CoffeeSwirls

Poverty Among Riches

I don't know who wrote this story or where I heard it, but it came to mind today.

Everywhere the boy went, he heard others talking about the opportunities of the New World and he longed to go there with all of his heart, for he was just a poor orphan in this region. He sold all that he had and, with a little charity, was able to obtain a ticket for a ship set to leave in a month.

For all of that time, he prepared for the journey. He had only the clothes on his back and the sweat of his brow, but he labored the whole month to purchase what he would need on the trip. He walked up the gangplank of the ship with a sack full of bread and cheese, and of course the prized ticket, and found an out-of-the-way place in the cargo hold, the lodgings equal to the price of his ticket.

Day after day, the boy sat in the dark hold, longing for the wonders of the New World and carefully rationing out his bread and cheese. Weeks passed, and the lonliness was overcome by his desire for his new life there. His bread and cheese became moldy, but the hunger never left. He would search for the freshest food in his sack twice a day for a few mouthfuls to sustain him. The hunger pains intensified.

Eventually, a deckhand came to the hold to check on the cargo and saw him sitting there, dirty, hungry, lonely and hopeful. The boy presented his ticket stub and inquired how soon they would arrive. He was shaken when told it would be another few weeks at the most. In desperation, he asked the sailor if he could work as a galley boy to cover his eating expenses for the remainder of the trip.

The kind-hearted sailor looked him in the eye and said warmly, "There is only one class of ticket sold on this cruise. For the last few weeks, all of the needs of the other passengers have been met. They have clean clothes, wonderful food, entertainment straight from the New World and a rich fellowship based on the desire for the New World that they all share. Your ticket is no different than theirs. You have just chosen to stay in the cargo hold. There's an empty cabin upstairs with your name on it. Go and change clothes! The buffet table is right next to your cabin."

Where are you staying on your journey? Are you keeping yourself isolated in your shame or are you enjoying the luxuries of the trip?