My favorite spiritual mentor used to relate an interesting paradox of sorts. “It was not unusual,” he would say, “to be greeting folks leaving the church service, and have a parishioner make a comment like ‘I really enjoyed your message today. I especially liked the part where you suggested such-and-such-and-so-and-so.’ “
“And it would turn out,” he continued, “that I had never consciously intended such-and-such-or-so-and-so as part of my message that day.” He would always smile in appreciation at the cosmic humor and wisdom. He loved to call the phenomenon ‘The power of God working through the sermon.’
This same mentor would also often say something like “the shortest path to Truth is through a story”. He suggested it was the main reason Jesus so often spoke in parables.
Those memories have led to today’s collection of thoughts.
Recently, I rediscovered a book called The Heart of the Enlightened by Anthony de Mello. The entire book consists of stories or parables with a ‘spiritual’ basis, and I was particularly pleased to see a whole section entitled Education.
So, in the spirit of the two opening insights, and with no further editorial comment, I will simply share some of these education parables with you. I’m sure any insights you may receive are exactly the ones that were intended for you. Happy New Year!
*The Doberman and the Cod Liver Oil A man began to give large doses of cod-liver oil to his Doberman because he had been told that the stuff was good for dogs. Each day he would hold the head of the protesting dog between his knees, force its jaws open, and pour the liquid down its throat.
One day the dog broke loose, spilling everything onto the floor. Then, to the man’s great surprise, the dog returned to lick the spoon. That is when he discovered that what the dog had been fighting was not the oil but his method of administering it.
*Becoming a Writer A group of college students begged novelist Sinclair Lewis to give them a lecture, explaining that all of them were to become writers themselves.
Lewis began with: “How many of you really intend to be writers?” All hands were raised.
“In that case there is no point in my talking. My advice to you is: go home and write, write, write . . .” With that he returned his notes to his pocket and left the room.
*Sex Education “How was school today?” a father asked his teenage son.
“Oh, we had lectures on sex,” was the reply
Lectures on sex? What did they tell you?”
“Well, first, there was a priest who told us why we shouldn’t. Then a doctor told us how we shouldn’t. Finally, the principal gave us a talk on where we shouldn’t.”
*The New Reformatory There was a question of opening a reformatory for boys and a well-known educator was called in for advice. He made a passionate plea for humane methods of education at the reformatory, urging the founders to spare no expense in getting the services of kindhearted and competent educators.
He concluded by saying, “If only one boy is saved from moral depravity, it will justify all the cost and labor invested in an institution.
Later a board member said to him, “Didn’t you get just a wee bit carried away there? Would all the cost and labor be justified if we could save only one boy?”
“If it were my boy, yes!” came the reply.
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