A Man Fell Into A Pit, And . . .

Warren E. Berkley 

(A number of years ago I found this story and have adapted it and used it often. As far as I’m able to tell, the original story was crafted by Kenneth D. Filkins in his work, The Wittenburgh Door. I’ve adapted it.)

A man fell into a pit, and couldn’t get himself out . . .

A subjective person came along, looked down to the man and said: “I feel for you down there.”

An objective person came along and said, “It’s logical that someone would fall down there.”

A Christian Scientist came along and said, “You only think that you are in a pit.”

A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into pits.”

A mathematician calculated the dimensions of the pit.

A news reporter wanted the exclusive story about the man falling into the pit.

A realist said, “Yes, that’s a pit.”

A geologist told him he should study the rock strata in the pit.

An evolutionist said, “You are a rejected mutant destined to be removed from the evolutionary cycle.” In other words, “you are going to die in that pit, so that you cannot produce any ‘pit-falling offspring’.”

The county inspector asked if the man had a permit to dig a pit.

A professor gave him a lecture on “The Elementary Principles of the Pit.”

An evasive person came along and avoided the subject of the pit altogether.

A self-pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen the pit I fell into.”

A charismatic said, “Just confess that you’re not in the pit.”

An optimist said, “Things could be worse.”

A pessimist said, “Things will get worse.”

Jesus, seeing the man in the pit, said to him: Take my hand, trust me and do what I say, and I’ll get you out of that pit.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit. Out of the miry clay. And set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps,” (Psa. 40:1,2).