1 December
Mediator
Story:
The Auction
THE AUCTION
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.
They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great
works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and
died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his
only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood
at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the
soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a
bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you and your love for
art. The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist,
but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait
of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality
of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with
tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could
never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time
visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works
he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings.
Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to
purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. "Who will bid for
this picture?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the
famous paintings. Skip this one."
But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this
painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200" Another voice shouted angrily, "We didn't come to see this
painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids." But still the
auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally a voice came from the back of the room.
It was the long-time gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give you $10 for the
painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him
for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming
angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their
collection. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $IO!" A man sitting
in the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his
gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was
called to conduct this auction, I was
told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only
the painting of the son would be auctioned. The man who took the son gets everything."
told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only
the painting of the son would be auctioned. The man who took the son gets everything."
God gave his son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much
like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?" Because you see, whoever
takes the Son, gets everything.
Friemel
