A friend told me a story about a power strip.
Once there was a toaster that was plugged into a power strip next to a mixer and a blender. One day the toaster boasted to the others.
"I am the most amazing appliance. I can transform floppy bread into crispy
toast."
The mixer sniffed sharply.
"Actually I am their favorite. You are only used once, in the morning. But I am used all times of day. I blend flour and milk into pancake batter for breakfast, and then again in the evening for cake."
The blender piped in.
"Have you seen how excited the little girl gets when her mother makes smoothies? She tosses
in frozen strawberries, and bananas and yogurt and I blend them easily. She likes me the best."
A man came into the room and they abruptly stopped talking.
He muttered about an electric bill and pushed a red button. All three appliances felt lifeless. Their vacant eyes stared into nothing.
It is an illusion that we are separate from one another. Our power is drawn from a single
source, and to compete in any way does not serve us or them.
But the miracle continues whether or not we concede.
