A city boy was out for a drive in the country when he passed a farm where he saw a three-legged pig. Curious, he stopped and knocked on the farmhouse door. When Farmer Brown answered the knock the young man asked him about the pig. "That pig? Oh, that's a very special pig," the farmer explained. "Last year me and my family were asleep when our house caught fire. That pig busted out of his pen, broke down the front door and woke us up. We all escaped with our lives." The young man was astounded. "Wow, that is amazing! But how did he loose his leg?" "That's not all," the farmer continued. "Six months ago I was plowing the back forty when my tractor hit a soft patch of dirt and fell over, trapping me underneath. The tractor was slowly sinking into the earth and was going to crush me. That pig busted out of his pen, raced out to the field and pulled me out from under the tractor. Saved my life." "Unbelievable!" the young man responded. "What about the leg?" The farmer pressed on. "And last month my little daughter Mary was playing out near the fish pond and fell in. That pig busted out of his pen, ran out to the pond, jumped in and pulled my little Mary to shore, saving her life." By now the young man was quite frustrated. "That's great but why does the pig only have three legs?" Farmer Brown looked the man in the eye and said, "Well mister, a pig that special, you don't eat all at once." *********************************************************** This little story was an example of what my father would have called "Corporate expectations and rewards". Do a good job and they wouldn't eat you all at once. And so, before the year is too far-gone, I wanted to give a shout out to all my brothers and sisters who are still working for a living. Never make the mistake of thinking the bosses love you. You are only as good as last week. In honor of your hard work I present the following story. It should be noted that this story is not meant to insult any religion, merely show my take on expectations and rewards. ***********************************************************

The Good Samaritan - A Modern Parable

In ancient times, a great road ran from Jericho to Jerusalem. And it came to pass that a merchant from Jericho, having business in Jerusalem, found himself traveling upon the road. Alas, the merchant was plagued by misfortune and was soon set upon by bandits. They robbed and beat him and left him to die, naked, in a ditch. After a time there passed by a laborer who, upon hearing the plaintive cries of the merchant, spoke unto him saying, "Nay, I shall not get involved for my wife expectith me home for the evening meal and besides all merchants are crooks. And a second man, a priest, happened by and spoke unto the merchant saying, "Surely the authorities shall wish to question me and I shall be late for my bingo game." And yet a third man, a Samaritan, passed by. He heard the wailing of the merchant and his heart was moved. "I will help you, brother, he said, "Come with me." And it came to pass that he carried the merchant into the next town, bound his wounds and provided him with food and lodging. And when he left the next day he gave coin to the innkeeper saying, "See that his needs are provided for." Soon the merchant was joyously reunited with his family who had feared him dead. And it was a year. And it was a day. It was a year and a day. Ok, ok, it was 366 days. And it came to pass that the Good Samaritan found himself once again on the road to Jerusalem. And he kept to the middle of the road as the recent rains had muddied the pathways at the roadside. Without warning a great chariot thundered around a bend in the road and the Samaritan, seeking to avoid it tumbled face down into the muddy ditch. As he lifted his soiled body from the foul smelling waters, he recognized the merchant he had befriended at the reigns of the chariot. In anger he cried out, "How could you do this to me after all I have done for thee?" And as the chariot disappeared down the road, a fading voice answered back,

"But what have you done for me latelyyyy?"