A Parable

The Heart

“Keep it with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

(Proverbs 4:23)

Once there was a Heart, a tender one, very precious, a feast for the eyes, warm blooded, and sensitive toward many things. But the Heart had a problem. For by reason of its pedigree it had a limp in its right leg. It was its grandfather Jacob who fought an angel that beat him upon his thigh. Ever since Jacob was walking with a limp and so do all his descendants till this day (Genesis 32:24-30).

The Heart had a lot of friends. Many stayed with it for a long time. Unfortunately none of them ever showed true love or real affections to it. The Heart broke with its friends and as an result they beat it upon its back and slapped it in the face. It had to defend itself and therefore stroke back many times. Then it left its friends and walked alone, getting heavier and heavier. The problem with the limp grew worse and it was hard to walk straight. After a while carrying such a burden, two people began to accompany the Heart. One was called Disappointment, the other one Discouragement. Throughout the years they became close friends and they were following the Heart almost everywhere. Through its new friends, the Heart was introduced to a person named Resentment and another one called Bitterness; after some time, Hardness joined in. Since the weight was steadily growing heavier, from time to time Anger helped to gain some relief. He was a good helper but it didn’t last long. A guy called Drug, who never came without his girlfriend Confusion, offered some help, too. Therefore the Heart got very busy with all its friends that she hardly ever noticed the Gentleman who came walking into its direction. The Heart couldn’t hear him. “What is he saying?” Many times he came and knocked at its door but Disappointment and Discouragement were chatting too loud and Bitterness closed the curtains so that nobody would look inside.

After some time the Heart became weary and drained. It was looking at its life, looking at its friends and its company, as suddenly someone knocked at its door. “Who is it?” It was Mr Guilt. “Oh, he wasn’t invited!” Drug said, “I know him.” Hardness and Anger, “We too! Once he has arrived you won’t get rid of him!” He was a very strange person. Many times he didn’t say much. At other times he wouldn’t stop talking and seemed to be everywhere. He sat on the bed, on the couch, on a chair, or in the corner of the room, staring with his beady eyes at the Heart.

One day, in all of the Heart’s despair, a postman dropped a letter. The sender’s name was Self-righteousness, offering a book called ‘The Wisdom of the World’ (James 3:15 -18). The Heart got excited. A glimpse of hope drove through its inner chambers and it said to itself, “I need this book!” There was also another book in the letterbox. It was the one the Gentleman had left. The Heart had no time to think about it. It needed the book Self-righteousness had offered. There was only one problem – no money. So it decided to sell the book of the Gentleman and bought The Wisdom of the World instead. Mr Guilt was silenced for a moment while the rest of the company applauded to its decision. Disappointment and Discouragement left the room and False-Hope entered into the Heart’s house and they began to read the book together. “Oh what a delight!” they said. Five minutes later the phone rang. It was Pride who invited himself to come over with his friends.

Now the Heart was glad. Everything seemed to be right. There was no annoyance by Disappointment and Discouragement anymore. There was no reason to get angry, False-Hope was a great friend, and The Wisdom of the World became its daily guidance and joy. From time to time the Gentleman showed up and had a look again. But the Heart was too busy and the company with Pride and False-Hope was much more promising that it didn’t open. Whenever the Heart read the book, Mr Guilt was silent. For that reason it stayed at home and read the book day and night. The Heart ceased from walking and began to live only within itself. It began to built up walls, towers, and many different fortifications and defence systems; for The Wisdom of the World had told it so. Now the Heart looked like a huge fortress. Nobody could enter in, neither would it come out. False-Hope, Pride, and another man by the name of Self-indulgence had done a great work.

One night the Heart woke up. There was a noise coming from outside. It looked through the lattice in front of the window and saw the Gentleman coming over the hills. He wasn’t alone. There were many people with him. All were wearing white robes, carrying hammers and chisels in their hands. “What does that mean?” it thought. As they came nearer it could read the words that were written on some of the tools: The Word of God, and Judgement (Hebrews 4:12-13). The Heart was afraid. It cried out for False-Hope but she had left before the Heart even noticed the Gentleman’s coming. Hastily it flickered through The Wisdom of the World but couldn’t find any answer. The Gentleman and his company tore down the walls. They split the bricks into pieces without any effort. The chisels went through its stones like a hot knife through butter. As they drew closer, the Heart discovered another word on their tools: Circumstances.

