6th July 2014 – 4th Sunday After Pentecost A

There are many decisions we need to make in regards to buildings, events, service times etc. Every one has an opinion and, of course we are all entitled to do so. But eventually decisions must be made and with so many differing ideas this can be difficult. I keep being drawn back to Aesop’s Fable: “the Man, The Boy, And The Donkey” as it perfectly conveys how it’s just not possible to please all the people. Some people keep trying and trying but you inevitably wind up miserable yourself.

A Man and his son went to market with their Donkey. As they were walking a countryman passed and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey good for but riding?”

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey. Soon they passed a group of men and one said: “See that lazy Boy, he lets his father walk while he rides.”

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. Then they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son march along.”

The Man didn’t know what to do, so he placed his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and passers-by jeered and pointed at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey with you and your large son?”

The Man and Boy got down and didn’t know what to do. They thought and thought, until they cut down a pole, tied the donkey’s feet to it, and raised the pole with the donkey to their shoulders. They went on in the middle of the laughter of everyone who met them until they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, wiggling and moving around, caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge into the water and drowned.

“That will teach you,” said an old man who had followed them: “Please all, and you will please none!”

All opinions have been (and will be) taken into account but eventually decisions must be made and some people may be disappointed. But we cannot please everyone.

Blessings

Reverend Shan