We received a beautiful parable this morning from our Director of RCIA, Svea Fraser, MDiv..
For your consideration:
There Are Two Seas
A Parable by Bruce Barton
There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh, and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it, and stretch out their thirsty roots to dip of its healing water. Along its shore the children play.
The River Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men (and women!) build their houses near to it, and birds their nests; and every king of life is happier because it is there.
The River Jordan flows on south into another sea. Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children’s laughter. Traveller's choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs above its waters and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink. What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas? Not the River Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not the country round about.
This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure. The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps. The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. The other sea gives nothing. It is named the Dead.
There are two seas in Palestine.
There are two kinds of people in the world.
Which kind are we?