A Parable

The Parable of the Blind by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1568)

This parable has been told over the centuries, in many different forms, in countries around the world, in languages both familiar and foreign.

Jesus opened many of His parables with this statement:

“The kingdom of God is like . . .”

So, here we go:

A storyteller sat before the embers of a fading fire. He looked up to the stars. This was his tale:

The kingdom of God is like a man in need. A man in need, who reached out to the three people closest to him.

He called an old friend. He called an old love. And he called an old adversary. All people he had once betrayed in his life. He betrayed trust, he betrayed love and he betrayed honor.

A day came when, by the man’s connivance, he gathered all three people in the same place at the same time. The three were seated on a bench, renewing acquaintance. The man walked up to them and began speaking before any of them could react.

"You three are the most well-connected people I’ve ever met,” he said. “And I have, by my self-centered life, grievously wounded each of you. I’m sorry for my betrayals. Forgive me, but today I need your help. I’m dying.

“I have a very rare disease. My heart is disintegrating. The parts of my heart, small parts for the moment, are spreading out into other areas of my chest. It’s a death warrant.

“I believe you know people who could help me. If you are willing.”

After a long moment of silence, of glances cast between each of them, each one brought out a cellular phone and began dialing.

His old friend, his old love and his old adversary each called their own friends. Together, they gathered a team of the most accomplished doctors in the world—the best doctor to prepare the man, the best doctor to perform the series of surgeries, the best doctor to manage the man’s recovery after surgery and the best doctor in the world to manage all of the logistics.

The man looked at the three people he once wounded so deeply, and was overwhelmed.

“There must be a God,” he said.

The three people raised their cellular phones once more and each made another series of phone calls.

At the conclusion of the phone calls, three of the wealthiest people in the world agreed to underwrite the cost of the many surgeries the man would need, the year the man would need to remain in the hospital and a life-long requirement of special care the man would need after his recovery.

The man looked at the three people he once rejected. Each one was smiling.

“There must be a God,” he said, tears falling from his eyes.

The man’s old friend said, “Yes. There is a love that is huge in its length, depth and height.”

The man’s old love said, “Yes. There is a debt, that has already been paid. The future is already paid, purchased.”

And the man’s old adversary said, “Yes, and lives are restored.”

“That is how much God loves you,” said the story teller. “That is how much God has given you, how much God has spent for your health, your life, your hope and your safety.

“There must be a God," you say?

“Yes. You say that. And there is an awakening. There is revival. And," the story teller said, "there is a voice that says, ‘Share my love.'

"And lives, once shattered, are restored."