by J.D. McKay

Created on: May 04, 2009   Last Updated: May 20, 2009

Giving Our Testimony or the Parable of the Three Bakers:

In this certain town worked three bakers. Each had begun as an apprentice working and learning for many years. Now they were experts and excellent enough to own their own shops, complete with an apprentice to pass along the secrets of their trade. To be sure each baker had a following of loyal customers making them very successful.

Life was good, yet each of the three bakers felt something was missing. They had worked so hard for so long. Eventually each one realized their desire for a little time of peace and reflection, maybe time to share their faith, the bread of life, and to commune with nature. In their town was a lake surrounded by gentle sloping grass lands and meadows. It was a beautiful place perfect for time to think and time to relax with many pleasing views of flora and fauna.

The first baker packed up an extra loaf of bread with the intentions to share it with the ducks and geese at the shoreline. As he approached his new feathered friends paddling upon the water and nesting in the warm grass, he held out the loaf of bread to them. They ignored him, and as he moved closer they began to scatter and scurry away. The faster he walked the quicker they retreated.

The first baker couldn't understand this. He felt he was just offering them a wonderful free meal. Finally he stopped chasing them and set the loaf at his feet. He called to them over and over again, but no matter how gentle he was they were wary of him, and dared not come close to investigate the strange gift.

After standing motionless for an extremely long time and still not getting the desired response the first baker picked up his gift and thought to simply toss the entire loaf into the middle of the geese. He hoped they would realize the value of his offering and recognize him as a friend and benefactor; in this he exercised his faith. When he let the bread fly all that happened was a great noisy scattering of the flock. Skepticism came into the experience which opened the door to other unfortunate fears, doubts and feelings.

As soon as the loaf stopped rolling an evil little fox came running from the bushes nearby and snatched the loaf in its teeth and ran away to devour the stolen gift. The first baker was furious, but undaunted he would try many more times to exercise his full faith and to feed the flocks of the lake; for he was not a quitter. He used the same tactics and habits with the same frustrating results time after

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