The Parable of the Ski Pole
by: Teresa Chapple
A long time ago, a time of Kings and Paupers, a ski pole travelled back in time to be discovered. A meek man found the pole and saw the sharp points on the bottom. He cowered away in fear. "This could hurt me and my family. It should be avoided at all costs." A mighty man came upon the ski pole and examined the sharp points on the end. He pulled it to his chest and claimed ownership. "This could be a powerful weapon. I will use it to bring much harm to my enemies and rule the world." Now the man who was neither meek nor mighty stumbled upon the ski pole. He observed the points at the bottom and pondered if it could be useful to him. "I could use this to help me walk in the ice or the snow. Perhaps, if I am hungry I could use it to spear a salmon or trout swimming upstream for my dinner."
The meek man made his choice based on Fear and chose to run away from the ski pole. The mighty man made his choice based on Power and Greed and chose to keep the pole for himself. Both of these men saw the ski pole as a weapon -- a thing that could hurt others. Notice the meek man "saw" the sharp points and cowered away. The mighty man "examined" the sharp points and almost drooled with excitement. The man who was neither meek nor mighty didn't view the ski pole as a weapon. He "observed" it to see if it could help him on his journey. He recognized it as the tool it was meant to be. He was at Peace.
