The Word and the Interpretation

By Vangjel Canga

A collection of short stories (or parables, or koans) and thoughts (or proverbs, or aphorisms).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vangjel Canga
• Release date: Aug 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311920980

Vangjel Canga

Vangjel Canga (Vanca) was born in Tirana, Albania in 1979 where he also completed high school in 1998.Since 1998 he has studied and worked in Athens, Greece (except for a one-year break for studying in England, UK).He has written his first poems around 1996, but has worked more seriously in this direction during the 2004-2005 period and since 2008.Besides poetry, he is also interested in the visual arts like painting and photography, and also music.The poetry you'll read is gentle (and on the 'light' side, as opposed to 'dark') but that does not necessarily mean there's no deep thought in it.

Book preview

THE HOMELESS PREACHER

I. The complexity of simpleness

For how some things mix with other things, for how some events lead to others, for how the psychology of a person affects his decisions, for how one eventually becomes homeless, many books might be written. Indeed, it is the subject of many a scholar, one who has spent his life in learning and then in practice, as a psychologist perhaps, or as a social worker. It may be part of the theoretical work of the philosopher, part of the sad human condition for the theologian. Perhaps we can't understand it all, and in our case, we don't even have the full material to try to understand it. Yet, I believe, things that look complex are sometimes really simple, and what looks simple is actually really deep. With this understanding, then, I start to write my story.

He was a former prisoner - of this at least we are somehow sure. We do not know his name, neither his crime, but he must have been in prison for not a few years. It is believed that not a year had passed since he was released and was wandering in the streets, homeless. How that came to be, we do not know - perhaps he could not integrate well into society, or he did not have family close, or he had already lost all of his former possessions. Of how hard life is in the streets, that everybody should already know.

His peculiarity was that he liked preaching (his only possession beyond his clothes was a Bible). Small groups of people often gathered around him to hear, and often gave him something, either money or food. It was also here in the streets where a group of believers from a local church met him.

One of them recognized him, despite his changed homeless look, for often, some members of that church went to minister to prisoners, preaching to them and delivering free Bibles.

For, you see, the prisoners, too, need Christ - and homeless people the charity of the Church. It logically follows that they offered him shelter and food for some time, till he could integrate better, find a job and gradually gain his independence. It was not a bad deal, after all, and the homeless man accepted it, though with some hesitation.

For a couple of months he lived in a church shelter, while looking for a stable job. He participated in their Sunday and weekly meetings, but, for some reason, he seemed to talk less and less as time went by. In fact, he was a rather silent man, not desiring to talk too much about the past and the church members did not press him, respecting his personal life. It could have also been, they thought, due to their rather large church (at around a thousand members), that could have easily intimidated him. Maybe in time he could grow to know other members and be better familiarized to the working of the church in general as well as the service in particular.

It was not entirely unexpected, but it was still somewhat of a surprise when he expressed his desire to speak. They knew that he was a street preacher, they knew that he would probably like to share his testimony. It was not very strange then, that after meeting with the pastor, he would preach on the parable of the sheep and goats.

Some people invited friends from other churches, some even invited unbeliever friends. The testimony of the charity and love of God shown on men was to be quite powerful, especially since he was a former prisoner. It goes without saying that the expectations were high.

He started with the reading of the Matthew passage on the parable of the sheep and goats. Who isn't aware and touched by this parable, of the 'little ones' in Christ, of Christ identifying with the hungry and thirsty, the poor, the prisoners, the sick, the duty of Christians to help each-other? Wasn't the homeless man, too, hungry and thirsty, poor, sick and prisoner? Even more so, he was an unbeliever when the church went to visit him in prison. He was a believer when they found him homeless and helped him, as the church should help its own, for By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

All looked to him, their faces shining as if witnessing the glory and holiness of God. But soon, all of that changed, just as they were expecting him to start his testimony.

II. I gave you the bread of life and you did not take it

Yes, the homeless preacher said you did all of this to me. But there are some things that you seem to miss.

Behold, the physical poor, and he showed the church building with his hands.

