Crossing the Gorge on a Balance Beam

This modern parable should be fairly self-explanatory.

Once, the King of Peace invited all the people of the realm to his son's wedding, but an earthquake had opened a gorge in the road outside the palace. So, his son took a balance beam from the palace gym and lay it across the gorge so the people could cross over. Unfortunately, most of the people got confused and took Broadway Street instead of Straight Lane and ended up in Gehenna instead of at the palace.

Carrack, however, hated crowds, so at the intersection, he followed the few who took the right turn down Straight Lane. When they reach the balance beam over the gorge, the first hopped up and started skipping across. Carrack called after them, "Stop that, don't you know it's rude to skip on the way to the palace?"

The first turned back. "Oh no, in fact, my mother taught me you must skip." She turned and continued skipping across the balance beam.

A second person hopped up on the balance beam. She tucked one leg up like a flamingo and, while rubbing her belly, began to hop across the balance beam.

"You idiot!" cried Carrack, "You'll fall like that!"

She turned around. "Oh, no, my priest told me I would surely fall if I did not." She turned and continued hopping across the balance beam.

A third person approached the balance beam wearing a prayer shawl and skull cap. Carrack snorted. "Oh I know you, you're one of those rabbin, who believe the King put that pile of sticks there so you could build your own bridge across the gorge."

The rabbin went over to the sticks and selected one. "Most rabbin believe that, but I believe the king provided them so we would see the need for the balance beam and then use the sticks to help maintain our balance when crossing it."

"You don't need those stupid sticks anymore! The king did away with them when his son provided the balance beam."

The rabbin headed for the balance beam. "If I keep this stick, what's it to you, as long as I cross the beam." He then started across the balance beam, stick in hand.

A fourth person approached the beam, hesitated, then got down on his hands and knees and began to crawl after the rabbin.

"Fraidy cat!" Carrack jeered. "Get up and walk like a man!"

"Who are you to judge me?" the crawling man shouted. "You don't even have the courage to get up on the beam, you just stand in the lane criticizing everyone else's methods of crossing! Maybe I'd have more confidence if I didn't have to listen to you gripe. My companions turned back because of you, Carrack!"

"Yeah," called the rabbin, "Did it never occur to you that maybe the King doesn't care how we cross the beam, as long as we do? Why do you stand there criticizing those of us who knew the way to the palace when thousands are rushing off to Gehenna instead and by the time they realize their mistake, the palace gates will be locked and they will miss the wedding? So either go tell them they're going the wrong way or shut up and cross the beam!"