After a few hours the whole fortress was destroyed; no wall, no room, or secret chamber was left. The Gentleman and his companions had torn down the entire building.

In its former centre, on a small heap, was lying a small object, like a flint. It had many scratches and was very filthy. The stony thing was beating and breathing very heavily. The Gentleman took the Heart: in his hand he carried it to a hill by the sea. He laid it upon the ground and pulled a seed, like a mustard seed, out of his pocket (Luke 13:18-19; 1Peter 1:23-25; John 3:3-6; 1Peter 1:3; John 12:24-26). The Heart asked, “What are you doing? What happens to me? What is behind the hill? Is the sun rising?” “No!” said the Gentleman. “It’s the morning star! (2Peter 1:19) That means in a few moments the sun will rise.” Then he squeezed the mustard seed into one of the Heart’s cracks. The Heart gasped, “What is this?” “This is the Word of God,” the Gentleman replied. “And now?” said the Heart frightened. “You’re going to die!” answered the Gentleman. “Oh no!” rebelled the Heart. “Why do I have to die?” “Once there was a snake,” said the Gentleman, telling the Heart a parable. “But the snake was in prison. On the day she was released, the snake decided to become a better person and went therefore to school. As the years passed by, the snake managed to master all grades and finished school as one of the best pupils. Her next step seemed to be clear – college; and since the snake improved and developed many skills, even her next step to go to university, was already definite, too. At university she signed up for many courses, improved again, wrote essays and articles, and published them with great success. Her friends and colleagues, the lecturers, and professors admired her and applauded with great appreciation to everything she did. The snake was the star at the graduation party and after her speech the people applauded: with standing ovations was she now celebrated. As she came down the stage, a crowd was gathered to congratulate. But as one of her admirers stepped on her tail while she was passing by, she turned and bit him in his calf and he died on the spot. Someone called the police, they took her, dragged her to court and afterwards again to prison; for a snake is a snake and will always stay a snake.”

The Heart was struck by the words of the parable. It was exactly what it was trying to do all those years. “I feel wretched,” it said and gave up the ghost.

After three days the sun rose slowly behind the horizon. Tender rays shone forth from behind the hill and skimmed the land till they touched the mustard seed in the Heart’s body. A rain-shower watered it, a gentle breeze dried it, and slowly the seed began to grow. The pieces of its dirty crust fell off and as the sun rose stronger the Heart’s whole being was flooded with light. Then the Heart opened its eyes, “I live!” The seed within continued to grow and it asked, “What is this Light and where does it come from?” “It’s the Sun of righteousness and it has always been here.” (Malachi 4:2) The Sun rises only behind this hill,” he pointed out. “What is the name of the hill?” “Golgotha,” answered the Gentleman (Matthew 27: 33-35). “The Sun rises only behind this hill and only to those who fear God.” Then the Heart asked, “What do I have to do?” “Nothing!” he replied. Now the Sun rose very quickly and filled the whole landscape with Light. The seed grew and the wings of the Sun brought healing to its wounds. All afflictions and disappointments, scars of broken relationships began to leave. The old and dirty coat in which it was wrapped all those years, the crust and the many masks it wore to defend and protect itself, were taken off. The Light reached the inner chambers of its being and pure love was poured into it. Then it turned to its right and noticed somebody assisting. “Who are you?” “My name is Grace and I help to make your healing possible,” she said (Ephesians 3:8-9). Another person appeared and new eyes were given to the Heart. “What does that mean?” it asked. “These eyes are called Hope. They will help you to see from God’s perspective – with the eyes of the Spirit.” “Where are all my friends?” “They’re dead!” said the Gentleman. “They died with you.”

The Heart was now silent for a moment. Then it looked into the Sun and was filled with peace. Now it understood everything the Gentleman had said and began to cry for a long time. Then he wiped away its tears and said, “I love you,” and disappeared.