What money has been put here is what is missing from the poor and needy

Behold, the hungry and thirsty, and he pointed towards the church members.

Behold, the lonely and poor. You see them in a meeting, but are unaware of them. You quickly forget them during the week.

Behold, the hypocrisy of helping the physically hungry and thirsty. Don't the unbelievers do the same? And you completely miss the emotional, the intellectual, the artistic, the spiritual.

Isn't He that spoke the words of this parable the one who gives the bread and water of life? Isn't He who came to set all people free? Isn't He who is not just the Healer but also the very Healing and Life?

Yet, once you leave this place, all goes on as 'usual'. You kill, when you should give life. You judge, when you should show mercy. You imprison, when you should forgive. You steal from the poor and do not help them, and, when it is the rich that should help the poor, you just do the reverse

You ask: How can this be? But, aren't you the ones who participate in politics, aren't you who participate as judges, aren't you who hold the sword and imprison people? You, too, are traders, bankers, insurers, economists, businessmen. Does not the world do the same? What harmony is there between the kingdoms of men and the Kingdom of God?

When you show off your money, achievements, kids, when you praise them, yourself, your family, your friends, your system, your country, have you thought what you are removing praise from?

I thought that we should be a community, a big family living in the love and the power of God. Yes, you give the tithe and offering, and it goes into buildings and 'social programs', but you miss the love and sharing in the family of God.

Brothers and sisters, should it be this way? Aren't we all hypocrites? We know these words, we fear and act on them. Yet, by our very acting, aren't we missing what we at the same time are doing contrary to what we profess as truth? By our non-acting, aren't we missing what we should actually do?

III. The word and the interpretation

Most had stood in silence, almost stunned. It was very different from what they had expected, and what sort of testimony was this? Wasn't this judgment, instead?

Some people even complained and shouted. The former prisoner had already finished his preaching (small sermon as it was), and the pastor stood up and smilingly took his place, saying some words of thanks and taking the matter into his own hands, lest it produce some rather undesirable results. The meeting then continued as usual, closing in a friendly matter.

In the days that followed many discussed what they had heard. Were they indeed mistaken? Didn't Mary also break a very costly perfume bottle for Jesus - weren't their buildings similar? Besides, even if the building was rented, shouldn't some money go towards it? Shouldn't we meet together somewhere? (Wasn't he also living in a church shelter, wasn't that a building, too?) Also, isn't it written that those that work deserve to be paid? How could it be wrong to pay the pastor?

Christians, too, live in this world - what is wrong with being paid for being a member of the society, as long as you are not doing something illegal. Aren't we the salt and light of the world?

And, what is wrong with judging and putting people to prison? Didn't Paul say that the sword is not held in vain? And, wouldn't there be chaos if countries and communities did not protect themselves? Wouldn't there be tyranny and anarchy without the army and police protecting our freedom?

What about communities and sharing? Wasn't this communism? Haven't we seen that communism does not work? The early church might have practiced it, but it then moved to other forms of economy. It has been somehow similar for hundreds of years - were all Christians mistaken through the centuries?

Of course, it is not always easy, nothing is, but money does not grow on trees, and we should not promote laziness. Everybody knows that the system is not perfect, but democracy and free trade are the best things we have till perfection comes. What is so bad with promoting them elsewhere in other countries?

Besides, even a first-year student of economics could point out the problems with the communistic approach. On the other hand, frugality, hard work, marketing - these are just normal human behavior, as is the law of supply and demand. Government often interfering with this natural order may cause problems, but sometimes it is necessary to intervene - hence, the need for laws, and again, ways to enforce them (for what is the law without enforcement?).

Also, it is not like charity is missing from the Church. The help the church provides is not a small amount - we are even helping other nations, poor nations, such as those of the third world. It would be a very unbalanced position that which does not keep this fact in mind.

Now, didn't God also bless Abraham, didn't He bless Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon and others with riches? What is wrong with glorifying God and testifying as to how He has blessed you and your family? Didn't God bless Israel when they obeyed him? Can't He bless our country, built on His principles? Can't He bless our family since we honor Him?

