Article Surfing Archive

One Saturday morning, a minister could not think of a sermon to write. He simply could not get inspired. He stared out of the window, at the birds splashing in the bird-bath. His mind was blank, as was the sheet of paper on his writing desk.

He also had to write a sermon under difficult conditions. His wife, out shopping, had left him with his son. Since it was raining, his son was restless and bored. To keep him occupied the minister tore a colorful world map out of a magazine. He then shred the map into pieces. 'If you can put it together, 'he said, scattering the pieces on the floor, 'I'll give you a quarter.'

The preacher thought his son would be occupied with this game for some time. But, in a few moments, his son was at his study door. He handed him the completed map. All the continents were properly put together.

'How did you do it so fast, and so well?'

'I just put the picture of the man on the other side together. I figured if I got the man right, the world would be right, too.'

'Thank you for my sermon. Here.'

'You said a quarter! It's 10 dollars!'

'And the ideas worth a lot more,' responded his father.