The Shipwreck

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of
the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.

The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they
had no other recourse but to pray to God.

However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed
to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of
the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the
first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was
able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife
The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a
woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the
island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The
next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second
man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife
could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his
side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and
decided to leave the second man on the island.

He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings,
since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from
heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for
them,” the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so
he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one
prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received
any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for
that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."