Minister - Right or Wrong?
The story goes that four ministers had a series of theological arguments, and three were always in accord against the fourth.
One day, the odd minister out, after the usual "3 to 1 majority rules" statement that signified that he had lost again, decided to appeal to a *higher* authority.
"Oh, Lord!" he cried. "I know in my heart that I am right and they are wrong! Please give me a sign to prove it to them!"
It was a beautiful, sunny day. As soon as the minister finished his prayer, a storm cloud moved across the sky above the four. It rumbled once and dissolved.
"A sign from God! See, I'm right, I knew it!" But the other three disagreed, pointing out that storm clouds form on hot days.
So the minister prayed again:
"Oh, God, I need a bigger sign to show that I am right and they are wrong. So please, Lord, a bigger sign!"
This time four storm clouds appeared, rushed toward each other to form one big cloud, and a bolt of lightning slammed into a tree on a nearby hill.
"I told you I was right!" cried the minister, but his friends insisted that nothing had happened that could not be explained by natural causes.
The minister was getting ready to ask for a *very big* sign, but just as he said, "Oh God...," the sky turned pitch black, the earth shook, and a deep, booming voice intoned,
"HEEEEEEEE'S RIIIIIIIGHT!"
The minister put his hands on his hips, turned to the other three, and said,
"Well?!"
"So," shrugged one of the other ministers, "now it's 3 to 2."
Originally published March 18, 2005.
