There was a young man who walked into a town called Offense. In this town there were stores selling anger, jealousy, and revenge. The restaurants all served dishes of bad memories that were seasoned with the spices of judgment and pride. The cups were filled with a drink called self-pity. The air of the town was difficult to breathe, because it was filled with the odor of self interest and oppression. The primary occupations of the citizens were record keeping, judging, spying, and publishing bad reports. The library was filled with books recording every fault, offensive word, and evil deed everyone did. The books were written by the citizens of Offense.
The young man observed these things. Then he quietly began to greet and smile at each person. The people came to him and asked him where he was from. He said, “I am from the City of Forgetfulness. My Father rules the town. Come with me. It is a short walk from here.”
The curious people went to this town called Forgetfulness, thinking to make fun of the simpletons who wanted to live there. But what they saw made them weep. The people of Forgetfulness were so kind to each other that no one worked alone. They all shared what they had and happiness ruled. The stores sold only peace. The restaurants served only Love. Kindness was in the cups. Quiet patience scented the air.
“How can this be,” asked the people from Offense? The young man said, “Follow Me. ” He took them to a beautiful fountain in the middle of the town. “The water in this fountain comes from the Sea of Forgetfulness. It was placed here by My Father, the King. Everyone in town comes to this fountain and drinks of the water before the sun goes down each day. They return to their homes having forgotten every harsh word, every angry look, every injustice, every injury, and all the pain of that day.”
The people of Offense looked at each other and begged for a drink. “Sure. But you have a fountain that flows from My Father’s Sea of Forgetfulness in the center of your own town. It is covered with stones and vines. Go back and open the fountain.”
The town of Offense sent a request the next day to the authorities. The citizens wanted to change the name of their town from “Offense” to “Brand New.” You see, from that day forth, every heart and every relationship was made brand new as they drank from their fountain of Forgetfulness at sundown.
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