The Parable of the Two Boxes

Parable of the Two Boxes

This is a story of two boxes.

In so many ways, the boxes were just alike.

They were both made of special wood, sturdy and stable. They could both be picked up and handled with care and respect.

Both were made by a master craftsman.

Both were created with beauty and function.

There was only one difference between the boxes. One was so easy to open. Its hinged top folded back and left the box open to the world.

The other box was stuck shut. It was so hard to open. Most people didn’t even try after the first attempt. When someone tried to open the box to use it for some purpose or to put something in it, it was a struggle. They just set the box aside and tried the other one.

That box flew open. It was ready to receive a new thing, or engage in a new purpose.

The stuck box was set aside and forgotten.

The open box had many new adventures.

It held many different things. Each thing that was placed inside was special in its own way. Some stained the box. Some made scratches. No matter what changes were made, inside or out, the box seemed to grow more beautiful. Its richness deepened. Its utility increased.

Over the years, the well-used box became well-loved. It served well and paid no attention to the scratches, dents or stains that were happening along the way. Its openness and utility made its value unmeasurable.

Meanwhile the stuck box sat on the shelf, doing the same thing over and over, never opening, never staining, never being scratched. It absorbed nothing and showed no signs of adventures.

One day the house changed hands. Someone new was going to live there. As the old owners moved on, they went through their possessions. They came upon the stuck box. It went into the pile of things that had little value, despite its original beauty, it served little purpose and had no functional value.

When they found the open box, they clutched it close. All the experiences and adventures and functions it had had resulted in stains and dents and scratches. Memories came flooding back and warmed their hearts.

Because it was present in so many positive memories and carried the scars of so many helpful experiences, it had a special place in their heart. It went into the packing of many valued things. As was a part of its personality, it made the new journey holding many other precious things safely inside.

Just because the boxes had been made by the same master craftsman and were created in the same size, shape and substance, they contributed different things. Their value came from their contribution through functionality and openness.

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Karenmac1999@hotmail.com

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