The Parable of the Blind Gardener
In a certain village, there was a gardener known for his devotion to his craft. He spent his days tending to his garden, which was his pride and joy. One day, a renowned and charismatic stranger arrived in the village. This stranger spoke with great authority and claimed to have discovered new ways to cultivate the land that would yield greater harvests and more vibrant flowers. His words were smooth and his promises grand.
The gardener, intrigued by the stranger's confident speech, chose to follow his guidance. The stranger instructed him to plant his seeds in a way that went against the long-established practices that had always borne good fruit. “Use these new methods,” the stranger said, “and your garden will surpass all others.”
Despite the advice of the village elder, who reminded the gardener of the wisdom passed down through generations, the gardener was captivated by the stranger’s persuasive charm. He discarded the old methods and followed the stranger’s new, untested approach.
As the seasons changed, the gardener’s garden began to show signs of trouble. The plants withered, the flowers lost their grandeur, and the once-bountiful harvests became sparse. Yet, the gardener, stubborn and proud, refused to believe that the stranger’s teachings could be at fault. He continued to blame the soil, the weather, and even the seeds themselves, but he never questioned the wisdom of the stranger.
One day, the village elder visited the garden and saw its decline. He spoke gently to the gardener, saying, “The methods you follow are not true. I have seen the results of the stranger's teachings elsewhere, and they lead only to barren fields and empty promises. Return to the wisdom that has proven to nurture and sustain the land.”
The gardener, however, was unwilling to admit his mistake. “I cannot change now,” he said. “To do so would be to admit that I have been wrong all this time. I must be patient and wait for the stranger’s methods to show their worth.”
The seasons continued to pass, and while the gardener’s pride kept him from seeing the truth, the garden remained barren and unfruitful.
Blessed are those who heed the wisdom of the tried and true, and who do not let their pride blind them to the truth. For those who follow false teachings, even when the evidence is clear, will find themselves in a land of desolation.
@Bob S @EJ M
