I’ve run enough long-distance races to take joy in this passage — including the 200 mile Ragnar Relay; not the first shall be last; that has never been my burden, but the last shall be first. Now that gives me hope! As well it should even though I’m confident this parable has absolutely nothing to do with running or any other athletic endeavor, unless one considers gardening to be such. It should be noted too, for the sake of honesty, that I may well be misreading the parable by taking hope instead of judgment from it. After all, it’s a cautionary tale aimed to remind those who arrive first that the permanency of their status is illusionary, and nothing in which to take pride. In fact, it’s a warning for those who take umbrage at the ones who arrive late and do less work, and thus deserve …