Maybe he was still a 'babe in Christ' to understand all these important matters. The great theologians and men of God surely would not have missed discussing them.

Artistry? Intellectualism? Aren't these things of the world? Isn't the message itself hypocritical? Shouldn't we move away from the world and what happens in the world? Shouldn't we focus on Christ? Besides, if he had the talent, he could write Christian books, or paint something inspirational, or write songs.

Then, if one were to look carefully, wasn't there some form of dualism or Eastern mysticism hidden in things like By doing something you might be missing what you are doing differently. By not doing you might be missing what you should be doing? This could not be of God.

Wasn't he also ungrateful to the help they gave him? Wasn't he judging on minor things, and missing the important ones? Aren't we supposed to not judge our brother?

And, on what authority did he speak? Did he think himself a kind of 'prophet' or 'teacher' or 'apostle' perhaps? Who sent him, then? Did any church elders anoint him for ministry?

Not likely.

Then, he spoke of his own mind. Shouldn't we be aware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves? Didn't Paul also say that some professing to be wise, became fools?

On the other hand, maybe it was just that he was mentally and emotionally unstable. All those years in the prison must have left their mark on him.

If he didn't like it there, maybe he could join another church. Maybe he could join the Amish or Quakers since his ideas seemed similar, especially his rejection of patriotism, violence and war.

- - -

So the discussions went, but I left one theme for the end. Not that it was not probably discussed (I have reasons to believe it was), but because it was not stressed too much in his preaching, and the reports of its discussion are very few, and not too much reliable.

Power. What did he mean by that? Did he mean power, as in the power of the Holy Spirit in convincing, in getting people out of darkness? Was this the power of salvation, the power of the Good News preached to the ends of the earth? Was this the power of the prayers of the saints? (what church is that which lacks prayer?)

Or, did he, instead, mean the power as in spiritual gifts, as in healings, speaking in tongues, prophecy, and the supernatural in general? Well, this is not so much a salvation issue, it seems. Didn't Paul say that without love all of that means nothing? Won't Jesus say to some that, despite their powerful works and miracles in His name, He (Jesus) did not know them?

Also, God may choose other ways to heal, through modern medicine for example, through a medical doctor. Some even say that healings were for a time, for a sign, and we don't need them anymore (though one should not cease praying). Casting out demons? Aren't there mental hospitals nowadays? Besides, one should be very careful to mess with the supernatural.

This, therefore, was what was discussed, but as things usually happen, it was forgotten in a few weeks. Meanwhile, it was made clear by the pastor that this church had a certain vision, and, the former prisoner was free to leave whenever he wanted, if he did not like it there. It was not very right to judge fellow believers so directly, but one should learn from Scripture, criticize someone personally, then with two-three people, then in front of the church. That was what the pastor was also doing, talking to him one-to-one first.

Well, eventually he left, but of the details we are not certain. There are some who say he got a job and moved to another city, some who say he joined another small church, some who say he moved out of the country and became a pastor in a foreign church, and some who even say that he joined the Amish or the Quakers (though only a few believe these last two options).

The church continued as before, though, as it usually happens, a few people fall away from the faith in time, or choose another church. Of course, only God knows their hearts, and we are not to judge only on personal preferences.

Of course, this applies to the homeless preacher as well - provided his story and his person is true. For, there are those who think the homeless preacher story is just an urban legend, with no basis in reality, but there are also people who believe it to be true, at least in part.

The effect of it, though, is rather difficult to measure. In a sea of sermons in the churches, it is the Scripture that is the foundation, not some personal opinion, especially from a simple person, not famous, not well trained, and who seemed to bring divisions to the church of God.

I write this story here as it was told to me. I write it so that it may not be lost, so that, like with all stories, we might learn something from it. I write it here so one may draw nearer to God, so that one is not distracted from His Word. I hope that it is useful to the one who really follows Christ, the Word of God, who is the Truth, the Way and the Life. Amen.

IV. Epilogue

There was yet one other time that the homeless preacher is mentioned preaching in a church. It was such a strange preaching, stranger than the first probably, although somehow related to it.

