A young reporter was taken prisoner during a war and was now a P.O.W. locked in a cell on enemy grounds. She went days at a time without food and water... and the few times
when a guard would bring her very little...
she would attempt to escape. Every attempt ended with the same results of her being swiftly defeated in hand to hand combat as she was not a soldier with any combat training...
but she felt that her "faith" alone would one day bring her FREEDOM!!!
One day... after a period without water... a rat came to her and spoke...
"What is it you are trying to do girl?" he asked... "What is it you WANT?"
Believing that she must have been hallucinating... she saw no harm in humoring it!!! "I'm trying to escape.... I want my FREEDOM!!!"
The rat looked at her and said "Yes... I can see your faith is strong... but faith alone will NOT bring you freedom from this place." He stepped closer and touched her hand...
RAT: In order to achieve a successful escape from here... you will need to utilize "6 elements of victory"... If you will promise to take me with you... I will show them to you!!!
REPORTER: (laughing) I don't know what's more rediculous... the IDEA of a rat teaching ME something... or that im actually listening to this... FROM THE RAT!!!
She paused for a second... then realized she had nothing to lose!!!
REPORTER: (sarcastically) Ok... "Obi-rat-kinobi".... teach me your 6 elements of victory!!
RAT: The first element is "faith"... which you already hold... but is not quite strong enough. It WILL grow stronger however... once you've learned the other 5. In order to escape... you will need to
COMBINE faith... with purpose!!! When you battle your enemies with "faith"... FOCUS on your PURPOSE!!!
This actually made sense to the reporter... so at the very next opportunity... she did just that... only to be defeated again!!! This time however... she actually managed to best one of the guards in combat!!!
RAT: You were not ready... I told you... you will need ALL 6 elements too escape!!!
REPORTER: I almost made it... but there were too many of them!!! What's next???
RAT: Now... with faith and purpose... you must have a PLAN!!!
The reporter had memorized the way out already and the timing of the guards positions... so it didn't take her long to organize a "route" and "plan" of escape!!! She went over the plan for days until it was
embeded in her instincts!!! At the next opportunity... she tried again... and this time after defeating TWO guards and "eluding" THREE... she made it to the main hall... but was then captured again and defeated.
Badly hurt and tired... she was thrown back in her cell.
REPORTER: I should have escaped... but the guards are too fast and strong!!! I could see the exit this time... and with only 3 of your "elements"... I believe I can do it the NEXT TIME!!!
RAT: Yesss... your faith is getting stronger! But you expect freedom too soon!!! The next TWO... you will need to combine simultaneously... "knowledge".. and "skill"... in short... you must LEARN TO FIGHT!!!
Focus now on your wounds... and remember HOW you got them!!! Turn your enemies attacks on you into KNOWLEDGE about HOW to defeat THEM!!! Then you must PRACTICE what you know until you become SKILLED!!!
The reporter meditated and as best she could... memorized every blow the guards had dealt her... and the more she healed... the more she practiced!!! She didn't try another escape for weeks until she was confident
enough in her abilities!!!
REPORTER: I believe this time... I will have VICTORY!!!
But the rat was gone.
She waited for her opportunity as she always had... then made her move!!! This time she defeated 6 guards and eluded 12... making her way through the final exit...
... and on to FREEDOM!!!
REPORTER: (proudly to herself) I DID IT!!! And with only 5 of the rat's elements!!!
Just then the rat appeared from behind a bush... and before her eyes... transformed into an illumination of light!!!
RAT: I told you I would show you 6 elements of victory... and I have!!!
REPORTER: No you didn't... I remember them all...
FAITH, PURPOSE, PLAN, KNOWLEDGE, and SKILL... that's only five!!! What was the 6th one anyway???
RAT: ...... experience.
-jussastory-
Community Forum
Topic: THE 6th ELEMENT-(a short story... tell me if ya like... or get somethin from it) (Read 881 times)
September 27, 2007, 06:07:57 pm