Parable

There was once a young man who painted a picture. It was a beautiful picture, and was, in fact, Art. People recognized it as Art. The young man painted again, and again produced a beautiful picture that people loved and recognized as Art. The young man became so good at painting that he opened up a shop to display his art, so that all could see it and comment on it. One young man who seemed helpful and friendly was asked to help at the shop, to stretch canvas and prepare it for paint, and general chores around the shop so that the Artist could focus on painting.

Things went on this way for a while. A lot of people visited the shop to admire the paintings. Some came to discuss Art in general. Over time the shop became an end in itself, and not so much a place for the Artist to visit, other than occasionally. He would drop off a painting and some would notice, others would not, absorbed by their own conversations.

Over time the shop helper began to feel that being in charge of the shop was more important than assisting the Artist. He and the Artist began to quarrel.

The people who visited the shop didn't notice anything until one day they arrived to find the shop locked. Nearby was a sign written by the Artist that read I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF MY OWN SHOP! On the door of the shop was a sign written by the shop helper saying UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!


I'm sorry, shop helper. You did a good job running the shop, but what attracted me to the shop was the Art, not the shop itself. The Art is the reason for the shop; the shop is not the reason for the Art.