The Orange Parable

I once heard the following parable about two stubborn siblings and an orange.

I believe it might just be relevant to what’s going on in parts of OUR world these days.

You see, these two quarrelled about everything and basically treated each other with utter contempt.

Sound familiar?

One day they came upon the last orange that had fallen from the tree in the backyard.

Each ran for it and at the last moment dove to the ground and grasped the orange with all their might.

“It’s mine”, said one….

“No, I got it first, it’s mine”, said the other.

The more powerful and potentially wiser third sibling came along and saw them fighting over the fallen fruit.

“Stop that, you two”, said he.

“But he/she won’t give me my orange”, said the two, in perfect harmony.

“Okay, listen, I have a solution.”

He ran to the kitchen and brought back a knife.

“Hand over the orange”, he demanded.

The two reluctantly did as the bigger brother decreed.

He then proceeded to cut the orange in half and give one of the halves to each, who walked away sullen, but relatively appeased.

The sister, who had wanted the orange for baking, peeled it and tossed away her half of the delicious meat inside to the birds.

The brother, who was hungry and simply wanted to eat, peeled his half, tossed the peelings in the garbage, and proceeded to eat away his half of the meat.

So, both received 50% of what they wanted…

but, could they have received more?

That may avoid the inevitable end result of getting what you don’t want, or less than you could have.

image credit: cathy.scola via Compfight cc