A Parable

A man owns a house, and enjoys it. One day it is seriously damaged by a storm. How does he go about reclaiming his house?

First, he determines if it is salvageable. It is. He spent a precious fortune purchasing it and he has unlimited resources.

Next comes the clean-up. The storm made a mess and when the house was damaged nearly everything was affected. This is detailed work and can take quite a while.

Then, when everything is clean again, the damage must be repaired. This can be painful. Hammers, saws, drills, nails and screws. New pieces brought in, fitted, installed, sanded and painted. This is delicate, time consuming, and messy.

Finally it is finished. Everything is bright as new. The work is done, the workers have all gone home. But is this the end of the story?

No. The house is still empty. The owner needs to move back in and take possession. The house is filled with his things but awaits his presence. What a difference this makes. His presence fills every room and places his stamp on every possession. His presence cheers the house. What a difference between an empty house and an occupied house. An empty house, even though everything is new, tends to fall apart. But an occupied house, it’s as if the presence of the owner animates the wood, the drywall, the furniture.

All the cleaning and repair would be wasted without the presence of the owner. After all, that’s why he bought the house. There is always the memory of what happened in the storm and often a memorial is created, a photo album or a damaged piece is left. But all has been restored and the house reclaimed.

That's my parable!