Write a Parable

Maggie spoke to them in parables, saying, “Mr. Coleman had three employees. One was the administrator, one was the salesman, and one was the advertising executive. His wife, however, fell gravely ill, and he stopped working for six months in order to nurse her back to health. While he was away, he assigned the administrator, the salesman, and the advertising executive specific duties: the administrator he put in charge of hiring, the salesman he put in charge of product development, and the advertising executive he put in charge of the accounts and spending. When Mr. Coleman returned, his business was ruined (although his wife had returned to health). He demanded an account from each person. The administrator said that she had not hired anybody because there had been no demonstrated need. The salesman said that he had not created any products because there was no financial support. The advertising executive, however, insisted that the brand was strong – he had spent all the money on a smart campaign that would draw young customers. Mr. Coleman said that he had obviously been wrong, that there was nothing to advertise, and therefore nothing to buy. He fired all three of the employees, since there was no more money.”

Her friends asked her what it all meant, for they were confused. She answered them, “Like, so, I say to you, the administrator is God, the salesman is the priest, the advertising executive is the Pope, and Mr. Coleman is a human being. Sometimes, the Pope makes keeping things together difficult even for God.”