In time of
war in an occupied country, a member of the resistance meets one night a Stranger
who deeply impresses him. They spend the
night together in conversation. The Stranger
tells the partisan that he himself is on the side of the resistance - - indeed
that he is in command of it, and urges the partisan to have faith in him no
matter what happens. The partisan is
utterly convinced at that meeting of the Stranger’s sincerity and constancy and
undertakes to trust him.
They never
meet in conditions of intimacy again.
But sometimes the Stranger is seen helping the members of the resistance
and the partisan is grateful and says to his friends, “He is on our side.”
Sometimes
he is seen in the uniform of the police handing over patriots to the occupying
power. On these occasions his friends
murmur against him: but the partisan still says, “He is on our side.” He still believes that in spite of
appearances, the Stranger did not deceive him.
Sometimes he asks the Stranger for help and receives it. He is then thankful. Sometimes he asks and des not receive
it. Then he says, “The Stranger knows
best.” Sometimes his friends in
exasperation say, “Well, what would he have to do for you to admit that you
were wrong and that he is not our side?”
But the partisan refuses to answer.
He will not consent to put the Stranger to the test. And sometimes his friends complain, “Well, if
that’s what you mean by hi being on our side, the sooner he goes over to the
other side the better.” Basil Mitchell
quoted by Louis Jacobs
We all know the correct answer but sometimes it is good to ask the question to remind us of who we are.
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