Dakota Beacon

“From the mouths of babes and infants You have established strength....” (Psalm 8:2). A conversation overheard last week reminded me of the Psalmist words. What comes from the lips of children may be more riddle than wisdom. Even so, what children utter innocently and in ignorance may strengthen our own understanding and wisdom.

Everyone appreciates a good riddle now and then. Solving a riddle requires careful attention. In the wording, in the logic, or in both exists the key to solving a riddle. Sometimes words may hold a double meaning; sometimes the logic may “slip a cog.”

Kids sometimes speak in riddles. Imagine for a moment that you were with me last week when we overheard two kids talking. A teenager (Billy) waxed eloquently trying to impress his younger brother (Joe) with his wisdom of scant years. What I heard posed a riddle as the conversation went something like this:

BILLY: “Nothing in life is free. In fact, for one person to get ahead another person must lose.”

JOE: “Really?”

BILLY: “Yeah.“

JOE: “How do you figure?”

BILLY: “Well, it works like this. Check out this store owner. He makes his living by taking people’s money, especially young folks. He plays upon their desire for things and takes their money. Even an undertaker gets ahead at the expense of other people. The only way he makes money is if someone dies. I mean, if everyone lived forever the undertaker would be out of business. Someone must lose for him to get ahead.”

JOE: “Yeah, I see what you mean.”

BILLY: “And they’re not the only ones. What about doctors? Do you really think they want people to stay healthy?”

JOE: “What do you mean? Of course they do.”

BILLY: “Don”t be silly. What do you think would happen if everyone stayed healthy and no one got sick or hurt? How could the docs make a living? Someone must lose for the docs to get ahead.”

JOE: “Yeah. I get it.”

BILLY: “And what about dentists? What do you think?”

JOE: “Well, uh...the same thing, I guess.”

BILLY: “You’re catching on. The same with farmers. Do you think they want lots of grain on the market or just a little bit? Let’s face it. Everyone in the food chain makes money when food is in short supply.”

JOE: “Sure, I see what you mean.”

BILLY: “And there’s more. Architects and contractors make out like bandits when people lose their homes.”

JOE: “Let me try one. Let’s see. Lawyers make money when people argue and fight and can’t get along.

BILLY: “You got it.”

JOE: “And soldiers really don’t want peace, either. Without a war they’re out of a job.”

BILLY: “Let’s face it. If everyone honestly examined their motives, it would be obvious that their desire for gain is bred and nourished from the loss and hurt of others.”

JOE: “So it must be true that every time a person seeks to do well it is at the expense of another person.”

BILLY: “That’s the way it seems.”

JOE: “Wow!  I never thought of it that way before.”

BILLY: “Well, after all it’s a dog-eat-dog world.”

JOE: “Unless – unless we could somehow outlaw gain and profit.”

BILLY: “Hmmmm. I never thought of THAT.”

            What’s wrong with this picture?

            Maybe Mark Twain was perceptively on the mark when he twisted the Psalmist’s words. “Out of the unconscious lips of babes and sucklings are we satirized.”

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).