One day a student came to the Violent Master seeking a lesson.
“Master,” said the student, “I seek wisdom.”
“Wisdom comes in many forms, grasshopper. Consider the lesson of the shovel.”
“The shovel, Oh Violent One?”
“The shovel. As with all things that we may use for a violent purpose, it has two sides. The side of violence, where we destroy, maim and kill seems the easiest calling, but this is not the true nature of the shovel.”
“No, oh Master?”
“No. As with all things, the shovel began with a benificent purpose, moving soil and earths, letting the plants grow forth. Life precedes death, but the beginning guarantees the end.”
“Truly this is wisdom, oh Master!”
“Yes. Now, for another lesson. You observe, young grasshopper, all that snow on my Toyota?”
“Er… yes, Master?”
“Yes. Take the shovel. Shovel the fucking snow.”
“Yes, Master.”
And with a sigh the young student began shovelling, growing more and more wise of the ways of a corrupt and falling world with each spadeful of snow moved aside.
