FABLE FOR OUR TIMES
In this world there are thorns. They are not attached to poison ivy, but to beautiful roses - bright, colorful,tempting roses.
For that reason, mankind has had to learn to take extra precautions when he wanted to gather roses. They had a deterrent to ward off dangers. The poison ivy did as well, but it would, take time for that to have any affect. The prick of the the thorn's sharp point gave instant and impressive warning to man that he had wandered into a forbidden area.
The thorns are below and around the flower it is to protect and not a part of it. The thorn is disguise in that it appears to be much the same color as the stem from which it projects., and it has little of the quality of beauty ,very must the same as that of the stem from which it projects. Is lacks the compelling beauty of the rose, but has a stark, stripped and alert stance all its own. Man does well to respect the common thorn guarding the rose.
The thorns multiple and hide themselves in the wild twists and turns of the bush on which they grow and pointing in all directions ward off perils to the bloom they guard. It is their place. It is their duty. Their nourishment is supplied by the same sources which cause the rose to burst into furious glory above. Some people see the arrangement and say : “What a pity so much energy has to be sacrificed to activate those no-good thorns!. It it could all be channeled to the rose! Think how more beautiful it could become!”
It is a wise thing to respect the power and welcome the presence of thorns where there is beauty even at times when danger is not readily seen.. Yes, even in wintry,storm-blasted times when the flower itself is no apparent! The ground and the bush upon which the new rose will bloom in the spring must be held ready, not crushed or torn apart by enemies.
There will always scorners who will say they hate the thorns worse than the unseen enemy. They, all too often, tend to see little good in preparedness... in being ready. Life goes on regardless, they contend.
The rose is our nation .The oft scorned thorns are our armed forces both here and across the seas.
A.L.M. February 10, 2003 [c408wds]
