Parable of the Kingdom on the road to Disney

There once was a kingdom not far from Interstate 95 on the way to Orlando.

It was a beautiful land with many beautiful people who enjoyed many blessings. Everyone loved the king because of their blessings. Then one day a fire appeared in the kingdom and scarred some of the land. No one was hurt but the fire did burn away some of the vegetation. It turned out it was mostly just poison ivy and kudzu but it still irked some of the people because the landscape no longer looked the same.

No one really knew who or what actually started the fire. Though the kingdom remained very beautiful and the people continued to be blessed, an angry spirit came upon them. They began to accuse one another and even the king of starting the fire. And they refused to venture near the spot that had been burned.

Meanwhile, signs of life began to appear in the burnt spot. Hardwoods, evergreens and wildflowers began to break through the earth as did a plush green carpet of new wheat that characterized the rest of the kingdom. But of course no one was there to see it.

Then one day a minivan pulled off the Interstate and happened upon the kingdom. It was filled with just a handful of castaways on their way to Disney World. Seeing the explosion of life in the spot that had burned, they left off their plans and decided to camp right there in the emerging vegetation. Finding themselves blessed in new and remarkable ways, they decided to make the place their home. But of course no one was there to see it.

Years went by and more minivans broke down and more castaways joined the community. The spot that had once been only poison ivy and kudzu was now a thriving community living among the new wheat. But of course no one was there to see it.

Meanwhile the rest of the kingdom continued to discuss the matter of the fire—who had caused it and how it had so ruined the landscape. Until one day, the decision was made to send a group back to the site to access the damage that had been done all those years ago. No one wanted to go. So the entire kingdom was forced to participate in a lottery—every family was given a number and all the numbers were placed in a sugar bowl.

Lo and Behold the number that was drawn was that of the king and his family. Many people believed that this was in fact a sign of his guilt so his family was shoved into a minivan with a week’s supply of food and sent off to assess the damage of the area that had been burned.

The minivan never returned.

(This also appears as "A Parable of Advent" in the December Newsletter.)