How You Fold It

A student came upon the teacher while he was reading the local newspaper. The student patiently waited for him to lower the paper and speak to him, but the teacher seemed oblivious to his presence. The student loudly cleared his throat, but the teacher continued reading. Finally, the student interjected, "Teacher, excuse me for bothering you, but I have come seeking wisdom. Would you please tell me a parable?"

Without lowering the newspaper, the teacher replied, "life is full of parables. Like the one here on the front page. Let me read you this parable, and then you can go and ponder its meaning."

"But teacher," objected the student, "it appears you’re reading from an inside page of the paper, not the front page."

"Which page is in front," replied the teacher, folding the newspaper inside out, "all depends on how you fold it."

– Anonymous

February 4, 2007