Thursday, September 15, 2022

A Silly Story

 


I woke up this morning to the sound of trucks going down the road.  At 6 am. Why were there so many trucks?  Maybe they were grain trucks or cattle trucks, and maybe it’s the season where there are lots of cattle and grain going to market. Or maybe the threatened railroad strike meant all the trucks had to go today, or that more had to go by truck instead of by train.  Or maybe it’s a bit of all of these.  Or maybe it’s none of these.

Maybe there’s a house that’s hidden from view by the trees and sits at the end of a long driveway that connects to a dirt road that gets little use.  Inside the house lives a family that has a very special mission that’s been passed down to them through the generations.  The house sits on top of a giant cavern. Inside the cavern there are millions of a special kind of spider that is only found in that cavern. These spiders like to spin webs, but instead of the almost invisible threads that other spiders produce, these spiders make thread that’s thick enough to be woven into fabric or knit into clothing.  These spiders not only spin, but they also weave and knit. 

So the cavern is continuously being filled with beautiful fabric and knitted items.  The very important mission of the family that lives above is share everything that the spiders make with the world.  As long as they send the items out to be used freely, the spiders keep spinning and weaving and knitting.  If the cavern were to ever become full, the spiders would stop.

Every so often, a fleet of trucks are summoned to the house. Early in the morning before the sun comes up, they drive down the dirt road and line up along the long driveway, and through the trees that circle the house.  The family fills the trucks with rolls of multicolored fabric, and boxes and bags of hats and sweaters and socks and all sorts of other knitted items.  While most people are still asleep, the trucks rumble out on the roads, taking their loads to distribution centers across the country.

No one remembers when the distribution centers began giving away clothing and fabric and other sorts of knitted items for free, but it seems like they always have and they always will.  No one knows where the trucks come from, because the drivers have been sworn to secrecy.

As long as the family keeps taking care of the spiders and sharing the items they make, the spiders will keep up their work. As long as the distribution centers keep giving the items away for free, the spiders will keep supplying them. 

I don’t know how to find this magical land with the never-ending supply of fabric and knitted items, but imagine how nice it must be. No one ever needs to be cold or wear worn out clothing.

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Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. –Colossians 3:12-15

In our world, we don’t have these magical spiders, but we do have the magic of love.

Thanks, God.

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