Emphasis Preaching Journal

There's an old campfire story about an Indian chief. He was a very wise and courageous leader and had been chief for a very long time. Every night the chief would stand by the tribal campfire and anyone who had any problems, arguments, or even questions about life, could bring them to the chief at that time. Anyone, any question. In this tribe there were a couple of young braves who wanted to oust the old chief. One brave says to the other, "I will catch a small bird. A small bird I can hold in my hands so no one can see it. Then at the campfire, I will rise with the bird in my hands, and I will tell the chief I have a bird in my hands. And my question will be, 'Is the bird alive or dead?' Then if he answers, 'Alive,' I will squeeze the bird and then show it to be dead. And if he says, 'Dead,' I have but to open my hands and the bird will fly free. The chief will look foolish in the eyes of all the tribe." Evening came and it was time for the chief to stand and ask if anyone had any problems to resolve, or even any questions at all. And the ambitious young brave rose with his hand closed and said, "Oh, great chief, I have a riddle. I have in my hand a small bird. My question for you is this: Is the bird dead or alive?" Instantly the chief knew that this was a trap. He looked gravely upon the young brave for a long moment. And then the wise old chief said: "The bird may be alive, but no creature on the earth can be sure of living past the next second. You ask if the bird the Great Spirit has given us and that you hold in your hand is alive or dead ... That depends on you."
-- Mosley