{{Conservatism}}
{{Conservatism}}