The Parable of the Contraband Sweets

One day while teaching, Josh was asked, ”Teacher, is it hypocrisy or necessity, or both, that fuels the our nuclear policy?”

Josh spoke thus:

A premier camp monitor had called all of the children staying in the camp to a bonfire meeting.  When all the children had gathered and had been entertained by welcoming songs and skits, the premier camp monitor stood before the group, back to the fire, silhouetted against the flames.

“As you all know,” the premier camp monitor said, “We try to promote a healthy lifestyle at this camp.  One of the reasons your parents sent you to this camp was that your parents wanted you to learn an appreciation for the simple life surrounded by nature.”

The gathered children shuffled but didn’t speak.

“I want you to know that I recognize that you do not share your parents’ desire for you to learn an appreciation for the simple life surrounded by nature,” the premier camp monitor said, “And frankly, I don’t think two weeks in the country will change your lives to the degree your parents seem to believe it will.”

The gathered children shuffled more but didn’t speak.

“But we are committed to at least introducing you to a healthier life surrounded by nature,” the premier camp monitor said, “And in that spirit, as you know, we have banned sweets in the camp.”

The children’s shuffling became nervous.

“And also in that spirit, we are now searching your bags and trunks for sweets you may have smuggled into the camp.

The children’s shuffling transformed into preparations to run to the children’s cabins.

“Don’t run to your cabins,” the premier camp monitor said, “You will be too late.  The counselors by now are already almost through searching your cabins.  But don’t worry, we won’t take anything that isn’t contraband.  Your possessions are safe.  If they’re not sweets.  In fact, go ahead back now, if you like.  I see that the counselors are through searching.”

The children rushed to their cabins to inspect their bags and trunks.  The children found that all of their smuggled sweets were gone.  Nothing else had been taken.  There were expressions of relief, and there were expressions of anger, and there were expressions of loss.  But since the children knew their sweets were contraband, there was at last resignation.  

The children went to the meal hall when instructed and were given a meal that was surprisingly tasty, sweet and satisfying.  There was a general consensus that if this was how the food would be, healthy might not be so bad after all.

That evening, in the premier camp monitor’s cabin, there was a special meal for the camp monitors.  The meal consisted of confiscated sweets.

“Enjoy these sweets,” the premier camp monitor said to the other camp monitors, “These are all there are until the next group comes in two weeks’ time.”   

The camp monitors feasted.  Sated, they returned to their cabins and dreamed of the sweets they would have in two weeks’ time.