More Parables for Plain People: Observations of Foofoo the Wise

MORE PARABLES

For Plain People

Observations of FooFoo the Wise

Jack Worrill

Copyright © 2013 Jack Worrill.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0872-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0874-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013916652

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/9/2013

Contents

Parable of The Magic Feather

Parable of The Weeping Cherry

Parable of The Text Message

Parable of Mister Cellophane

Parable of The Ol’ S And N

Parable of The Ultimate Computer

Parable of The April Fool

Parable of The Beggar Lice

Parable of The Ticking Timex

Parable of The Open Door

Parable of The Wimpy Syndrome

Parable of The Whitewaters of Life

Parable of The S.T.E.W. Society

Parable of The Silver Leaf

Parable of The Sounds in the Silence

Parable of The Power in the Blood

Parable of The Sardines And Soda Crackers

Parable of The Shoe Shine Philosophy

Parable of A Brush with Riches

Parable of Kudzu, Ivy, and the Honeysuckle Vine

Parable of The Goldilocks Standard

Parable of The Misplaced Mummy

Parable of The Pretend Things

Parable of The Really Reliable Remedy

Parable of The Pocket Full of P’s

Parable of The Jigsaw Principle

Parable of Elephants and Chopsticks

Parable of The Happy Dance

Parable of Feelings, Instinct, and Reason

Parable of The Deferred Payment Plan

Parable of The Babel Fish

Parable of The Shining Path

Parable of A Fret-free Day

Parable of The Jiggle Valve

Parable of Simple Simon

Parable of The Beginning and the End

Parable of The Terse Verse

Parable of The Great Reward

Parable of The First Class Fantasy

Parable of The Dark Place

Parable of The Grindstone

Parable of Harold and the Cross-Eyed Bear

Parable of The Bookmarks in Time

Parable of The Problem with Liberty

Parable of The Excused, the Pardoned and the Forgiven

Parable of The Car Wash

Parable of The Robotic Arm

Parable of The Four Presents

Parable of The Great Big Snake

Parable of The Inheritance

Parable of The Complex Solution

Parable of The Fruit Cocktail

Parable of The Surprise Visit

Parable of The Scarlet Yarn

Parable of The One Who Roars

Parable of The Ideal Companion

Parable of The Happy Ending

Parable of The Monkey Trap

Parable of The Favorite Fast Food

Parable of The Delusionist

Parable of The Fatal Flaw

Parable of The Trick or Treat Question

Parable of The Hellbox

Parable of The Stem Cell

Parable of The Times and the Seasons

Parable of The City Farmer

Parable of The Carefree Walk

Parable of The Naked Saints

Parable of The Living Stone

Parable of A Funny Thing

Parable of The Scholarship Principle

Parable of The Finest Wine

Parable of The Obbligato

Parable of Legend, Lore, and Life

Parable of The Pooper Scooper

Parable of The Successful Song and Dance

Parable of The Well-guarded Goat

Parable of The Tongues We Speak

Parable of The Speed Trap

Parable of The Registration Key

Parable of The Time for Joy

Parable of The Small Expectations

Parable of The Drunken Sailor

Parable of The Tedious Hours

Parable of The Essential Thing

Parable of The Wondering Eye

Parable of The Peaceful Pace

Parable of The Next Thing

Parable of The Big Rocks

Parable of The Manna and the Shmoo

Parable of The Unexpected Consequence

Parable of The Last Drop

Parable of The Upraised Thumb

IN THE BEGINNING…

A Dedication

I dedicated the first collection of these writings, Parables for Plain People—Observations of FooFoo the Wise, as well as all future efforts, to my dear wife Lyn, who had recently graduated into the Kingdom, and to our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

At the time of that dedication, I had no inkling that I would be led to a second love that would continue the Lord’s blessings upon my life. So it is with great joy that I add the name of my dear new wife, Joyce, to the list of those whose love, inspiration, and support make these writings possible and give them deeper meaning. To all of these, then, this book is dedicated.

