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An engineer, a psychologist, and a theologian were
hunting in the wilderness of Maine.
Suddenly, the temperature dropped and a furious
snowstorm was upon them. They came across an
isolated cabin, far removed from any town. The hunters had
heard that the locals in the area were quite hospitable,
so they knocked on the door to ask permission to rest
and shelter.
No one answered their knocks, but they discovered the
cabin was unlocked and they entered. It was a simple
place; two rooms with a minimum of furniture and
household equipment. Nothing was unusual about the
cabin except the stove. It was large, pot-bellied,
and made of cast-iron. What was strange about it was
its location; it was suspended in midair by wires
attached to the ceiling beams.
"Fascinating," said the psychologist. "It is obvious
that this lonely trapper, isolated from humanity,
has elevated this stove so that he can curl up under
it and vicariously experience a return to the womb."
"Nonsense!" replied the engineer. "The man is
practicing the laws of thermodynamics. By
elevating his stove, he has discovered a way to distribute
heat more evenly throughout the cabin."
"With all due respect," interrupted the theologian,
"I'm sure that hanging his stove from the ceiling
has religious meaning. Fire "lifted up" has been a
religious symbol for centuries."
The three debated the point for several hours without
resolving the issue. When the trapper finally
returned, they immediately asked him why he had hung
his heavy pot-bellied stove from the ceiling.
His answer was succinct. "Had plenty of wire, not
Much stove pipe."
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