The Third Samurai


The Emperor of Japan invited the best swordsmen in the land to an audience in his palace in Edo. As it was summer there were flies buzzing around.

A swordsman pulled his sword from its scabbard and, with a shout, cut a fly out of the air, neatly cutting it in half.

Not to be outdone, another swordsman pulled out his sword and cut a fly into two pieces before it fell.

A third swordsman drew his sword and cut, but the fly flew on its way and did not fall.

The Emperor glared at the third swordsman.

"Majesty," said the third samurai, full of bravado, "That fly will never reproduce!"

I put this forward as a cautionary tale for all to ponder. If your efforts do not have evident results, you need not explain. We have enough pretense going on already in the fly-ridden palace that is Christendom today.

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