I don’t know whether I’ve shared this with you before, it seems like these conversations began a lifetime ago. I suppose it was. So this is what a lifetime looks like.
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One day, God was walking along the river admiring the colours of the leaves in the trees. Hello monkey, He said, and then He looked up.
Hello God, said the monkey, who was sitting in one of the tallest trees, holding a shovel.
My, that’s a lovely shovel, said God.
Do You really think so?
Yes, I do. But what are you doing with it in that tree? asked God, who already knew the answer, but wanted to see what the monkey would say.
I was going to dig a hole, said the monkey.
In the tree?
No, said the monkey, nodding his head for good effect.
In the ground? supplied God.
Probably, said the monkey.
Any place in particular?
Not really, said the monkey, trying to look helpful. But I knew if I ever wanted to dig a hole, a shovel would be a good thing to have. And it is a lovely shovel. He held it out for God to see.
I can see that, said God, who could see anything, even standing there beside the river. Is it your shovel?
Yes? asked the monkey.
Probably not, said God, who was wondering whether the monkey was really ready for this. Tell me, He asked, How many monkeys are there?
One, replied the monkey, confident.
Wrong, said God, as gently as only He could.
I knew that, said the monkey, I just couldn’t count any higher.
Maybe you’d better put that shovel back where you found it, said God.
And the monkey did.
And God saw that it was good.
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