The adventures of the prophet, pt 1

It was a cold night in Samaria and the strong flow of the wind rattled and battered the sandy desert houses. A disciple Hercule, and the prophet were seated at Hercule’s table for supper. The disciple of the erudite prophet asked his master:

“Master what is the secret of strength"?

The prophet paused and then said to Hercule his disciple,

“Strength is not physical strength, but a strength that is non-physical, and hence the physical has no effect on true strength, the opposite however is not true, true strength girds the mind and hence allows the building up of the physical body.”

Hercule was confused but kissed the prophet on the lips and thanked him nonetheless.

He reached from the communal plate with his wooden spoon and sipped on the fish broth he had prepared for his master.

After some time he gestured towards his large arm muscles and asked the prophet if he should continue his exercise regimen. The prophet knew however that his parable was a metaphor and that Hercule had sadly missed the message.

The Prophet continued:

“Strength is good, it is better than weakness, but an excess of strength is a weakness, and thus too much strength is a weakness that cannot be cured with more strength, but only by weakness. The opposite however is not true; too much weakness is not strength but is a weakness and hence can only be cured by strength and not by any increase in weakness”

Hercule thought for some time and then gestured once more to his mammoth arms. The prophet frowned and decided that poor Hercule must be possessed by a demon of ignorance.

“Follow me my child” said the prophet.

The two ventured out into the cold night, each wearing only a thin white shawl.