I believe Jesus tells parables ...and like the fables we are accustom to, they give a message. Yet, we seem inclined to understand fables more in one sense ...as we understand them to be fables. Sadly, there is confusion within many schools of thought, as to whether a true story is actually a parable.

I believe the Bible is a true story ...and that makes a big difference. Much of what makes the big difference is how we distinguish a true story from a parable.  If we are putting our faith in something or someone ...well, I believe that is important.

Of course, one clue of a parable is when it begins with the mention of one thing, followed by the words "is like" or "as" ...and then mentions something else, as we often refer to as an analogy.

There are times it doesn't say "as" or "is like" ...though there are other indications that help us discern whether it is a parable or not.

Briefness and lack of detail often gives a clue to a parable, unlike other areas that give much more detail.

Yet, there are more detailed descriptions that are dreams or visions ...with special meanings and interpretations.

I read of a man traveling to a far country who called his servants to discuss a matter with them ...giving one servant five talents, giving to another two, and to another one talent. (For those of you who may feel you have no talents ...the fact that you can read is a talent that much of the world does not have. And if you can understand what I'm trying to say, you have an even greater talent.)  Anyway, when the man returned from the far country, he asked his servants about the talents.  The one who had one talent said he was afraid, and hid the talent.

Now, I believe that if it were not a parable, we would know more about the man, what country he had traveled to, how long he'd been gone ...so I believe it is a parable.  My wife's standards may be a bit different though ...because she often says I ask too many questions, and she may prefer the undetailed story (unless she's telling it ...and in that case, I may never hear her initial story). But, my wife agrees with me about wanting the truth of the story, and she believes the truth as much as I do.

But, I still see this as a parable ...and I don't want to imagine a story that I feel inclined to fill in the blanks on, such as with the scared servant who hid his sole talent, now boldly stating, "I have run away from a little old woman, a little old man, a cow, a horse, and a dog ...and I can run away from you too!"

Okay, I segued into the Gingerbread Man story ...as certainly, the other story was being told by Jesus, and who can fathom to be able to run away from Him?? (You could say Jonah tried, but he was not able to.) 

And I would never want to change the story either.  I am very careful not to misinterpret something He has said, nor claim I have exclusive privilege to think I can.  Let's not get into another story ---"I think I can! ...I think I can! ...I think I can!"

Or the parable about the sower ---was it two bags of corn seed, three and a quarter of peas, some alfalfa, and a little measure of dill on the eastern slope of the Grand Canyon ...where it could not find root, but was eaten by a herd of turtles, two flocks of geese, an ostrich, and a house wren ---all sitting down for a Thanksgiving banquet.

No!! NO!! NO-O-O!!!

That may be entertaining for Dr. Seuss, but life has to sometimes move beyond the playpen stage ...beyond infant, and even childhood (though we don't have to forget the joy of those years).  It's okay to be entertained, but there should also be some measure of serious consideration by which our lives are guided.  We are not being honest if we think we are in control; and it is more than a good feeling to think God is in control instead of me ---it is also the truth.