To: Pastor Duane

The following story is adapted from a story as told by Benjamin Franklin who probably adapted it from someone else.

One day there was a man and his boy who were indebted to their master. Without fail they would go out and do as the master pleased as often as they were able. Daily they would be full of joy, for their master was good. In all his goodness the master declared that the man and his boy should travel to the next town over and help spread his good practices. Before they left they were given a gift to assist in their pilgrimage, this gift was a donkey so that it may carry their burden.

The man and his boy quickly set off in the early morning hours with father in the position of honor and respect by riding upon the back of their pack animal. It was not long on the road before a few passersby came to criticize the two, stating that the father was fairly inconsiderate by making his son walk the way to where they were heading. The man not wanting to offend any quickly came down off his gift and allowed his son to ride while he walked alongside.

They went on in this fashion for a short time before anyone else crossed their path. Then they came upon an intersection where there were many people. At this point many of the confused individuals who spent all their days at intersections began to call out to the boy. They would say, “How dare you young boy make your old father walk, you should be whipped,” or “Look at that dreadful character of a boy making his poor father keep pace by foot.” Fully complexed the father and boy looked at each other and the boy leapt from the donkey.

Standing next to the donkey they both thought long and hard and decided the only thing to do would be to both ride the gift from their master. The boy helped his father back on and the man helped his son. With both upon the back of their animal of burden they set forth once again.

It was not long before their next encounter, and once again it was none to kind to them. A man crossed them and was quite rude about it all. He complained of them both riding the donkey, stating that it was unfair to the animal. He made such a ruckus that before long there were a few in the crowd all saying the same thing.

Again, the man and the boy were not sure what to do so they both came down off the donkey and began to walk. They knew it was not much further now to the next town and decided it may be best to simply walk instead of harming their master’s name by using his gift for their needs.

With the destination in sight they thought they had finally done right when, suddenly, the master crossed their path. He looked upon the man and the boy and became quickly disappointed by neither of them using his gift. Calling both of them by his side he told them to turn back to whence they came, for they would not be allowed to enter this new town. When asked why, the master answered, "I gave you a gift to use; it was a gift just for you given by me. You were to use it along your way, instead you cast it aside. This gift that was given should have been used properly; instead you listened to the men on the road and stopped receiving what I had given. Only a man that has and uses my gift may enter my new town. You have but you do not use, therefore you must go back.”

The man and his boy turned back, leaving their donkey at the point in which they last met the master, and walked towards whence they came. To this day it is uncertain that they ever made it back to that town, but it is certain that their gift can still be found exactly where they left it: along the pilgrimage road.



This is entitled “To: Pastor Duane” in recognition of his always using his gifts and not altering because of critics. Pastor, you will be allowed into the new town and your gift will be found in the hearts of those you have TOUCHed and not sitting alongside the road.