Opening Passages from Vernon Howard's Books and Booklets:
"There was once a community of desert dwellers who were all afflicted by a
painful sickness. Because the sickness was so severe, it made them
quarrelsome and irritable. In an attempt to forget the pain, they invented
a wide variety of distractions, including alcohol and shallow amusements.
But their major escape from pain was to engage in a gigantic stage
performance, in which they flattered and deceived each other. This was done
by wearing masks which gave the appearance of goodness and sincerity, but
behind the masks, they were quite vicious in exploiting each other. Men who
appeared kindly quite easily fooled women who appeared glamorous; women who
appeared devoted had no problem in fooling men who appeared wise.
The performance, being pain and strain in itself, only doubled the sickness
of the people, but it was the only thing they knew to do.
One day a physician appeared with a wonderful message. Holding up a bottle
containing a unique kind of liquid, he addressed the sufferers: _'Here is
the sure cure for your illness. There is plenty for all who really want it.
But you must willingly receive and carry out my instructions.'_
The physician then went into detail, saying, _'You must honestly see how
dreadfully sick you really are. Then, you must give up your stage
performances, for they prevent recovery. Also, you must set aside all your
other old and useless medicines. There is only one cure for your illness,
which I now give to you. Treasure it above all else, and apply it
individually, for in no other way can you become whole. Apply a drop of
this medicine over your heart every day. Let nothing distract you from
faithful application. Then, you will know what it means to be healthy and
happy human beings.'_
Leaving the bottle with them, the physician went away. Immediately, the men
fell into childish quarrels. One of them demanded that they organize the
physician's teachings, with himself as their leader. Another wanted to meet
once a week to praise the physician, but another angrily insisted upon
twice a week. Also, they quarreled violently over the meaning of the
physician's instructions, each insisting that he alone knew the true
interpretation. They paused in their hostility toward each other only long
enough to proclaim publicly how much they loved each other.
And so, with all the frantic activities, no one remembered to apply the
liquid. Everyone remained just as sick as he was before.
However, in time, two or three individuals felt themselves strangely
affected by the words of the physician. They began to see them in a new
way. Though sick themselves, they detected the ring of truth in what they
had heard. And so, unlike the others, they applied the medicine over their
hearts and became well."
Your Wonderful Power for Perfect Living
Pathways to Perfect Living, Chap. 1, p. 1 (Original version)
Chap. 1, p. 14 (Current version)