First Thing First

The king donned a disguise to observe the condition of his subjects. However, his mind was troubled by a pressing issue. The walls surrounding his fort-city had crumbled and required extensive repairs. On top of that, a gang of bandits was harassing the citizens. He knew he needed to capture them, but he was unsure which of these urgent needs should receive his attention first.

As he wandered through the village, the king noticed a farmer erecting a fence around his field. Yet, he also saw that the field was overrun with weeds, which jeopardized the crop’s health.
“Brother, why don’t you remove the weeds first?” he inquired of the farmer.

“I can do that at any time. But what if stray cattle enter my field? I must protect it first!” the farmer replied, emphasizing the urgency of his situation.

This conversation helped the king resolve the conflict in his own mind. Recognizing the importance of prioritizing urgent needs, he devoted his attention to strengthening the walls first, understanding that the security of his kingdom came before all else.