CHOOSING A FUTURE
COMMENTARY ARCHIVES, 9 Feb 2010
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn’t really know what he wanted to do, and he didn’t seem too concerned about it. One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy’s room and placed on his study table four objects. A bible, a silver dollar, a bottle of whisky and a playboy magazine.
"I’ll just hide behind the door", the old preacher said to himself. "When he comes home from school this afternoon, I’ll see which object he picks up. If it’s the bible, he’s going to be a preacher like me and what a blessing that would be! If he picks up the dollar, he’s going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too. But if he picks up the bottle, he’s going to be a no good drunkard, and Lord, what a shame that would be. And worst of all, if he picks up that magazine, he’s going to be a skirt chasing bum."
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son’s foot steps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room. The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them. Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big sip while he admired this month’s centerfold.
"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered. "He’s going to run for Congress!"
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 9 Feb 2010.
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