Parables and Metaphors,

   I call this fun with the dictionary. I pick two similar words and compare them to each other. Today being a Friday, let's go with two words used a lot lately in everyday speech. The two contestants are, Parable and Metaphor, what is the difference? And, in the form of a caveat, should you care? So we go first to our dictionary, and find the word Metaphor. Turns out that a metaphor can be a word or a short sentence, a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as if it were another. The word metaphor comes right before the word metaphysical and followed closely by metaphysics. The grouping ends with the next word after metaphysics, that being, Metastasis which is about cancer, so we'll close on that bummer. Next of course is our old friend Parable. 

  Though similar to a metaphor which is always a short reference, a Parable is a story. A short simple story teaching a moral lesson. Directly following our word parable is the word parabola, which has to do with math, (a curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to the side.) I find this fascinating, though I don't know why. Now if math is too much for you, not to worry, because the next word is parachute so you can always parachute your way out. After your feet are back firmly on the ground you can go and enjoy the Parade which is our next word. Next in alphabetical order is paradigm which is an example of a declination or conjugation, giving all inflections of the word. Last on our list of follow-up words to Parable. Quick note, Jesus spoke often in Parables. Last but certainly not least is the great word Paradise, Heaven, any place or state of great happiness.