The only thing out of that preaching that has been transmitted to us is a half-joke saying like: There was no much preaching there. The one who has (not) ears let him (not) hear.

Indeed it was a very strange preaching.

I know - since (although) I was (not) there.

The one who has (not) ears let him (not) hear

The end.

Isn't it absurd

The river flowed, wide and bountiful, its waters pure. Yet people did not go and take of its waters, though free. They preferred to pay for unclean water that even made them sick.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

The river flowed, wide and bountiful, its waters pure. Some went to the river with an empty bottle, its cap on. They tried and they tried but could not get any water. Some of them even thought the river was an illusion.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A certain village was organizing their yearly 'River Festival' and most of the people had gone to the feast near the old mill.

When the bridge had been built the river was larger and wider, but now, all that had remained of it was a small stream, and very dirty at that. This did not stop people from participating in the feast, though.

One of the men arose in the midst of the others and said:

Hey, what are we doing here? The river was large and wide and pure, but now, all we've got is this little dirty stream. Certainly it has been blocked somewhere and deviated, either from branches, or from man's activity. Let's go and check, and let the river bless our village again!

In fact, when the river was larger, the village mill drew power from the water, but now, they had to grind flour in a far away place, which was much more expensive. Also, the water was clean, but now they had to get water from another distant place, which was again very expensive, and not as good.

Despite this, the people at the festival, starting with the elders, told the man:

What are you saying? Why are you disrupting our festival? Why are you being disrespectful to the river?

The man tried to change their mind, but they would not listen. They even threatened him with expulsion from their village.

So, the man decided to go and investigate for himself.

On traveling through another village upstream he saw some people drawing water with buckets from the same, but somewhat larger, dirty stream that was in the place of the big river bed, and putting it in a small channel.

What are you doing?, he asked them.

We are taking water from the stream and putting it in the river, they replied.

The river?! Where is the river?!, the man asked surprised.

Here, this is the river, the men replied, and showed him the small channel.

They had in fact become so confused, that their watering channel had become their 'river'.

He left them, and, traveling through other villages, also realized that even that small stream had become polluted from the activities of men.

He continued his journey, went further up, until he saw a lake. Immediately he understood that this was the river, that it had been blocked from branches, and had been deviated by men's activities and various building projects.

Happy, he returned to his village, but nobody believed him.

Despite this, the man was not discouraged, but said to them:

Let's go up the mountain, where the water is cleaner

Are you serious?, the others replied, Do you want to take us out of civilization and live as barbarians?

They threatened him again, but he did not care. He decided to wait for a while, and, if the river was not restored, go and live upstream.

The whole village thought that he was an idiot.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

One mixed water with a powerful mind-altering, but poisonous drug and gave it to the others. They died within three days.

No, another man said, this is no good. Let's dilute it with water.

They diluted the poison further, until they could not dilute it any longer, and they died within three years.

Some others thought it was very diluted and that there was no fun in it. They added some more poison and died within three months

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A tax collector went to the beggar in the street and said to him: Tell me how much money did you make today and who paid you. I need to tax your money.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

Here, said the beggar to the rich man, have some of my money...

You think that absurd? - what would you say then if the rich man eventually took the money?

- - -

A man had planned to open a business, wanting to start small. Eventually he found that he needed to pay much more that he would be potentially getting in five or ten years just to start his business and that he would be losing money every month to pay for insurance

He didn't start his business.

Meanwhile, politicians and people were complaining about the increased unemployment.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A man spoke to another man:

I will show you how in a democratic country the minority rules, one person over three others

How come?, replied the other.

Well, continued the first, in a recent election 40% did not vote and one party won with 40% of the vote, gaining enough votes to pass any law in the parliament. Thus they only won with the 40% of the 60%, that is, 25% or one in four.

Hmm..., the second replied, pausing a bit, but those who did not vote should have expected this. It's their own fault since they did not bother to go to vote.

What if nobody represented them?, replied the first.

They should have formed their own party, replied the other.

Could be.., the first replied, but that still does not change the fact.

I can't understand you, the second said, bothered by the first still insisting on this issue, What do you suggest, then?

