At the Border

6 At the Border There's an expression in English that says: “ Sometimes you can't see the forest because of all the trees. " Do you know what that means? It means that if you focus too much on the details, you might not be able to see the “ big picture" . Such was the problem long ago at a border crossing far away. Smugglers are people who sneak things across borders illegally. The border agent's job is to search for and find the items smugglers are hiding as they cross the border into a different country. One day, a smuggler leading a donkey approached the border. On the donkey's back, there was a large load of straw. As the man came closer to the border, the agent grew suspicious. “ Surely this man is trying to smuggle valuable goods into my country, " he thought. He stopped the smuggler and made him unload the hay. The agent searched through the hay but could not find anything. He could do nothing but allow the man with the donkey to pass. “ You are a smuggler, " said the agent. “ And one day, I will find what you are smuggling. "

Every day for many years, the same man approached the border leading his donkey with the load of straw on its back. And every day, the agent searched in vain for the valuables that he was sure were hidden inside the hay. But try as he might, the agent was never able to find anything. Many years passed, and the agent retired. One day, he met the smuggler on the road. “ I am retired now, " he said, “ and I can do no harm to you anymore. What is it that you were smuggling all those years? I would very much like to know. " The smuggler smiled and said simply, " Donkeys. " And so it was. The agent had not seen the forest because of all the trees.