What is This Town Like?
Back in the days when the settlers were moving to the
West, a wise man stood on a hill outside a new Western town.
As the settlers came from the East, the wise man was the
first person they met before coming to the settlement. They
asked eagerly what the people of the town were like.
He answered them with a question: "What were the people like
in the town you just left?"
Some said, "The town we came from was wicked. The people
were rude gossips who took advantage of innocent people. It
was filled with thieves and liars."
The wise man answered, "This town is the same as the one you
left."
They thanked the man for saving them from the trouble they
had just come out of. They then moved on further west.
Then another group of settlers arrived and asked the same
question: "What is this town like?"
The wise man asked again, "What was the town like where you
came from?" . These responded, "It was wonderful! We had
dear friends. Everyone looked out for the others' interest.
There was never any lack because all cared for one another.
If someone had a big project, the entire community gathered
to help. It was a hard decision to leave, but we felt
compelled to make way for future generations by going west
as pioneers."
The wise old man said to them exactly what he had said to
the other group: "This town is the same as the one you
left."
These people responded with joy, "Let's settle here!"
How they viewed their past relations was their scope for
their future ones.
Bevere, John. The Bait of Satan. Lake Mary, Florida,
Charisma House, 1997, p. 65,66.
www.charismahouse.com