Ä Area: Religion ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Msg#: 29769 Date: 08-06-96 04:15 From: Bill Forseth Read: Yes Replied: No To: All Mark: Subj: Four Insects ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ THE FOUR INSECTS Once there were four insects: a wasp, a bee, a roach, and a fly. The bee was a deeply religious insect, intent on visiting as many places as it could and leaving little traces of it's religion wherever it had been. Not everyone welcomed such selfish intrusions, for most recognized that the bee was doing it only for the glory it thought it would bring upon itself. When confronted on it's objectionable behavior, the bee would buzz angrily about it's rights and duties, and threaten with it's stinger. But, most recognized this to be a hollow threat, for no bee would sting and bring misfortune upon itself for this, in spite of it's blustering. Bees were known to be loud, but not especially courageous. The wasp was an angry fellow, and would sting others again and again, until they had no will to fight back. Also a religious insect, this one used intimidation to get others to believe what it did, for like the bee, the wasp believed that the more souls it saved, the more God would love it, and the more reward it would have in heaven. Most of the other insects avoided the wasp, and over time it began to believe that they avoided it because it told the truth, and that they were afraid of the truth. In reality, they avoided it because they thought it a sick and strange insect, and one better to not be around. And the more the wasp was ignored, the more sure of itself it became, until it was convinced that it alone was the messenger of truth, and none would enter heaven unless they believed exactly what it believed. The roach likewise was deeply and piously religious. It liked nothing better than to engage others in debate, for it was learned and had read many books. By every trick known to roaches it would confuse and bully and humiliate and insult it's opponent, all the better to spread the Word of God, it told itself. It especially enjoyed taking what others had said, twisting meanings and taking things out of context, so the poor recipient of it's diatribe would have no option but to slink back in dismay. The roach would tell itself that it had won another battle for God in these cases. The fly had no such religious convictions, and most of the time it minded it's own business. Sometimes it wondered about God, and heaven and hell, but it knew one thing above all else: it was a good fly, and if God demanded that it act like the bee or the wasp or the roach in order to curry favor, it wanted nothing to do with that God. So, the fly carried on with it's life, doing fly things and propagating thousands of other little flies, just like it had been programed to do, and when asked if it believed in God it simply said: "I've not seen one, so how can I be honest and say yes?" When the insects died they were summoned to heaven to talk to God. The bee and the wasp and the roach preened themselves and puffed up, for they were sure they were about to be rewarded beyond their wildest dreams. The fly alone was nonchalant, for it was not yet convinced. As they crawled into God's office the fly suddenly approached God Himself, and stuck out it's arm and touched Him, much to the shock and dismay of the others. "Hmmmm", said the fly. "I guess you are real. Now I believe." God smiled at the fly, and said: "I made you to be a fly, and a good fly you were. You alone shall enter my kingdom, I have need of honest flies around here." Then, He looked at the wasp and the bee and the roach and frowned, and they were instantly turned to mush, and collapsed on the floor. The fly saw this with glee, and began to feast on their remains. "Yes", laughed God, "I have much need for good flies." The end. -!- FastEcho v1.45a ! Origin: -=Information Central=- Superior, Wi 715 398 7143 (1:282/76)