Once upon a time there was a stonecutter. He lived all alone. Though he had great skills, he was very poor. He lived in a tiny bamboo hut and wore tattered clothing.

One day as the stonecutter worked with his hammer and chisel upon a huge stone, he heard the king's procession approaching his humble village. Joining the crowd, he stood in awe at the marvelous silk robes and regal splendor of the king. "Oh, how I wish I had the power and glory of the king," he thought. "He has soldiers at his command. No one is more powerful." His cry was heard, and immediately the humble stonecutter was transformed into a powerful king, riding a great horse, waving at the crowds who flocked to see him. "This is power," he thought.

As summer came, however, the king watched the power of the sun on his people. Men, animals, and plants withered under its powerful rays. "How I wish I were as powerful as that," he thought. "I wish I were the sun." And immediately his wish was granted.

The stonecutter gloried in his power over the earth below. Then one day a tiny cloud moved over the land, shielding the earth from his bright rays. Seeing that here was something more powerful than himself, he thought, "I want very much to be a cloud." Again his wish was granted. Now he blocked the sun's rays and felt important. He poured rain on the earth, flooding the streets and farmlands below. Everything was under his power, except the rocks. Again he had found something more powerful than he.

"There is nothing as powerful as a rock," he thought. "How I wish I were a huge stone." His wish was granted. As a stone he remained motionless and powerful, unmoved by sun or wind or rain. He felt exempt from all the forces that shaped the existence of those around him. Then one day a man approached, carrying a bag. When he stopped, he pulled out a chisel and hammer and began to chip away at the rock. Realizing that the man with the tools was more powerful than any rock, he cried out, "Oh, I want to be a stonecutter."

Once again his cry was heard, and he became a stonecutter. Once again he lived in a bamboo hut and made his living with hammer and chisel. And he was at peace, for he had found his life's purpose at last.

We're discussing our purpose in the Kingdom. How does it relate the nation we love, whose birthday we celebrate tomorrow? We'll continue on Wednesday.

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