This Is Me Living

A Man Fell Into a Pit

A man fell into a pit and he couldn’t get himself out.

A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there in the pit.”

An objective person came along and said, “It is illogical that someone would fall down into that pit.”

A Christian Scientist came along and said, “You only think you are in a pit.”

A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into the pit.”

A newspaper reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.

A fundamentalist said, “You deserve your pit.”

Confucius said, “If you had listened to me, you would not be in the pit.”

Buddha said, “A pit is only your state of mind.”

A realist said, “That is a pit!”

A scientist calculated the pressure necessary to get him out of the pit.

A geologist taught him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit.

A taxman asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit.

The city inspector asked him if he had a permit to dig a pit.

An evasive person came and avoided the person in the pit all together.

A self-pitying person said, “You have not seen anything until you have seen my pit.”

A charismatic said, “Just confess, you are not in the pit.”

An optimist said, “Things could get worse.”

A pessimist said, “Things will get worse.”

Jesus, seeing the man, knelt down and lifted him out of the pit.

- Author Unknown

A Beggar's Wealth

I ran across this, and used it in my sermon on Sunday PM, October 12, 2008.

 

In his book, How (Not) to Speak to God, Peter Rollins tells this story:

There was once a princess who grew up in a kingdom that had been ravished by decades of famines, war and plague.  One night, as the princess slept she had a dream.  In this dream she was walking through the market that lay by the sea, when a young beggar looked up, but before their eyes could meet the dream ended and the princess awoke.  As the dream faded a haunting voice arose in her mind that informed her that if she were ever to meet this young man, he would shower her with riches beyond her wildest dreams.

This dream etched itself so deeply on the princess that she carried the vision deep in her heart, until one day, years later, as she walked through the market, her gaze caught hold of the same man who had visited her in her dreams all those years ago.  Without pausing she ran up to him and proceeded to relay the whole vision.  Never once did he look up, but when the princess had finished her story he reached into an old sack and pulled out a package.  Without saying a word, he offered it to the princess and asked her to leave.

Once the princess reached her dilapidated castle she ripped open the package and, sure enough, there was a great wealth of pure gold and precious diamonds.  That night she placed the package in a safe place, and went to bed.  But her mind was in turmoil and the long night was spent in sleepless contemplation.  Early the next morning she arose, retrieved the treasures and went down to the water’s edge.  Once there she summoned all her strength and threw the riches deep into the sea.  After watching the package sink out of sight, she turned and without looking back went searching for the young beggar.

Finally, she found him sitting in the shade of an old doorway.  The princess approached, held out her hand and placed it under his chin.  Then she drew his face towards hers and whispered, “Young man, speak of the wealth you possess which allows you to give away such worldly treasure without a moment’s thought.” 

– pg.50-51 (c) 2006, Paraclete Press