Really makes you think about Sharing and greed.
By drknlvly6781
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
United States
November 12, 2007 3:43pm CST
My sister just sent me this e-mail, it really makes you think how many problems could be solved in the world, if we just learned how to share.
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A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."
The Lord led the holy man to two doors.
He opend one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a larger pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly.
They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.
But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back to their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, "You have seen Hell".
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the larger round table with the large pot of stew which made the hold man's mouth water. the people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughting and talking. The holy mand said, "I don't understand".
"It is simple," said the Lord. "It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
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This story is so simple, yet so deep.
2 people like this
8 responses
@alamode (3071)
• United States
14 Nov 07
Then there is the other extreme... hitting people with your spoon cuz if you can't eat, THEY can't eat!
I see this so often in different areas of life. I no longer watch the news, because the stories that make it on-air are usually mean and spiteful things, not real news for information. The world sometimes feels like its made of smirking and lying... I will concentrate on my small place and my wonderful people, and try to make new, loving friends whenever I can.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
16 Jan 08
You are so silly. I can see you hitting people with your spoon too, just BLAM!!! Gimme some stew stupid!!! LOL
Katt Williams spoke about the world in this movie of his I just saw, American Hustla. Anyway, he said that the world is messed up, but we don't have to stress out about it. The only things we need to care about is Family, Children, True friends, and relationships, anything else let it take care of itself because we can't do anything about it.
1 person likes this
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
13 Nov 07
I remember my Values Education teacher on high school telling us this story, yes, it is simple but full of lessons to learn.
I realized that I don't need a glimpse or a reminder just to help others and lend a hand, as we don't need to be in hell just to understand what we have to do while we are still here on earth. There are lots of opportunities, many people are starving and greed is the main reason why people suffer from poverty.
I wonder what goes inside wealthy men and billionaires' mind, if they see this or not. With all the resources they have, they are the one's that should be more concerned about this and share some of their wealth.
I for one has been doing everything I could to extend help, though it may seem little, I know that I have atleast made other people's lives enjoyable even for atleast a moment..
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
13 Nov 07
Yes, values education is about developing an individual's moral values. It is important to us, since it is a part of our culture. It teaches us more about respect, gratitude, understanding and wisdom.
You are correct, great things start's from simple and small beginnings!;)
1 person likes this
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
13 Nov 07
Values Education? I have never heard of that before, but it sounds like a great idea for more schools to have. A lot of people don't help because they think that "I'm just one person." If more people would realize that even the smallest effort is a difference made, then the world would be a better place.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
13 Nov 07
This is a really neat story, a great lesson for people to learn.
I would think that this story would be a requirement for every Sunday school class and every sermon.
The more we take of each other, the better off we will all be.
1 person likes this
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
16 Jan 08
You're right Deb, its just sad that most people will look at this post, feel it touch them for the moment, and keep moving as if it was nothing.
@niharikadacoolest2 (468)
• India
13 Nov 07
Yes. Really if we live by sharing then we will prosper well in life.
I have seen this practically when we have exams. Most probably i am before night reader, but still i get good marks because of my friends. Before the exams we sit together and share all we had read. If one of us doesn't understand the other explains him. So this becomes fast and in no time we complete half of the course which can fetch a fair amount of marks.
So people follow this, and never you will backed.
1 person likes this
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
13 Nov 07
Yes this is true, but I think your story leans more towards sloth than greed. Most of us don't want to study, both in high school and in college, but we always balk at our grades. If more of us would quit being lazy and create groups like this, then we would all get better grades lol.
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
13 Nov 07
The part I find so funny about sharing is that when people first have a child the first thing they want to do is teach them to share and get all bent out of shape if another child won't share with their child. Once the children are grown up people forget how to share themselves.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
13 Nov 07
Not only that, they completely ignore the fact that children learn from what they see. They see you being greedy, they in turn are going to think, "Well this is the way the world works, I have to get mine and keep mine." The kids wouldn't be so selfish if we learned to be less so.
@drkimble05 (191)
• United States
17 Jan 08
yes it does. i really felt sad for that guy. that just goes to show you that there are people out there with nothing still willing to do something. what would you do if placed in that situation?
1 person likes this
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
18 Jan 08
I think I would be like alamode. I would feed others, but as soon as I didn't get any, I would be hitting people with my spoon!!!
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
12 Nov 07
This is so true,if we would all learn to help others.We would help our
selfs.I beleive in doing to others as I would have them do unto me.It is
not always easy,but thanks unto the grace of God he helps me.I share what
I have.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
13 Nov 07
That is all that God asks us to do, is what we can. He never puts more on us that we can bear, its us that makes it hard for ourselves by not following his teachings.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
12 Nov 07
Yeah, when I read this it touched me to think that those that were in Hell were really suffering out of their own choice.
