Tools Of The Trade

As the story goes, the Devil himself was having a garage sale. There, displayed on a table were all of his bright, shiny trinkets. There were tools that made it easy to tear others down and use them as stepping stones. There were lenses for magnifying one’s own importance, and, if you looked through the other end, for belittling others.

Hanging in back was the usual assortment of gardening implements designed to help one’s pride grow by leaps and bounds: the rake of scorn, the shovel of jealousy for digging a pit for your neighbor, the tools of gossip and backbiting, of selfishness and apathy. All of these were pleasing to the eye and came complete with fabulous promises and guarantees of prosperity. Prices, of course, were steep; but not to worry! Free credit was extended to one and all.

“Take it home, use it, and you won’t have to pay until later!” Satan cried out as he sold his wares. Browsing the…