There was a London plumber who was called to fix some pipes at a doctor’s house. While he was doing his job he asked the doctor why he made so much money. The doctor was taken back and asked what the plumber meant. The plumber responded and said that the doctor made a lot more money than he did, but they did the same work. The London plumber explained that the doctor fixed pipes inside of people, and the plumber fixed pipes inside of buildings. Sometimes the pipes were on, and sometimes the pipes were off, the plumber explained. Besides their wages the plumber could see no difference between himself and the doctor.
At first the doctor was insulted. He did not like being directly compared to a London plumber. After all, he had gone to medical school. Then the doctor considered how the plumber had probably been an apprentice for many years before starting work on his own. Suddenly the doctor became determined to figure out a reason why he was better than the plumber. He was sure that somehow he was entitled to the money he made.
Then the doctor had it. He was sure he had bested the London plumber. With a great deal of smugness the doctor asked if the plumber had ever saved a life. The doctor proudly announced that he had saved dozens of lives. The plumber didn’t hesitate for a moment. He recounted a story of when he was called into a flooding orphanage. There were two dozen children locked in a room that was flooding. The valve to stop the water was in the basement which was completely flooded. With great humility the plumber told how he had dove into the basement at great peril for his own life. He had swum to the valve with a heavy wrench in his hand. He used all of his energy to turn the valve with the wrench, and as he passed out he knew he had saved the children.
The doctor remembered that day vividly. He remembered how scared he had been. He was locked in that room and about to drown. He never knew how he had been saved.
The doctor asked the London plumber how he had survived. The plumber shook his head and admitted he hadn’t. He told the doctor that he was an angel now. He told how he was still a plumber in heaven. It was honest work, the plumber said. The doctor asked why the plumber had come to him.
The London plumber told the doctor he was a good man, but he needed to remember where he came from. The doctor sunk his head in shame. He realized that didn’t deserve to make a dime more than the plumber. When he could finally bring himself to lift his head the plumber was gone.
First the doctor went to the bank. Then be brought his savings to the orphanage. It was the first time he had been back since the flood. The old building was filled with children. He pounded on the door, dropped the money, and left.