A Parable About Allies

June 23, 2019

A person falls into a deep, dark, scary hole.

They cry for help for a long, long time.

A stranger comes along, hears the cries and says,

You got into this mess by yourself in the first place. Why don’t you get yourself out?

They walk off.

Then a neighbor comes by, hears the cries and says,

Oh, you poor dear; I’ll go and see if I can find a ladder.

But the ladder needs some assembly and neither of you have the proper tools. Soon the neighbor loses interest,

I have done all that I can. The rest is up to you.

A politician walks by and says,

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Then the family appears at the edge of the hole,

We’ve bailed you out of so many holes that we can’t do it any more. You must save yourself. Our advisors call it “tough love.”

Finally, a friend comes by, and much to everyone’s surprise, jumps right into the hole with you.

You say,

Brah! WTF? Now we’re both stuck down here.

And the friend says,

That is true, but I’ve been here before myself, so I can help you find your way out. Until then, you won’t be left alone in the dark.