There was a kingdom ruled by
a king who had very many subjects, as many as the grains of sand on the
seashores. And all of his subjects were pawns. He had no bishops or
rooks or queens or kings. No corporals or sergeants or lieutenants or
captains or majors or colonels--no generals of any kind. There were no
rulers to guide the people or leaders to command the troops.
Each man received counsel and instruction directly
from the king himself, because He was a benevolent king
and would not
suffer His pawns to be led astray by others less qualified. And his
kingdom had no walls.
And the people of the benevolent kingdom prospered
in all
that they did. All of their needs were met, so much so that they
could not imagine a desire. And the people were envied by those living
in other kingdoms, the others.
The others, with their rulers,
plotted against the benevolent kingdom. But it was to no avail as the
benevolent king knew all and provided all that He knew to His people as
it was needed. And with the wisdom of their benevolent king, the people
of the benevolent kingdom thwarted all the attack of the others.
And they grew in wisdom and
knowledge and continued to prosper.
The others began to dwell
amongst the people of the benevolent kingdom so that they too could
prosper but they continued to seek guidance from their rulers and
leaders. They read the books and took accredited courses of their rulers
and leaders on how to prosper in the benevolent kingdom. As prosperity
eluded them, they comforted themselves with the knowledge that they
had done all they knew to do; and they continued to encourage the
reading of books and the taking of accredited courses of their rulers
and leaders.
And they rejoiced in their very small victories;
doctors received wisdom to treat their diabetes and high blood pressure;
despite the odds they found donors for needed transplants; they were
able to obtain reasonable loans to visit the Holy Land; most of their
sons survived the wars and returned home with only minor impairments and
disabilities; their wayward children were paroled at the first
opportunity.
And with all their small
victories the others encouraged the pawns of the Benevolent Kingdom to
read the books and take the accredited courses of their rulers and
leaders that they too could prosper. And some did . .
.