The Banquet
a parable by Debi Allen
A banquet was set in a field. There was nothing else. The
banquet and the field were all. The glow from the banquet
shone out, reflected against the mist, and reflected
back on itself. One hundred and ninety-two tables were
set, give or take a few. People came to the banquet and
sat at the tables.
Some of the tables had many
people. Others had fewer and were less crowded.
Food appeared, and people began to eat. Some of the
tables had an abundance of food, scrumptious dishes
laid out on beautiful china. The silverware too was
spotless and set according to established custom. At many
of these tables were roasted pigs. Each mouth stuffed with
a tempting red apple, juicy fowls and baskets of fresh
fruits, pomegranates, grapes, kiwi, strawberries and oranges.
There were melons and nuts and spices of all
sorts. Potatoes and breads, piles of rice, and many
wonderful desserts filled these tables beyond
dreaming. There were sauces, too, butters and creams and
exotic, multihued gravies that tempted the eye and nose.
The people at these tables ate greedily. Some looked
to adjacent tables to see what others had, but most
looked only at their own table, comparing their food with
that of their neighbor. Other tables had less food, some
only a few crumbs of bread and questionable water. At
these tables, though, there was often one person who had
much more than the rest. This person guarded his food
greedily and tried to hide it under his hands while
looking all around to gage the reaction of the others.
As the people ate, some were so preoccupied with their
meal that they did not notice that the banquet was not
the same for everyone. Others noticed. The people at the
barest tables looked to the others and wanted what they
had. They asked themselves, Why is it that some have so
much while we have so little? Surely this was not intended.
Some people at the food-laden tables,
those
who lifted their heads, saw the scarcity at some of the
other tables. They said. It is true that we have much
and that the food is not divided evenly, but we did not
do this. We were simply invited to this banquet. We sat down
and ate what was put before us. We are not responsible.
Others at the same tables added, And
even
if we wanted to share our food, how could we? We are not
the servers. If we get up we may loose our seats. Or our
neighbor may take the food that was given us. Besides,
there are some at this table who have more than I. If
food is to be shared, it is they who should share.
But some said, "This is not right.The food should
be shared
more equally." Yet they ate on, a sprinkle of guilt dulling
the flavor of their food. A few who saw the inequality
threw a few rolls and potatoes to the barest tables.
Others ate too much, began to get fat and feel
unwell, but still they would not share their portions.
Many people at the banquet began to wonder why they had
been seated where they had. Who determined where they
sat? Was it accidental? Had they sat at their table simply
by chance? Or was their seating arrangement based on
worth? Were some more deserving than others? Perhaps some
had known of the banquet in advance, and had worked hard
to get the seat they had been given.
Where was the
host? Surely there had to be one. Perhaps he favored some
guests more than others. Several thought that the host
must have a plan unknown to them. Others maintained they
knew the host, knew his plan, and tried to convince
others of their ideas. Some said the host sat at their
table, and this was stated among the most bountiful and
simplest tables.
As hunger and discord increased at some tables, a few
left their chairs quietly and crawled under those tables
where food had been carelessly dropped. This caused
diverse reactions by the people seated there. Some
purposefully dropped food under the table. Others were
incensed and angry, saying to the others, "Don't feed
these people. They do not belong here. It will only make
others come, and then how will we who are seated here
have enough?"
At the barest tables there too was bickering.Some
thought they should fight for their equal share, while
others said that an appeal to the others sensibilities
and conscience was the best road. Still others thought
that the host would eventually reward them for their
temperance and patience.
The few who had larger portions
hidden under their hands looked for opportunities to
gain more. Many at these tables did not partake in the
discussion, but continued to search hungrily for
unnoticed crumbs or spilled water. There was discussion
of poisoning the food of the undeserving, and attempts
were made with varying degrees of success.
After a particularly successful poisoning, a man stood
up at that table, one of the most bountiful. He tapped
his crystal glass with his silver spoon. People listened
to what he said. He was angry and full of retribution. " We
have done nothing but try to help ourselves and others,
he shouted. We have tried to be polite and grateful guests
to our wonderful, giving host. Some of you doubt him and
his intentions. Some of you want what we have although
the host has not seated you at our table. Hate and
jealousy have caused this, and those responsible must pay."
Wild dogs were noticed roaming the banquet, fierce
animals with curled lips and red eyes. They snarled at
the people and made them afraid. Who unleashed these
dogs? They asked each other. Some said they had seen
them in the corners of their eyes from the beginning,
appearing and fading like the mist at the edges of the
banquet. But now particularly they brought fear to the
people, and this fear made them suspicious.
Suspicion grew not merely between tables, but among
people of the
same tables as well.Do these dogs belong to the host,
they wondered. Did he unleash them because of our
behavior? Or does that table over there own them, or
perhaps that one! Again, many people had ideas about the
vicious dogs, but no one seemed to know for certain who
unleashed them or why.
It was a sad sight to behold. Fear and distrust spread
through the banquet like the smell of rotting meat. A
cacophony of disharmony and discord rose up into the
night air. The banquet, which had had enough food for
each and every person there, became a place of greed,
jealously, and finally chaos.