The Smoke Signal
StoryParable★★★★The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him for the elements and to store his few possessions. But one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with the smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me!” he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers.
“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
Unknown
The point
A shipwreck survivor builds a hut, which burns down; his anger turns to gratitude when rescuers explain they saw the smoke signal.