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A Massage Therapy Fable

Three families decided to go camping together for the first time. They went out to the campsite, found a suitable spot, and the fathers (naturally) pitched the tents. They were brand-new tents; it was the first time they had been erected. The moms and kids took a look at the tents and noticed that they had a tendency to lean just a bit - or perhaps more than just a bit. And when the slightest breeze came along, the tents seemed to sway precariously. Finally one kid spoke up:"I'm not going in there," she said.

"Neither am I," said her mom. And now all the moms and kids voiced their agreement.

"Well, what are we going to do?" said the dads to each other.

Just then three campers came walking down the path toward the campsite.

Having troubles?" one of the three asked the dads.

"Yeah, we never put these tents up before," replied a dad, "and they're just a little... shaky. Our families won't go inside."

"I'd be glad to help," said one of the three, and went into the nearest tent. "Here's your problem. This tent pole needs adjusting.

He began to move the tent pole back and forth until the tent stood up straight, then went outside brushing his hands together. But as he stood in front of the tent talking with the family that was to occupy it, the tent began to sag again.

"Well," he said, "I think it will be OK to sleep in, but I'll have to come back several times and readjust it."

The second of the three had gone into the second tent and had been studying the pole very closely, rubbing his chin. Finally without a word he walked off a short distance into the woods and came back with a piece of a tree limb about the same circumference as the tent pole.

"We'll fix you right up," he said. He cut the limb carefully down to size, then sawed the tent pole right in half, pushed up the top part of the severed tent pole, stuck in the piece of wood, splinted and bandaged it up tightly, then stood back to look The tent was perfectly straight.

"There you go," he said, "just don't bump up against that pole too hard, and you'll be in good shape."

The third of the three had been sitting on the grass watching all the proceedings with interest. Finally she stood up and walked slowly around the third tent. She reached down and retired one of the ropes that led from the top of the tent pole to a stake in the ground, leaving a little slack in the rope. She walked around to the other side of the tent, untied a rope there, pulled it tighter and retied it, too. The tent stood up perfectly straight. A breeze came along; the tent didn't budge. One of the children ran up and put her arms around her.

"How did you do that?" she asked.

"Well, maybe those other guys were just too intense," she replied.

I want to emphasize here that I do not mean to belittle any genuine health professionals. The work of every type of practitioner is important, and sometimes essential. I intend to make only two points in this story:

1. We should always look for the simplest solution first. Massage therapy is the least risky, least invasive, least expensive treatment for pain, dysfunction and misalignment of the musculo-skeletal system.

2. Bones go where muscles put them. Bones stay where muscles keep them.

The above story is copyrighted 1966 by James Clay. However, anyone wishing to use the above story for the purpose for which it is clearly intended may do so, orally, in print, or in other media, provided they use it without change, including the final italicized paragraphs, with credit to me.