A WORD OF APPRECIATION

In my original collection of parables, I neglected to give credit to my dear friend, Wanda Cooley. She once commented that I ought to put some of my illustrations and observations into a book so others could benefit from them. That off-hand remark was the nudge I needed to start writing. Thank you, Wanda, for that nudge and for your consistent encouragement.

Thanks also to Jennifer Becton, author of The Personages of Pride and Prejudice Collection and The Southern Fraud Thriller Series, for her encouragement and guidance in getting both books of Parables into print.

Finally, I acknowledge the contribution of Kelley Land, who took my original manuscript in hand and energetically massaged it into good form with true editorial skill.

JRW, 2013

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…

That phrase seems like a natural way to begin this collection of More Parables for Plain People. We’ve all heard that tag line added to TV sales pitches, as if the advertiser has just thought of another point or two he wants to impress upon the viewing audience.

In a way, that’s what I’m doing here—sharing some more thoughts and inspirations the Lord has impressed upon me since my first book was published.

In the first collection of Parables for Plain People—Observations of FooFoo the Wise, I explained the origin of the title: why I call these writings parables and where the appellation FooFoo the Wise came from. If you’re overcome with curiosity concerning those details, I commend that volume to you.

The eighty-eight parables in that first book were composed over a period of ten years. When I decided to publish my work in 2010, I also committed myself to set aside two mornings each week to write and edit new pieces. In spite of a number of unexpected events—including marriage to my sweet second love, Joyce—I have accumulated a large body of parables.

As a matter of fact, the Lord has inspired more than twice as many as appeared in that first collection. During the last two years, I have produced many of these additional pieces in pamphlet form to share with friends and acquaintances, and when I do they ask when my next book will be available.

So, in response to those who have inquired about a second book of parables—and in a desire to share what the Lord has given in the way of blessings—may I present

More Parables for Plain People - Observations of FooFoo the Wise.

"Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

both low and high, rich and poor, together,

My mouth shall speak of wisdom,

and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

I will incline mine ear to a parable…"

Psalm 49:1-4a

Parable of The Magic Feather

It seems that there has been a steady procession of classic Walt Disney animated feature movies advertised in the last few years. Pinocchio, Snow White, Bambi, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Fantasia…and on, and on. They are all newly mastered, digitized, restored with enhanced color, and available in all kinds of formats, beginning with VHS video tapes, DVDs, and now Blu-rays. Whatever those are. And they come with all kinds of bells and whistles.

Recently, I saw they had re-mastered a new release of Dumbo, the first Disney film I ever saw. I was only about four and a half years old when I was invited to go see it with my friend Winky Young and his mom. It was fantastic, and I remember it well, even after all these years.

I remember the sight of that cute little guy with the big ears. Disney always had a way of making even the most unlikely creatures appealing, didn’t he? And I can see, as clearly as if it were yesterday, first the concern and then the anger in the eyes of Mrs. Jumbo as her little Dumbo was scorned and ridiculed by the other elephants. Even the rest of the circus animals and the clowns teased and tormented him.

I was enthralled by the sight of Dumbo and his new friend, Timothy Q. Mouse, awakening high up in a tree after drinking too much from a water barrel the clowns had spiked with beer. A flock of crows residing in the tree joked that Dumbo must have flapped his big ears like wings and flown himself and Timothy there.

Timothy and the leader of the crows agreed to give the unbelieving Dumbo one of the crow’s magic feathers to hold; this enabled him to soar and fly like a bird. Sure enough, as long as he held the magic feather in his trunk, Dumbo could even jump from the clowns’ high tower at the circus and float effortlessly to the ground. He became the star of the clowns’ fire brigade routine.

Then came the fateful performance when, just as he jumped from the tower, he dropped the feather! Only as they plummeted toward the ground did Timothy reveal the truth: Dumbo could fly all the time. The feather was only a trick to give him the confidence to try something he was already able to do. He just had to use his special ears like wings.

So Dumbo flapped his ears, and he could fly. The film ends heroically, with Mrs. Jumbo, Dumbo, and his new manager, Timothy Q. Mouse, in a special observation car at the end of the circus train, festooned with banners proclaiming Dumbo, The Flying Elephant.

