There is a little story we were told while in Argentina that bears the retelling.
It begins with a benevolent God planning to create a new country he wanted to call Argentina.
Not wishing to impose his ideas without consultation he called together a cross section of those who lived in the country and after telling them of his plan offered to grant them three wishes.
They eagerly agreed and asked that their first wish be for a green and pleasant land that was rich and fertile, filled with minerals and able to support not only themselves but many of their neighbouring countries as well. God thought this an admirable idea and granted their wish.
For our second wish the people of Argentina proclaimed “We would like to have a climate that was second to none. Hot dry summers warm wet winters. That way our fertile lands will grow abundant foods and wines and give our cattle the best prospects of prospering.”
God thought this an admirable idea and granted their wish.
When asked about their third and final wish the people thought about it for a while, and then with smiling faces asked: “Can we have a country peopled with happy go lucky people who realise what it is you have given them and can by their own hard work and endeavours reap the befits of the rewards you have given them.
God thought this an admirable idea and granted their wish.
But then the people of Argentina realised what they had omitted to ask for and pleaded “Dear God can we also have a good and stable government that leads us well, taxes us fairly and governs without corruption?”
Despite being a benevolent God, his reply was delivered in a sombre tone. “My people,” he said “I offered you three wishes and you chose all three yourselves.