Just Like Them

I often tell those that are in our addiction program that they can have as much as they want or as little as they are satisfied with. The same is true for everyone but I'm afraid we are satisfied too many times with the little more so than the much. Could it be because the much seems at the moment too hard to obtain? Maybe someone has told you that you can't do a certain thing. They may even say that they have known many who have tried but they all failed and the same will be true for you. Don't you just love talking with those great encouragers? Nay Sayers are what I call them, they are always the ones who do little and want everyone to be just like them. I read a story not long ago; the story takes place back in the 1920's.  There was a well known wealthy industrialist who purchased a zoo. It wasn’t a public zoo or even a private zoo; it was his personal zoo on his estate for his pleasure. One day, he heard about a rare and beautiful type of gazelle from Africa that wasn’t showcased in any zoo; he had to have it. He planned an expedition to Africa for the sole purpose of bringing home this rare Gazelle. When they landed they made contact with the natives to learn about this Gazelle and it’s where a bout’s. Over and over he was told, “You’ll never catch one. They’re too fast and too strong. You can shoot and kill them from a distance but you’ll never get close enough to take one alive.” He told a reporter who was on the safari with him, “Don’t listen to them; I’ll get as many of them as I want! And it won’t be a problem.” He first located a herd, he poured sweet feed on the ground in an open area in the middle of the night and left. The next night, he scattered the feed again. For two weeks, he spread the feed, night after night. The Gazelle’s came and ate every night. On the first night of the third week, he scattered the feed and put an eight foot post into the ground twenty feet away. The night after, he scattered the feed and put another post into the ground twenty feet in the opposite direction. Every night, he added a post. Then he started putting boards between the posts while scattering the feed. Six weeks went by and he continued adding posts and boards until he had a corral built around the feed. Every night the Gazelle’s found the gaps between the posts until finally he watched the entire herd squeeze through the final gap. He moved in behind them and nailed the last board into place. The Gazelle’s were trapped inside the corral. He chose the Gazelle’s he wanted to take to his zoo and let the others go. When he was asked how he knew how to catch the Gazelle’s he said “I treat animals the same way I treat people: I give them what they want. I give them food and shelter. In exchange, they give me their beauty and their freedom.” Stop and think are you trading your beauty and freedom to help someone else fulfill their dreams?

Is that not what Adam and Eve did? Traded their freedom for what, more knowledge? King David lowered his standards for one costly night with beautiful Bathsheba. Judas sold himself for 30 pieces of silver. Be careful for what you think you may want?