This story of Khalil Gibran’s I read quite some time ago, and I like to quote it from time to time as it helps to unmask the guilt complex which has done so much harm to so many.

“In a large, large city there was a dog that was a preacher, an apostle, a missionary, and exhorted other dogs to virtue and to service. He preached to them for their moral uplift, and once he undertook a campaign against that most uncivilised of all dogs’ habits: barking. He preached to them: ‘Do not bark. Barking is bad manners; by barking we lose ninety per cent of our energies in a silly way, and besides we annoy all humans. That is why we have never advanced in our lives through history. Now we know better. Out with the bad habit! No barking from now!’

But it is not easy for dogs to stop barking. It is an instinct with them. In fact they only feel happy when the bark: ‘Wuau, wuau, wuau!’ It is their own catharsis. They did listen to the missionary dog who preached to them a kingdom of peace where no one would bark and no one would quarrel, and all dogs would be deeply religious and concerned for one another. But they went on barking. ‘Wuau, wuau, wuau!’ They would listen to his sermons, and then they would approach him and tell him: ‘You are perfectly right. You are a great person, an extraordinary dog and a great preacher, and all that you say is true. But we are poor dogs, we are frail and weak, and we cannot do without barking. We feel guilty as the poor sinners we are, we feel ashamed of ourselves, but we cannot help it.’ And they barked on, ‘Wuau, wuau, wuau!’

One day all dogs got together by themselves without the missionary dog, and discussed the situation as they felt very sorry for their sins. Someone proposed a remedy, between barks, which would enable them to show their good will at least, as they were not able to quit barking altogether. He said: ‘The missionary dog is a very good dog and wants only our good. But we are not able to do what he tells us. So let us please him al least for a day. If we cannot let off barking for ever, let us do it at least for one day in the year to show that we appreciate what he tells us, and thus to ease our own consciences. Besides, we are going to choose for that day the missionary dog’s own birthday. On that day none of us will bark even once. Non-Barking Day. It will be hard, but we’ll hold on for twenty-four hours. And we are not going to tell him anything. It must be a surprise. That will make the good missionary dog very happy.’ They all agreed and barked out their satisfaction: ‘Wuau, wuau, wuau!’

Well thought, well done. The birthday came, and not a bark. The missionary dog was overjoyed. ‘My labours bore fruit at last! The dogs have listened to my message and have reformed their lives. See, no one barks at all. A new age has dawned on our race.’ He waited anxiously the whole day, but not a bark. He was afraid what would happen at night when barking is unavoidable, but even then not a sound was heard in the whole city. His mission had succeeded.

But then he began to worry. ‘If all the dogs stop barking… what am I to do now? The only thing I know is to preach to them that they should not bark. If they do not bark, my mission is over. I’m out of a job. Poor me! What will happen to me?’ And he began to roam through the streets, his heart swayed between worry and hope, but… nothing again. All the wretched dogs were dying to bark, but they held fast thinking there were only a few hours left for their deliverance, and then they would make up for their enforced silence. ‘I don’t only lose my job’, the missionary dog went on to worry, ‘but also all my influence, my position, my power over society. Who am I if I am not the apostle of freedom from barking? And how can I be the apostle of freedom from no barking if nobody barks? That is the end of my prestige and the end of my power. Something has to be done.’

The missionary dog entered a dark alley. No sound. He drifted listlessly into a cul-de-sac. Nothing. Then he looked around in the darkness. He made sure nobody was watching him…, and quietly first and with full purpose on the increase, he himself started barking louder and louder: ‘Wuau, wuau, wuau!’ Another dog heard it without knowing who was barking, and thought, ‘Well, if one barks, so can two.’ And he barked, ‘Wuau!’ A third dog barked, ‘Wuau!’ And so more and more through the whole city. The prohibition was lifted, and the night woke up. ‘Wuau, wuau, wuau!’

The missionary dog breathed his relief. He had a job again. He had his power back, he has his influence, he had his power. He waited till the dawn, left then his hiding place, and began to preach again.”