There is a story called the “Allegory of the Long Spoons.” This parable is attributed by many to Rabbi Haim of Romshishok and, although there are variations to how it is told, here’s the basic story: A man asked God what heaven and hell were like. God showed the man a room where many people were seated around a large table and in the middle of the table was a big bowl of delicious, aromatic stew. But the people sitting around the table were sickly, thin, and miserable. Everyone around the table was holding a spoon with a very long handle and was able to take a spoonful of the stew, but because the spoon handles were longer than their arms, no one was able to put the stew in his or her mouth. God told the man, “This is hell.”
Then God showed the man a different room where again many people were sitting around a large table that had the same delicious stew in a big bowl in the center and all were holding the same type of long-handled spoons. But in this room the people were healthy, well nourished, and happy. For in this room, the people were reaching the spoonfuls of stew across the table and feeding each other. God told the man, “This is heaven.”
I first heard this allegory a few years ago and I love how it says so much in just a few words. I have read that this story is present in many cultures and referred to by many religious traditions. My work as a crisis line counselor includes giving callers resource information when I believe it could benefit them based on what they have shared with me in our call together. Although I’m impressed by the many organizations and religious institutions that have programs that help many people, I’m also concerned that there are a lot of people who don’t appear to care about helping others. The allegory of the long spoons portrays love, caring, and the interconnectness of people. We need one another. We need to use the abilities the Creator has given each of us to honor this interconnectedness.
