"Where are you going, boy?" asked the old man

"To the ocean," the boy replied.

"Ah! How delightful! I spent many wonderful days at the ocean when I was a boy. But where are your bucket and shovel?"

"I do not have a bucket or shovel."

"What? This will not do! You must have a bucket and shovel to go to the ocean. Here, wait a minute." The old man went into his house and returned with a small bucket and shovel, which he gave to the boy.

"Thank you," the boy said, and continued on his way to the ocean.

The next day the old man saw the boy again. "Well, how was your day at the ocean?"

"It was very nice, but I'm sorry that I lost your bucket and shovel."

"Lost them? What happened?"

"The ocean took them."

"What do you mean?"

"I walked into the ocean carrying the bucket and shovel, and a big wave came and took them."

"What? You stupid boy! The bucket and shovel were for playing in the sand, not for going into the ocean."

"I did not go to play in the sand. I have plenty of sand here at my house. I went to enter the ocean. I did not know why you gave me the bucket and shovel. I could not think of any use for them, so I just carried them with me and the ocean took them."

Years went by. The boy became a young man. One day he was sitting on a bench in a park with his eyes closed. An old man walked by, noticed the young man, and stopped. The young man realized someone was watching him and opened his eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said the old man. "I did not wish to disturb you, but I could not help wondering what you were doing, sitting so still with your eyes closed."

"I'm searching for God."

"Ah, how delightful! I'm so happy to meet a young person like you. So many of your generation have no interest or respect for such things. But where is your book of holy scripture?"

"I have no book."

"What? This will not do! You must have a book of holy scripture to search for God. Here, wait a minute." He fumbled in his coat pocket and pulled out a small black book, which he offered to the young man.

The young man looked at the book in the old man's hand but did not take it. "What is the matter?" the old man asked.

"I think it is better that I do not accept your offer. You might be mad at me if I find God and he takes your book."