Well, why don't they take random people who do not support any of the parties in the parliament, and let them vote as they please, rotating them every year?

That can't happen, the second replied, It would be undemocratic! How and who can decide what men and women to choose? They would not be elected by the free vote of the people!

That you can not solve this problem does not change the fact, the first replied.

Then the second man, seeing that the first was rather stupidly insisting on his first statement, without seemingly understanding how the system works, decided to leave him in peace and not bother with him anymore.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

Two brothers had a dispute and, instead of going to their father who was a wise judge, they presented their case to their common enemy.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

One man spoke to another: You have this land that you do not use. I will work the land for you so that it does not remain unused.

So the man worked the land, and then the owner of the land came after a year and looked for the produce to take a profit, but found the land at the same state as before.

Didn't you work the land for me?, the owner asked the other man. So, where is the produce?

I didn't tell you I will plant, or water it, the man replied. I worked the land, though. Why didn't you maintain it?

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A group of people decided to create and play an original variant of soccer (football). They were free to change or modify any rule that they liked, but once they made the final decision, they would abide by the rules.

So, they modified the rules a bit, but kept most of the original ones in place (including that of not touching the ball with their hands, except by the goalkeepers).

Now, while playing, to the surprise of everyone else, one of the men got the ball in his hands and proceeded to play as if nothing had happened.

What are you doing?!, the rest asked him.

Well, weren't we free to do anything we liked, create and modify any rule we wanted?, the man replied.

The rest tried to change his mind, and to remind him that the rules were binding, but he insisted playing and modifying the rules on the go, as he saw fit.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

Some pupils prepared a birthday party for a nerdy classmate of theirs.

They enjoyed their party a lot, their friendship, their jokes, their dancing, but their classmate did not.

They brought gifts that he did not like - nerdy as he was - so they gave the gifts to one-another.

Some, being more considerate, though not knowing what he EXACTLY liked, bought some GENERIC nerdy gifts. He did not accept these, either, since they were not related to his PARTICULAR interests.

They went to their homes happy, thinking this was among the best parties they had organized.

Their nerdy classmate went home crying.

And alone.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A woman went to a maker of sweets and said to him:

Make a cake for my dead husband and write the following:

To my favorite husband, the great thief and murderer

The cake maker refused her demand, so she had him arrested, imprisoned and executed.

The same woman then went to the priest of the village and said to him:

Bless my relations to my husbands and lovers. Bless my children, the little thieves and murderers.

The priest agreed, and the woman had him promoted to the position of bishop. The previous bishop resisted this absurdity, so she had him arrested, imprisoned and executed.

It is said that the priest, the judge and the executor were all among her many lovers, but no one knows for sure.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked

- - -

A shepherd lost some sheep in the mountain. So, he left the rest of the sheep in an open place, took his dog, and went to look for the lost ones. He eventually found all of them and returned back very happy, only to find the rest of the sheep killed by wolves."

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked

But if that is not enough, what would you say if the shepherd noticed them, only to completely disregard, and not even shed one tear for them?

- - -

Two middle aged men in their fifties were recovering in a hospital.

Due to their chronic diseases (different disease one from the other) they had to once in a while visit the hospital, either because of a sudden crisis, or to relieve them somewhat of their symptoms.

It happened during one of those days that the doctor entered their room very exited and told one of them:

I have very good news for you!! There is this new medication which has been found to be effective, it has been tested, and is now available in pharmacies everywhere! It's so amazing that your symptoms will go away almost immediately, you'll recover to a normal life in about a week, and in about a year, you'll also be disease free!

Wow!, exclaimed the second patient, hopeful that there would be some sort of good news for him, too. Do you have any such good news for my case, too?

Yes!, replied as enthusiastically the doctor.

There is this certain mix of plants which has been found to be quite effective. It has been tested, and the plants are currently cultivated everywhere. However, no pharmaceutical ingredients have been extracted yet, and it will take a long time to test them, check for any side effects, approve them by the state and the global community, until they arrive at the local pharmacy and hospital. Meanwhile, no pharmacy is carrying the plant mixture, and it is not allowed to do so due to regulations. The plants are somewhat rare and protected, though they are now available in large quantities for scientific studies. Also, there are many fake recipes around, or mixtures with not the right ingredients, that we always warn people against. But, there is certainty, that once the medicine is available, you'll benefit largely from it!

