Why Money?

“The well in the valley”

There was once a valley with mountains on each side, that was filled with a patchwork of farms and simple homes. It was a simple village.

The people all collected rainwater for their needs, and the ground held all they needed to grow crops and produce feed for their livestock. Theirs was a simple life.

One day, the villagers came together and decided, they needed to do something in case they were attacked or there was an emergency.

There was a pile of stones in the center of the valley, most likely left over from when the fields were cleared. And they decided that they should use these stones and build a small keep for safety. After building the stone walls, all the people chose the most virtuous and righteous man in the village to be in charge of the keep.

The man-in-charge began by sorting out the depression in the ground at the center of the keep, left from moving the stones used for the walls. It was made tidy and covered, so no one would fall in. It was work made difficult by the water that kept collecting at the bottom.

Then one hot summer day, not any hotter than any normal, hot sunny day. In the marketplace nearby the keep, someone remembered the water in the keep, and went and asked the man-in-charge for some.

The man-in-charge, the most virtuous and righteous of all, gave the water to those that asked.

Then another man, a farmer that lives close to the keep asked, “If I were to have some extra water for my animals, I could give an animal for the annual harvest festival.” The man-in-charge agreed.

Soon harvest time came, people celebrated, and the animal purchased with the extra water was cooked and enjoyed by those who attended the festival.

But at the edges of the valley, farthest from the keep, farmers realized that their crops did not produce as well as usual. They thought it was just a bad season.

The next year came and villagers closest to the well benefited the most as the man-in-charge made water deals with other farmers near the keep and gave water freely to the people in the marketplace. The man-in-charge was celebrated for his accomplishments by all.

This year the farmers on the edge of the valley, could not produce enough to live on, so they fled to the center of the valley and the man-in-charge gave them jobs delivering water, and he helped all that came.

The next year more people came as their farms failed. Their farms weren’t even on the edge of the valley. They would seek work from the man-in-charge, and many built make-shift shelters along the wall of the keep.

The more the man-in-charge helped, the more people came and sought help. And no matter how much he helped, there was always more need.

But the man-in-charge only did good, he provided for all that came. Nothing he did was hidden. He was most generous and virtuous. All he did was help and provide what was good. He only did what was good and right.

But the more water they pulled up, the deeper the next scoop would need to be. Soon nothing could be done without the water in the keep. Long lines formed everyday. Any that hoarded rain water became fearful.

The villagers started to have conflicts among themselves. Claims of thievery and liars were rampant. Some blamed bad luck, some the man-in-charge. All were in need.

Then one night, a fire broke out among the numerous shelters on the walls of the keep. A rush for the well, a fight, a skirmish, and chaos. The walls of the keep collapsed, many died. The walls had fallen in on themselves and filled the hole where the water was drawn.

A long time passed, memories faded. Then there was a valley with mountains on each side, that was filled with a patchwork of farms and simple homes. It was a simple village and a simple life...