Sunday, February 18, 2007

Stuck in a Hole with You

DISCLAIMER: It is not my intention to offend anyone, point fingers, or idealize PC practices with the following piece courtesy of the boss. It serves only to provoke thought and bring light to the challenges inherent in development work.

¨A Panamanian falls in a hole, and upon realizing he is stuck, he calls out for help. A missionary comes along and hearing the cries, comes over and calls down--what´s wrong? I´m stuck in this hole--responds the captive. So the missionary throws down a bible and says--the power of the Lord will save you. The Panamanian reads the bible, is delighted, but remembers he is still stuck in the hole. He resumes calling out for help and a USAID worker hears him. What´s wrong?--asks the worker. I´m stuck in this hole--responds the captive. Oh, well here´s $10 to go buy yourself a ladder--offers the worker. The Panamanian is grateful for the bill, but he´s still stuck and shouts out again. A PCV hears him and asks whats wrong. I´m stuck in his hole--responds the captive. So the PCV jumps in the hole. The Panamanian exclaims--Why did you do that?!--Now we are both stuck in the hole!! The PCV says--I know. I´m going to help you figure out how to get us out of this hole.¨

2 Comments:

Blogger L. Barrett said...

i like this jess but i'm thinking, man, if the pc guy can jump in the hole then its seems to me he could just put his hand in from above and lift the chap out. also, if it's not that shallow, then he's gonna break his leg when he jumps in and the panamanian guy'll have to help him out then! so it seems the hole is probably shallow enough for the hand from above or maybe use the bible as a step to get out making sure to brush it off properly when he's free. hope this helps. cheers -lb

12:02 PM  
Blogger sclc31029 said...

This is a take on the famous Hosea parable. The moral of "that parable" parable is.

"It doesn't take experts to help you
out of the hole you find yourself in. What it takes is someone who has been there before and knows the way out."

Also used on the "West Wing" second season the episode called "Noel" about dealing with substance abuse.

11:18 AM  

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