Roy and Amy | Clark Coaching and Counseling

The Parable of the Pit

A hopeless man had made his way into a deep hole and could not find a way out.

A businessman happened to pass by and heard the man calling out for help. The businessman gave him some money and told him to buy himself a ladder. But the man could not find a ladder, so he stayed stuck in his hole. 

A doctor walked by and the alcoholic cried out, “Help me, I can’t get out of this hole.” The doctor said, “Take these pills, they will relieve the pain.” The man said thanks, but when the pills ran out, he was still painfully aware that he was stuck in the hole.

A renowned psychiatrist strolled by and heard the alcoholic pleading for help. He stopped and said, “How did you get into that hole? Were you born there? Were you put there by your parents? Tell me about yourself, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness.” So the man talked with him for an hour, then the psychiatrist said he had to leave, but he would come back next week. The man thanked him but realized he was still stuck in his hole.

A priest came by and the alcoholic called out for help. The priest gave him a Bible and said, “I’ll say a prayer for you.” He got down on this knees and prayed for the man, then left. The man was very grateful and thanked the priest for his Bible which he read, but he was still stuck in his hole.

Finally a friend, a real friend, happened to be passing by and heard the poor man’s cry for help. Right away, the friend jumped into the hole with him. The suffering man said, “Why did you do that? Now we’re both stuck here in this god foresaken hole!” But the friend said with a gleam in his eye, “It’s okay, I’ve been here before; I know the way out!”