What sort of 'good news' is that, then?, the ill man shouted. In that ten or twenty or thirty, or who knows how many more years, you are condemning me to pain and more pain! Not only that, but you know the cure, and you don't want to deliver it! Go away now and please leave me alone. Your 'good news' just increased my pain!

The other patient was discharged from the hospital the next day.

In a week or so, the ill patient was also discharged.

He asked around, but though people had heard about this cure, nobody knew where to go to find it. He asked other doctors, hoping they would know more, but they just repeated the words of the hospital doctor. And of course, the market was full of fakes.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

In a certain village, there lived a rich man. His house was large, and he owned a lot of land and other property.

One day, his brother knocked at the door of his house:

Please, he said, my house has been destroyed, and my livestock has mostly perished. Allow me to stay at your house and work for you.

No, his brother said, You can neither stay, nor work for me. Go fix your house, and work at your own land.

Then, some years later, his cousin knocked at the door of his house, saying almost the same things.

This time, his rich cousin was somewhat nicer:

Yes, you can work for me, but you can not stay. Go and rebuild your own house. Once you rebuild it, you can work for yourself, as well as for me, as you desire.

Finally, after some more years, a group of gypsies appeared as out of nowhere and camped at the rich man's house.

What are you doing here?!, the rich man asked.

He eventually discovered that they had been fighting among themselves, that they lived close to the river and one of them, being drunk had opened the dike on the hill, and all their tents, huts and belongings had been taken away by the water.

Well, I can not take all of you, the rich man said, But you can stay and work here. As for the rest, go to other people's houses! I'll try to convince them to accept you.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A woman was tending the flowers in her garden when a man dressed in a suit, accompanied by the police appeared suddenly before her.

You have to pay taxes for the rain water your flowers use, he began to say.

The water belongs to the community, and your flowers use it - all this without permission.

Either pay with money, or otherwise, give us 30% of your flowers. Of course, any delay will incur penalties - 5% interest per month.

The woman had stood there speechless, but the man continued:

You understand, don't you, that this is your duty, both as a citizen, as well as a member of the society.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A group of friends from a team of professional sport players was vacationing in a popular tourist destination, outside their own country.

Bored as they were, they asked the locals (who also happened to like the sport they played):

How about we have a match? Do not worry, it will all be according to rules.

The locals, not knowing that they were professionals, decided to give it a try.

Obviously, they lost to the professionals, but with a large score difference.

So, the locals complained, but the professionals said:

Didn't you agree to play? Didn't we follow the rules? So, you have no right to complain.

-

A few days later, at another city, the professional players asked the same question to the locals. This time, however, they said among themselves: Let us win, but not make it so obvious. Let us make them think that they are playing fine, but are simply unlucky.

As they said, so they did - they won, and the locals lost.

However, after learning from a traveler from the previous city that they were professionals, the locals over there also complained.

The professionals replied as before.

But, you misled us!, the locals continued, You not only did not tell us you were professionals, but played as if you were not. You deceived us - not once, but twice!

Why do you complain?, the professionals replied, We did not play at full capacity, and we still won. So you have no right to complain!

-

A few days later, at a different city from the two first ones, they did the same with a group of people they met at a local cafe.

This time, though, the professionals were trailing the locals group at the half time.

How can this be?, the professionals asked.

They eventually learned that the 'locals' were not locals at all, but members of a professional team from another country.

We can not lose!, the professionals said, So, let us apply psychological pressure, send someone to disrupt something at their hotel - just do something, anyway!

So they did, and eventually managed to win.

Proud of all these matches, they went back home rather happy.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A very rich man wanted to be generous, so he made several copper keys that would allow one to access his treasure.

He told this to the people, but most of them did not believe him. A few believed him, and became rich, but people did not believe them, either.