If only elephants could fly.

Haven’t many of us—me included—spent a great part of our lives living in the Land of If Only, wishing for the magic feather that would be the solution to all our problems? And how many others have desperately put all their trust in some magic feather, some lucky charm, in the expectation that it will somehow pull them through, only to have it let them down?

What is your magic feather? Is it education…money…social position…professional status…personal appearance? We all have one. We all want to cling to something for security.

Well, I have good news for you. Just as Dumbo learned he could fly without his magic feather, I can promise you on good authority that the Creator has already provided you with the special qualities and abilities you need in order to triumph over whatever challenges you are facing. And you don’t need to hold onto any magic feather to make them work for you, either.

You’ll have to get off your limb, though, and flap like crazy until you get the hang of it. But I guarantee you, if you will trust the Lord’s Word and commit yourself to doing what pleases Him, you’ll soar over those joy-robbing obstacles. And isn’t that better than any magic feather?

Parable of The Weeping Cherry

I know I’ve passed it hundreds of times, in all seasons and all kinds of weather. It’s the variety of tree commonly known as a weeping cherry tree. I’m sure it has a formal, botanical name, but I have no idea what that is.

For some reason, known only to Him, the Lord shined His spiritual spotlight on the weeping cherry tree that gloomy, chill, drizzly morning as I passed, and I saw it in a way I hadn’t before. Its grafted trunk was a stark gray, tortured into grotesque shapes; its gracefully arching branches now stripped of all leaves by the greedy breezes of an abnormally dry November. They seemed to shiver in the damp wind, embarrassed by their nakedness, shrinking from the curious gazes of those in the passing traffic. But most of us didn’t even notice.

My first thought as it caught my eye was, I need to bring my camera with me next time I come this way. The angular shapes of the trunk and its principal limbs, terminating in those slender, gently curved, sweeping branches, would make a great photograph. I like to capture such scenes, and a number of times I have reproduced them with pen and ink or pencil sketches.

As I jotted that note on the bulletin board inside my forehead, I began to think about other reasons why the Creator of all trees focused my attention on that particular tree that dismal morning. I wondered to myself, Just what is the ‘Parable of The Weeping Cherry’?

That bare and, frankly, unattractive tree looked about as useless and dead as any tree could. In fact, it would probably be difficult to tell—without actually bending some of the twigs to see if they snapped, or scratching away some of the bark looking for signs of green inside—if it had enough life left to sustain it through the coming winter.

That weeping cherry tree had lived a good life, sharing its blossoms and fresh green leaves in the spring, the fruit from those blossoms in the summer, and the enticing, gentle swaying dance of its flowing streamers well into fall. Now it was as if the tree had fallen on hard times and had little to show for the pleasure it offered so unselfishly to all who passed by.

I’m not certain, but I think it’s possible that the tree made such an impression on me because of what happened as I was telling my grandchildren goodbye after a delightful family Thanksgiving celebration. As I gave my little Emily a hug, she began to cry, and when I asked her what was wrong, I was startled by her reply. You’re going to die! she sobbed.

I picked her up and held her close as I said, yes, I was going to die, someday—that we all will die eventually—although I didn’t think it was going to be any time soon. But even if it was soon, I wouldn’t want her to be sad. That would only mean that I would be able to be close to her, in her heart, in a way that I can’t be now. I told her that when she got into the car and went around the corner, I couldn’t see her again until the next time our families got together. When God tells me my reserved place is ready for me and calls me home, I’ll be able to be with Emily wherever she is, all the time. I think that’s something for us to look forward to, don’t you?

So, you see, what we can learn from the Parable of The Weeping Cherry is this: First, our lives are intended for us to share with those around us, to be things of beauty, to bring joy to all we encounter. Second, there will come a time when the blessings we bring to others will diminish, and our presence will serve as reminders to assist the recollection of good times enjoyed and love shared, of bits of wisdom to be recalled, applied, and passed on to others.

