so, our three boys went Trick-or-Treating this evening. Tony, the sullen early teen, was dressed as a teenager from the hood. Andrew, our energetic and outgoing six-year-old actor, was Spiderman, complete with cute character immersion. Isaac, his younger brother, had a sheet with holes in it, and he plodded and mumbled from house to house.

when we got back to the house, it was clear that they did not have equal amounts of candy. Andrew, who had gone to several more houses than the other two, had a rich reward for his creative work. Tony, who didn't bother to go up to the door of at least half of the residences, had very few. i suspected that he had eaten a few of his pieces when i wasn't looking, even though they had been strictly instructed not to eat anything until we got home and i could inspect it all.

so, the three dump their treasures on the table. Andrew can't wait to dig in, but little Isaac starts crying when he sees Andrew has more than he does. Tony is sullen. he's a teen. i do some counting and some inspecting. Andrew has 60 pieces, Isaac has 30, and Tony has 10. i do a quick safety test by tasting one of each of their bounties. Tony complains that my so-called inspection fee is a higher percentage for him, and i tell him i'm glad that he understands math at last.

Isaac is simply inconsolable, and Tony will never be happy. so, i step in and make a parenting decision: Andrew will give 10 pieces to Isaac and 10 to Tony. How's that? Now Andrew has 39, Isaac has 39 and Tony has 19. Isaac is consoled at last, but now Andrew is upset. he says he went to extra houses and literally ran the whole time. he thinks he should get more than Isaac, who plodded and held back. i tell him to get over it and eat. but it's clear by he end of the first piece he is not enjoying what he has. i took some of his favorites when i took 20 pieces away from him.

after some time of bickering and disagreement, i make a fatherly declaration: "okay, everyone dump your candy into this bucket!" then i deal it back to them (minus a Whining While Dining Surcharge Fee). now Tony has 30, Isaac has 30, and Andrew has 30. "not fair!" screams Andrew (who now has only half of his original earnings) and Isaac (who is down 9 from the last round). Tony is satisfied and tries to explain to his brothers that this system is fair. see, it's the most fair, because now everyone has the same.

they go around for a long time, and finally i declare: "we're going to do this democratically. who here thinks we should go back to the original way?" Andrew raises his hand. "now, who thinks we should split it up evenly like this?" the other two raise their hands.

"there it is. fair, and democratic. now, i'm going to take 5 pieces from each of you so it will be even, and you can eat and enjoy."

i walked out of the room, knowing i had just seen an important demonstration of economic theory at work. i had taught the boys that free enterprise brings about class envy, so it is bad. i had demonstrated to them that a more controlled economy in which the wealthy are taxed heavily and the wealth redistributed makes the middle class happy, though it costs in additional governmental fees. and i had taught them that socialism is the fairest system of all, especially when the under-achieving masses vote for it in a democratic process. twenty-five pieces for everyone, including dad. not a bad piece of work.

That day He voided every Sabbath,
He healed the Gentiles with His life
Even as Samson chose to love and take the alien as his wife.

Lest we judge His choice unclean
Or think The Prophet took a harlot,
Righteous men should hold their peace. For
Did the Prophet turn and wash the guilty from their acts of scarlet?

Justice bade Him bear their sins: He
Even pitied sinful men,
So He restored them without cost: Within the Law, not without loss.
Until He made low every hill of
Shame, raised every dale, and such were we. Can grace be judged?

Can this One be the Lord of Truth?
His servants live within His shadow;
Round about wherever He searched
In day, by night, He found self-will; for all alike were under sin.
Since all the Light had dwelt in Him,
Their shadows were made light and all alike are brought true Sabbath once again.