Then the rich man made a golden key, essentially a copy of the copper keys. On seeing this, the people fought among each other, not for the fact that it could open up the treasure, but because the key was made of gold.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A new paved road was built through a piece of land. On one side the ground was muddy and sandy with many swamps present, and on the other side it was mountainous with many rocks and bushes.

Now, some people avoided the new road, and instead drove their cars through the muddy, sandy and rocky lands.

What are you doing?, a man who was driving through the paved road, asked the other drivers.

Why aren't you driving in this road? It is not a toll road, and eventually you pay the same, and by the damage your car takes, you pay even more if you continue like that. Besides, there are dangerous points, no signals, no bridges, and you may fall or sink somewhere!

What are you saying?!, the other drivers replied.

Do you want to restrict our freedom?!

The other driver tried in vain to change their mind, but they would not listen.

At that time, some people driving off-road vehicles and horses also stopped to listen.

See!, the other drivers said to the man driving on the paved road, They also drive or ride in this terrain without any problems!

But you do not have such vehicles or horses!, the driver on the paved road replied.

No, no, you do what you want, but we will do what we want!, the other drivers replied.

So, they continued to drive in that bad terrain. Some lost their vehicles, some lost their lives, but it did not matter that much to them. Sometimes they passed through the paved road, or took it for a while, but it was just for convenience and as a shortcut, not as the only way.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

"Sometimes, and quite often at that,

Dignity is mistaken for Pride,

Truth for Arrogance,

Humility for Weakness,

Simpleness for Stupidity,

Wisdom for Foolishness."

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A certain master hired a man to work in his vineyard.

It was winter and the vines had no leaves on them. So, the hired man, started cutting all the vines one by one.

On seeing this, much damage having already been done, the master asked him in an angry tone:

What do you think you are doing?!

I'm cutting them all, since they are bad. Can't you see they are all dry?, the hired man replied.

Of course, the master fired him immediately.

Then, at the end of summer and start of autumn, the grapes where ripe for harvesting. So, the master hired a new man to help him in his vineyard.

On seeing that some of the vines had leaves, but no fruit (or the fruit was not good), the master asked the hired man:

Didn't you see that these vines have no fruit? Why didn't you tell me, so that we remove them and plant new ones?

The hired man replied:

I saw what you did to the hired man in winter. Besides, some of these ones still have leaves!

Of course, the master fired him immediately.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A certain master asked his servants to go out during the night and take something from storage.

He said to them:

Get candles and matches that I have provided so that you can see, since it is dark

The servants started discussing among one another how bright the master was and how full of light his house was. The also philosophized about the light, of what it was, of how much it was, of how it was to be measured. Through all of this, though, they did not light their candles.

Since they could not see, they stumbled in the dark on the road to the storage room. On arriving there, again, since the room was dark, they made a big mess, taking things from a shelf and moving it to another. They also broke many things.

Some others took as many matchboxes as possible and lit them all together, trying to make them explode. Still others melted the candles in a small-duration, but big fire, and made sculptures - some of them, attempts at a portrait of their master.

A few of them lit their candles normally, and wondered at what the others were doing. However, the others tried to blow their candles out. They also closed their eyes and said to them: Do you think you are better? Now you also can not see!, and they tried to steal their materials for their 'fun' activities.

The master, hearing all that noise, saw all of that, without the servants being aware.

But a bit later, he appeared before them and asked them:

What have you done here? What is this mess? What have you done with the candles and matches I gave you and why have you shuffled and broken the things that I had in storage?

The servants tried to blame the ones that had their candles lit normally (some of them, having stolen their candles already), but the master knew that they were lying, having seen it all himself.

Of course, he fired all the bad servants at once, but wasn't the bad servants' behavior absurd?

Indeed, isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

The administrative and police forces of a certain town were understaffed. Hence, the town experienced a lot of criminality, taxes were not paid, and honest businesses and individuals suffered.

To solve this, the mayor and police chief met together, appealed to parliament, which then decided as follows:

Since no thief could be verified with certainty that he or she was a thief, everyone would go to JAIL for a day or a week, depending on his or her personal wealth. In addition, the state would get a portion of every businessman's production IN ADVANCE, because the businessman might have time to hide it, otherwise. The police and administrative staff were excluded, since they were honest, and the state knew their condition anyway.

