There is a fable about some scientists at Smolensk
University, who decided to develop a fish that could live out of water.
So, choosing some healthy red herrings, they bred, cross-bred, hormoned and chromosomed until at length they had a fish that could
live, at least exist out of water.
The local commissioner was not satisfied. True, the fish had survived till now on rarefied gas, but how about reactionary tendencies. They suspected the fish had a secret yen for water.
"You have neglected education," said he. "Start over and this time do not neglect education." So again, they bred, crossbred, hormoned and chromonosomed, and this time they did not neglect education--down to the smallest reflex. The result? A red herring that would rather die than get its tail wet. The slightest suggestion of humidity filled its body with dread.
Thought control had done its perfect work, and with possible exception of the red herring, everyone was happy. Surely this year's Stalin prize would go to the scientists at Smolensk University.
Now the world must see the triumph of Soviet research. The commissioner who had thought of education must take the fish on a tour.
Some where in Czechoslovakia the
tragedy occured. Quite accidently, according to the official
report, the red herring fell into a pool of water. Deep in the
green translucent stuff it lay, eyes and gills clamped shut...afraid
to move lest it become wetter. And of course, it could not
breathe--every reflex said no to that. Never did a fish so wet
feel like a fish out of water. But there was nothing to
breathe. Only water. So the red herring drew a tentative
gill full. Its eyes bulged, it breathed again. Its jaw flew open.
It flicked a fin, and then another, and wiggled with delight. Then it
darted away.
The fish had discovered water.
We were made to worship God just as the fish
was made to swim and live in water. Remember Augustine's prayer
to God, "Thou hast made us for thyself and we are restless until we
rest in thee."