Fence or Ambulance

In a village there was a dangerous cliff.  It was a beautiful walk winding up to it and the view below was magnificiant.  However, over time people came too close to the edge and slipped.  The town's people got together and said something has to be done.  As usual, there was many opinions, some said "Put a fence around it" while others said, " "Have an ambulance ready down in the valley." 

 A fence would distract the lovely view and so the ambulance carried the vote and the town's funds went in that direction.

Then an old sage spoke up and said "It's a marvel to me, that people give more attention to repairing results than to stopping the cause, you would be better to focus on the prevention!  Just put up the fence and you can dispense with the ambulance down in the valley."

"Oh, he's a fanatic," the others compained.  They wouldn't listen or give heed to the wise old sage. They collectivly decided  that their problem had been solved.

But the sensible few, who are practical too, would not listen to the nonsense much longer,  they believed that prevention is better than cure.  It's better to guide  the young than reclaim them when old.  To rescue the fallen is good, but tis best, to prevent is even better.

It's better to close up the source of temptation and crime, than deliver from dungeon and galley, like a strong fence round the top of the cliff, than an ambulance down in the valley.

How much this story reminds me of my life.  How often I have done things the hard way, trying to skirt around the real problem rather than face the fact that I had made a mistake, repent and ask for forgiveness.  Then stand as far away from the cliff by creating my own fence to protect me. 

However, some of the best lessons in life have been learned by the pain I experienced by falling off the cliff.   I guess ambulences have there place in life, as long as I don't use them as my only sourse of transportation.