How I Found God in Everyone and Everywhere: An Anthology of Spiritual Memoirs

by Andrew M. Davis

a stranger wandered into a village. The farmers, coming in from their fields, gathered around him on the village green. The stranger told them that he could make soup out of stones alone. Wanting to see the magic, the townspeople built a huge fire and placed on it a kettle large enough to feed the entire village. Each child was sent off to collect a stone and throw it into the boiling water. The stranger tasted the Stone Soup and noted that it would be perfect if it had just a little more spice. Four housewives ran off and brought back armfuls of spices to drop in. The stones are working, he proclaimed; just a touch of barley would balance out the taste. Potatoes, leeks, tomatoes followed, until the smell of the soup wafted out across the green. Bowls were brought, and the stranger distributed Stone Soup to each villager. The magic had worked, the soup was glorious, and the villagers feasted and sang and danced well into the night.”