God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his child,
and at the last minute god said, just kidding. This was not a malevolent test of loyalty. It was a trial of trust. All of the best stories; all of the best jokes operate as a trial of trust. Just before the end faith is all but forsaken, only to be replaced by an even stronger faith needed for the more challenging trial that emerges from this end. A new beginning. A new story. How far can you and your audience go together before dropping the ball? Before you go so far afield they never forgive you; never return? How do you get them to follow your lead somewhere even crazier than before? Abraham forgave god. And went on, at god's command, to leave his spouse and child alone in the desert. Abraham's child in the first story went on to father the world's most celebrated bloodline. Abraham's spouse and child in the second story were blessed with a well-spring of the earth's purest water, which continues to be drunk with zeal by millions of pilgrims every year from across the planet. That is the power of trust. That is the power of a good story. Comments are closed.
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