So it was decided, and people agreed since this was the law.

At some point, though, one person, a young lawyer, spoke to the people:

What are you doing? Why are you so indifferent to such an absurdity and thievery of your own wealth? This is not right, not right at all! It may be that there are thieves among the businessmen, and that we may not be able to catch them, but look, we know for sure that the state is stealing in the open and nobody dares to speak. Why do you let them cover their incompetence by this stupid law?

The people listened to him, but did not do anything. One, though, reported him to the police, which arrested him for disturbing the public order and enticing the public to violence and breaking the law.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

The master's students asked him one day:

Master, which one do you think is the best economic system, which one do you think is the best political system, what do you think of various philosophical schools or education systems?

The master asked them of why they asked him these questions and the students replied that many people asked them these kind of questions, the people regarding the master as a wise man.

Then the master took a wooden cube that was painted on each side red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet and asked his students:

If I throw this cube, when will it come up white?

Then the master took the cube and threw it out the window.

As the students were still perplexed by this answer, the master started giving each of them a white sphere.

On seeing this, some of the students became illuminated.

The rest, though, the ones that did not become illuminated, went outside to search for the master's dice. Then they started arguing among themselves on what color had come up. They could also not trust the first person who said that it was this certain color, or if the cube was not exactly flat. They were further confused when they saw that there were many such cubes outside, which the master had probably thrown before.

Some others thought that by spinning the cube it would turn white, or that by scratching it, they would reveal the wood texture, which was sort of whitish. Of course, they all treated these cubes as a kind of relic, the hands of the master having touched them. Many sawed them in small pieces and wore them as jewelry. Some others built big cubes and worshiped them or revered them as some kind of 'cosmic idea'.

When asked by the other students of what they had done with the white spheres which the master gave them for free, they replied that they had thrown them away, or given them away to strangers, being of no great value.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

A man had planted trees in his garden, but they had no edible fruit. So as to not look bad in the eyes of other people, he bought a lot of various fruit and tied it on the branches of his trees.

All people who came to visit marveled at the majesty of these trees and how full of fruit they were. However, a little kid, grabbed one of the fruits and saw that it was tied on the tree instead of being part of the tree itself. Moreover, he noticed that the same tree had different kind of fruit!

However, his parents scolded their child and said to him:

Bad child! Why did you steal this wonderful person's fruit without permission? Besides, what you noticed was just a coincidence, it can not be otherwise!

The child did not know what to say as almost all the people greatly admired the trees of that man and the good fruit they ate.

Isn't it absurd?, the Master asked.

- - -

People from a certain humanitarian organization went to some poor and homeless men and told them:

Why do you stay here, hungry and thirsty in the cold? Come with us and we'll give you food and drink! We'll also give you new clothes and free shelter!

The homeless people were very happy and went to the shelter.

The organization gave them food and new clothes and shelter, but they did not give them anything to drink.

Why aren't you giving us anything to drink?, the homeless people complained.

It would be better to not give us food or new clothes. But water?! That's the first thing you should have given us. A man can't live more than three days without water, you know!,

We even have to buy the tap water!, others said.

Where do you think we can get the money if we are homeless and destitute?!

The people from the humanitarian organization listened to them and told them that they understood. So, they gave them to drink, but did not give them food or new clothes.

What is this?!, the homeless people complained again.

You promised you would give us food AND water AND new clothes AND shelter! Where is the FOOD and the new CLOTHES ?

So the people from the humanitarian organization gave them food, but told them to go find shelter elsewhere. Also, they did not give them any new clothes.

Where are your PROMISES?!, the homeless people shouted.

Where is the free food AND drink AND clothes AND shelter that you promised?!

Get it or leave if you don't like it!, the people from the humanitarian organization replied.

Well, the homeless people reasoned, it was better when we depended on the goodness of people, rather than the lies of these people who promise everything and do not deliver

So they went back to the streets.