A strange and disparate-looking group of eight people gathered at a retreat centre. They gave their names at reception and they were given their room key and a t shirt to wear. They were told to wear the t shirt at all times.
One T shirt had the word ‘Prostitute’ written on it. And underneath ‘worthless and devoid of self-respect. Lost in a world of shame and self-hatred.’
The next person’s T shirt said, ‘Addict’ and underneath that it said ‘worthless and devoid of self-control. Lost to an evil power that will always control them.’
The next said ‘Criminally insane.’ And underneath it said, ‘Nothing but a burden on society. Beyond redemption.’
The next said ‘Pervert’. And underneath, ‘Thinks things and does things that are unworthy to be considered human. Lost in a world of perversion and filth.’
But the next t shirt said, ‘Community Leader’ and underneath it said ‘inspires others to do more.’
And the next t shirt said, ‘Philanthropist’ and ‘Donates thousands to worthwhile causes.’
And the next t shirt said ‘Chief Executive Officer’ and ‘leads an organisation of hundreds of people adding value to what they do.’
And the final t shirt said ‘guru’ and ‘helps others find what is truly valuable in life.’
The people, checked into their rooms and put their T shirts on and came down for the welcoming tea and biscuits.
All week they stayed in the retreat centre, doing various activities, always wearing the t shirts that proclaimed their identity and their worth.
On the last day a man came into the room to tell them stories.
He told them a story about a shepherd who left all his other sheep behind to find the sheep that was lost. He told them a story about a woman who turned her whole house upside down to find the coin she had lost. He told a story about a father who had two sons and how he welcomed back the son who had gone away and squandered his inheritance in a land where there was no food and where nobody would give him anything to eat.
And then the man laid his hands on the head of the person wearing the prostitute t shirt and said, ‘Not worthless but priceless. Not lost but found.’
And then he did the same with the person who was wearing the ‘Addict’ T shirt, ‘Not worthless but priceless; not lost but found,’ and the same with the person wearing the ‘Criminally Insane’ T shirt; ‘not worthless but priceless, not lost but found,’ and the same with the one wearing the ‘Pervert’ T shirt; ‘not worthless but priceless, not lost but found.’
And when he had laid hands on them all these he said ‘It’s time to celebrate! Let’s have a party!!’
And the community leader and the philanthropist and the Chief Executive Officer and the guru asked the man, ‘You didn’t lay your hands upon us, are we invited to celebrate too?’
And the man said, ‘All are invited. But not all choose to come.’