Making Fire

[kokopelle]

There was a man who invented the art of making fire. He took his tools and went to a tribe in the north, where it was very bitterly cold. He taught the people there to make fire. The people were very interested. He showed them the uses to which they could put the fire – they could cook, could keep themselves warm, etc. They were so grateful that they had learned the art of making fire. But before they could express their gratitude to the man, he disappeared. He wasn’t concerned with their recognition or gratitude; he was concerned with their well-being.

The man went to another tribe, where he again began to show them the value of his invention. People were interested there too, a bit too interested for the peace of mind of their leaders, who began to notice that the man was drawing crowds. So they decided to do away with the man. They poisoned him, crucified him, put it any way you like. Afterwards they were afraid that the people might turn against them, but the leaders were very wise. Do you know what they did? The leaders had a portrait of the man made and mounted it in a building constructed just for the portrait. The instruments for making fire were placed in front of the portrait, and the people were taught to revere the portrait and pay reverence to the instruments of fire, which they dutifully did for centuries. The veneration and the worship went on, but there was no fire.

(edit) Modified version of Anthony De Mello story

Comments

[ssuzzi-q.livejournal.com]

deep. I like that story.

[anchasta.livejournal.com]

This is poignant and true. Thanks for sharing...is this your own?

[greensh.livejournal.com]

Anthony De Mello (http://www.gratefulness.org/giftpeople/deMello.htm) gets credit for this one. I should have referenced the source, but it has been about five or six years since I originally used the story in a class I facilitated. My original papers did not properly have the reference listed. Your question prompted me to (re)investigate the source. I did tweak the original a bit to downplay the religious leader angle.