Three Wise Men

‘Three Learned Men’ once had an argument about who represented the ‘One True Faith.’ One was a Christian, one was a Muslim and one was an Atheist. They were standing under a willow next to the river and each argued his case for his faith and his God. The Christian said; ‘I represent love and brotherhood, which is what God most desires.’ ‘I represent the letter of the Law and the strictest of discipline, which is what He most desires,’ said the Muslim. ‘I represent both the Law and Humanity in equal measure, which is the most desirable thing to aspire to,’ maintained the Atheist in his turn, and still the argument between the three men raged on endlessly until a young boy walked by on his way to fish down at the river. He was whistling a happy tune to himself as he strolled on down the path. One of the men had an idea, ‘Let us ask this young boy to judge our causes, from the mouth of babes often comes the truth,’ said he. The others quickly agreed so they asked the young boy, ‘Young man, which is the greatest faith of all?’ The boy pointed up at the tree where a little bird was whistling happily to himself and the whole wide world. ‘That little bird represents the true message of God; he is in harmony and peace with all, and he spreads his message of love to all equally, and all hears and accepts his message of hope from above with joy in their hearts and remembers him fondly. He is the greatest ambassador of nature and life and all that is good.’ The three men stopped their debate, and each returned home, older but wiser.