The Big Picture

[Guest guest]

Once a friend of mine shared it with me when i was going through some

though times. Today i just happened to see it again.

 

 

Once upon a time in a tropical land, there lived a king who had an optimistic

advisor. This lieutenant was so positive, in fact, that the king was often

annoyed by his practice of constantly finding good in everything.

 

One day while the king and the lieutenant were on a journey through the

jungle, the king was chopping a fresh coconut for breakfast, and his machete

slipped, cutting off his toe. The aching monarch limped to show his

misfortune to the lieutenant, who exclaimed, " That's wonderful! "

 

" What did you say? " asked the king, astonished.

 

" This is a real blessing! "

 

Hearing this response, the king became very angry; this man was obviously

poking fun at his mishap.

 

" Take it from me, " the lieutenant exhorted, " behind this apparent accident

there is some good we do not see. "

 

That was the last straw! Furious, the king picked up the lieutenant and

hurled him into a dry well. Then he set out to find his way back to his

castle.

 

En route, the king was apprehended by a band of headhunters who decided that

he would make an excellent sacrifice for this month's offering to the volcano.

The warriors took him to the tribal priest, who prepared him for the dubious

honor.

 

As the holy man was anointing the reluctant sacrifice, he noticed that the

king was missing a toe. " I'm sorry, " the priest informed the king, " we cannot

use you -- the volcano goddess accepts only full-bodied sacrifices; you are

free to go. "

 

Overjoyed, the king hobbled out of the tribal camp. Suddenly it dawned on him

that the lieutenant had been correct -- there was indeed a hidden blessing

behind this seeming misfortune!

 

As quickly as he could, the king found his way back to the well where he had

left the lieutenant. To the ruler's delight, his companion was still sitting

in the well, whistling happily. (He was indeed a positive thinker!) The king

offered the lieutenant a hand, pulled him out of the well, and apologized

profusely.

 

" I am terribly sorry I threw you in there! " the king confessed, as he dusted

his advisor's shoulders. " I was taken prisoner by some wild natives who were

about to cast me into the volcano. But when they saw my toe was missing, they

let me go. It was actually a miracle, which you foretold -- and I so

thoughtlessly cast you into this pit! Can you ever forgive me? "

 

" No apology necessary, " replied the lieutenant. " It was also a blessing that

you left me in the well. "

 

" Now how are you going to make something positive out of that? " quieried the

king.

 

" Because, " the lieutenant explained, " if I was with you, they would have taken

me for the sacrifice! "

[Guest guest]

Interesting... Concerning the story about the king who cut off his toe

with an axe and was offered to a volcano by headhunters, I heard the

story as the king who cut his fingered and was going to be offered to

God by robbers. In both stories the minister was thrown into a well.

Edith

[Guest guest]

Edith i can't say for a friend send it to me. There ia alwaysa chance of

stories getting distorted as they pass on.

 

On Tue, 17 Aug 1999, EDTipple wrote:

 

> EDTipple <edtipple

>

> Interesting... Concerning the story about the king who cut off his toe

> with an axe and was offered to a volcano by headhunters, I heard the

> story as the king who cut his fingered and was going to be offered to

> God by robbers. In both stories the minister was thrown into a well.

> Edith

>