A Parable for the Modern Church

Two men stumble across a wary traveler and realize that he is very thirsty. The traveler readily admits his thirst and his overwhelming desire to drink water. Both men have a large canteen of fresh water they can give the thirsty traveler.

The first man is about to share his water when a terrifying thought occurs to him. The water in his canteen is very warm and while perfectly safe to drink, it may have a slight odor or aftertaste associated with it. Then a brilliant thought occurs to him. There is an outpost only 1 mile down the road that has cold, crisp fresh water - in fact the very water that first filled his own canteen! If only the tired thirsty traveler could experience this water! Excitedly, the first man decides to invite the traveler to the outpost - he'll even pick him up and take him there and pay for all the water once they arrive.

As the first man is wrestling with his decision, the second man is also weighing his options. Like the first man, the water in his canteen is originally from the same outpost. But also like the first man, he recognizes that his water has grown warm and slightly stale during their many travels. On one hand, he knows that the thirsty traveler would greatly enjoy the cold crisp water which is offered at the outpost, certainly more so than the canteen water - so long as the traveler wasn't dying of thirst. But suddenly it occurs to him, "the traveler is dying of thirst! And after all," he asks himself, "when you are very thirsty, isn't it true that warm water is actually better for you than cold water because it is more easily accepted by the body?" Thrilled at this truth, the second man pours his canteen into the thirsty man's hands and saves the traveler's life.

Many thanks go out to my brilliant wife who first made this analogy tonight (although in a different form.) Let us never forget that there is a time and a place for cold crisp water and a time and a place for warm organic water.

Next week - the parable of the traveler who is so far gone, he does not even realize he's thirsty. Which of the two men is better equipped to save his life? (thanks again honey...)