And as far as God-related parables go, this is a good one. However, I'm relating it out of memory, having seen it posted on a relative's refrigerator door ...
====
And it came to pass that the rich and powerful of the City looked upon their streets, and said to themselves, 'The poor and homeless are a blight upon our fair city, for they create filth and drain city resources. Let us be rid of them!'
So the rich and powerful designed a plan such as to make the poor and homeless leave the City, and the poor and homeless did, taking with them their stores of precious and little things, the shopping carts and knick-knacks and tattered blankets.
And it came to pass that God saw them preparing for their journey, and recognized that it would be an arduous one, and one that they should not make alone. So He, too, packed up his little things and made ready for the trip.
He took the sunlight, and the fresh air. He took the first snow, and the cooling summer breeze. He took the trees in the park, the songbirds, and the squirrels. He took all of his little and precious things, and left with the others.
Owen, that's a classic. I read it once years ago, but forgot it until now. I'm sure most of us have met at least one person in our lives who needs to take that to heart.
------------------
<<<<
LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.
A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him. "Master, I wish to become your disciple," said the man. "Why?" replied the hermit. The young man thought for a moment. "Because I want to find God."
The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. "Tell me, what did you want most of all when you were under water."
"Air!" answered the man.
"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air."