In a small Swiss town there was a cathedral. It was called the Mountain Valley Cathedral. There has been a great deal of money spent on the wonderful stained-glass windows and tall arched ceiling. The cathedral also boasted of an outstanding pipe organ. The organ was designed in such a way that when it was played, people could hear it from all over the valley. As the people would work on their farms, they could often hear the organ as it was played. It gave great joy to the people of the valley for many decades.

Then one day the valley became silent. The organ was in need of repair. They called in one expert after another and yet no one was able to solve the problem. Specialists from all over Europe were asked to help and still no one was able to fix it.

Then one day when all hope was gone, an old man came to the cathedral. He asked if he could work on the organ. The sexton agreed and the old man worked for two days. The sexton was becoming nervous because the old man was saying nothing about what he was doing. Finally, on the third day, there was the sound of music all through the valley. People dropped what they were doing and ran to the cathedral. When the old man was done playing, the sexton asked why it was that he had been able to fix the organ after so many had failed. The old man said, "I am the one who built the organ, and I am the only one who can fix it."

This was the cry of Jesus as he looked over the city of Jerusalem. He wanted to fix the people but they would have nothing to do with him. The truth is that only the one who made us can fix us.

Adapted by Parables, Etc. (Platteville, Colorado: Saratoga Press), February 1987, p. 6.