And remember another important lesson. That weeping cherry, forlorn as it hibernates, will surely blossom again. The mystery of its certain resurrection encourages all who believe.

Parable of The Text Message

It happened not too long ago, and it made me feel very old. I was about halfway through choir practice when I noticed one of the youth choir members acting strangely. As we sang, she would occasionally look down at her side, then slide her hand into her pocket for a few seconds, in the meantime continuing to sing and hold her music folder in her other hand.

After a few of these episodes it occurred to me what was going on. She was carrying on a surreptitious conversation by texting—reading and replying to text messages on her cell phone.

There were several teenage boys in the back of the sanctuary where we were practicing, trying to distract her and, hopefully, get her tickled by sending her silly messages. She would furtively glance at her phone and then enter and send a response with the phone in her pocket, out of sight of her choir director and other adults—including her mother. Or so she thought.

Now you’ve got to admit that beats passing notes, hand to hand, the way I used to do when I was her age. At least texting is quiet, and it happens instantly. And, with luck, no one sees the message but the one for whom it’s intended.

Much to the dismay of those wordmongers among us who value correct, written communication, texting is a reality; and it has given rise to a whole new shorthand language. Many in my generation wonder if spelling and proper sentence construction will ever recover. In a time when everything is expected to happen instantly, those skills may be seriously degraded.

We shouldn’t be too surprised at the growing reliance on shorthand and shortspeak, though. Since early in the twentieth century, Americans have become increasingly fond of acronyms and abbreviations. What survivor of the Great Depression didn’t know the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the WPA (Work Projects Administration)? Which World War II GI had to have ASAP, AWOL, or SNAFU defined? And what about today’s CPAs and CEOs?

I found several web pages listing extensive lexicons of abbreviations and acronyms that are currently used for text messaging. Some of them have become familiar from listening to youngsters reading their texts. Some that I recognized were: AITR (Adult In The Room) and its corollary, PLOS (Parents Looking Over Shoulder); BFF (Best Friends Forever) and its cynical variation BFFN (Best Friends For Now); HHOK (Ha Ha, Only Kidding); DKDC (Don’t Know Don’t Care); LOL (Laughing Out Loud—or Lots of Love); TBC (To Be Continued) or TTUL (Talk To You Later); TMI (Too Much Information); ILY or 459 (I Love You); and, one of my favorites, MWAH (The sound of a kiss).

Adults aren’t immune, either. Has anyone out there not said at one time or another, TGIF (Thank Goodness It’s Friday)? And how about this brace of space-savers: HAGD (Have a Great Day); HITAKS (Hang In There And Keep Smiling); UCWAP (Up A Creek Without A Paddle); and TANSTAAFL (There Ain’’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch)?

These three memos by on-line technical support specialists speak to their frustration at dealing with computer dummies: ESO (Equipment Smarter than Operator), PICNIC (Problem In Chair, Not In Computer), and WAEFRTM (When All Else Fails Read The Manual).

This list started me thinking. Suppose our God, Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, decided to save time by sending us text messages? What might show up on our spiritual screens? How about IWALU (I Will Always Love You), ESEMED (Every Second Every Minute Every Day); YAFIYGI (You Asked For It You Got It), FTASB (Faster Than A Speeding Bullet), YGLT (You’re Gonna Love This), QOTD (Quote Of The Day), MYOB (Mind Your Own Business), SHMILY (See How Much I Love You), TM (Trust Me), WYWH (Wish You Were Here), WYCM (Will You Call Me?), and, occasionally, VWD (Very Well Done).

Some things we would never hear from Him: NMP (Not My Problem), YOYO (You’re On Your Own), YSIC (Why Should I Care?), or YYSSW (Yeah Yeah Sure Sure Whatever).

I’ll finish by reminding you of some things 2G2BT (Too Good To Be True). You are OOAK (One Of A Kind), and GLYASDI (God Loves You And So Do I). Or, in another text word, JIMLY (Jesus In Me Loves You).

YW (You’re Welcome). RNN (Reply Not Necessary).

Parable of Mister Cellophane

I didn’t know if I would enjoy myself when we decided to see the