The story is told of a beautiful city that flourished in the middle of a vast, dry desert. Stretched out in all directions were the dry, desert sands. Still, the city was green and fertile, where exquisite flowers bloomed and sent their delightful perfume into the air. On the farms in this area the finest of corn and the best of vegetables grew. The city was a green emerald in the golden parched sand.
The secret to the city’s life was a long, stout pipeline that stretched from afar to the city, bringing the water supply from a distant reservoir located high in the mountains. There in the mountains was a spring-fed lake, crystal clear and blue as the sky. From this lake there was an abundant supply of water, and all the needs of the people, their cattle, gardens, and farms were met. The people were so accustomed to the water supply, they didn’t often think of where it came from or worry whether it would be always there.
But then the day came when one man noticed that the water was not as abundant as it used to be. It didn’t seem to be coming as plentifully, and it began to drop off sharply on the same day. There was much less water than there had been before. The day following, the pipeline ceased to pour forth the life-giving water. The supply had stopped.
In a panic the people began to seek water. Some brought it in barrels from a distant city, but they soon realized that they could not continue to exist. One after another they abandoned their homes, went in wagons, and whatever way they could travel to other cities where there was an abundant supply of water, where the rivers and lakes were to be found. In a matter of a very few days, the city became an abandoned ghost town— hardly anyone had stayed. Life was impossible then.
And so, the days and weeks went by, stretching into months. Then it just so happened that two young men who had lived in that city went for a hunting trip high up in the very mountains where the reservoir was located.
One of them said to the other, “Let us climb to the high place where the reservoir was, where the clear blue water used to be, and let us find out why the water no longer lies full and abundant in that lake.”
So the two young men, being strong of heart and sturdy of limb, made the climb. When they reached the high place in the mountains where they expected to see the high basin of the reservoir, they were amazed to find—not a dry valley as they had expected—but a large, clear, blue lake, overflowing with more than enough water.
“What can be the reason?” asked one of the other. They explored and found that the pipeline was still there, but it was dry. Upon careful examination, they found that a plug had been placed in the pipeline that completely stopped the water flow from the still abundant lake. Carefully and with much effort, they withdrew the piece of wood. When they had done this, the water flowed forth with great force, washing out the accumulated rust and dirt. Shortly afterward, they returned to their city to find that the water supply was just as abundant and strong as ever before. The word spread, and all those who had lived in the city previously returned and rejoiced in the abundance. But they only regretted the fact that they need not have suffered the lack of water, they need not have suffered the loss, if they had only known to pull the plug.