The King and the Minister

Many of us face disappointment at one time or another.  I was having such a day and then called my father, and he recounted this story to me.  I found it encouraging….let me know if it does the same for you.

There is a good king that lives in a kingdom far away.  This king has a minister always by his side.  He considers the minister a worthy companion who often guides the king through tough decisions.  Now, this minister is a wise and honest man and unlike others, nevers worries what the king might think.  He is true to himself and his own impression of the world around him.  He believes that everything that happens in life, happens for the best.  (Clearly he is a precursor to Voltaire’s Candide following a similar school of thought.)

One day, the king is gifted a brand new sword.  It is resplendent, full of diamonds and other inlaid jewels.  In admiring its brilliance, the king accidentally cuts off the tip of his finger.  He throws the sword across the room, “Blasted sword….it’s perfectly useless.”

While some around the king cower in silence at his anger, others offer solace, “Let me get the doctor…” someone says while running across the palace.  Only the minister in a self-involved reverie says, “Everything that happens, happens for the best.”

The king, hearing these words, stands up, “How dare you….how dare you say that me?  How can you say that my finger being cut off ‘happened for the best?'”

“Guards….take this man away from my sight.”

The minister, caught unawares, is taken by the guards and thrown in jail.  A few days pass by with no word from the king.  The minister, a kind and patient man, loses no sleep.

A week later, the king goes out for a hunt, bandages still surrounding his cut finger.  While out searching for a Bengal Tiger, the king loses his hunting party.  The thick trees and plants look similar all around him until he reaches a clearning.  There taking a step into the opening, a roughly sewn net suddenly encircles him and he is trapped.

“Let me go!  I am king of this land.”

His shouts come to a screeching halt as he looks around the freshly painted faces of ancient tribespeople.

They understand none of his words and simply carry him to their village.  There the families begin making preparations.  A feast of wild animals, local fruits and vegetables are all being arranged.  The king smelling the cooked foods and hearing the joyous laughter all around him welcomes whatever banquet they are planning.

Soon, a delivery of wild juices and other delicious foods are brought in for him to enjoy.  Satiated and content, he waits in his hut for their proper invitation to come out.  Some thirty minutes later, a large group of the head tribesman enter his space and begin to tie him down.

“I dont understand. What is happening?”

They carry the king out and lay him down on a long, smooth slab with a sharp set of spears and other cutting tools next to it.  He realizes that he is the sacrifice for tonight’s celebration!  At that point, the king can do nothing but scream out loud.

“I can offer you gold and riches….please.  Please don’t do this.”

His screams mean nothing to them and suddenly, the king is surrounded by all of the head tribesman.  As they pick up spears, he is sure that they will begin the gruesome process.   They begin to dance around him and pave the wave for one other person….the priest…to make the final preparations.  The priest smiles at the king and begins his chants.  He is eager and anxious to offer a sacrifice of a great king to his gods.

The entire tribe is now singing and dancing wildly, excited at the thought of their abundance tonight.  The priest begins his methodical blessing of each part of the king’s body.

“Halt…” he says to his fellow tribesman, “look at this man’s finger….This man’s finger has been cut off.  We cannot give our gods a sacrifice of an imperfect human!  What will they think of us?  Release him – he is a bad omen to our village.  Release him immediately!”

And with that….they set him free and the king runs through the forest, anxious for his journey back home.

Upon reaching the kingdom, despite the fanfare all around him, the king immediately issues the order to free the minister and requests his presence.

There, the king begs his forgiveness, “I should not have doubted you.  My cut finger, though I was upset about it, served the very purpose of saving my life.  I now understand your belief that all that happens, happens for the best and I shall never forget that.”