Three men were standing around a table on which a complicated and detailed map was laid out.  The table was inside a tent.  They were arguing, and had been arguing every day for weeks - months even.  The map clearly showed a certain field in which one might find a source of important nourishment, but the way to the field was somewhat maze-like and offered more than one path through the maze.

The men were starving, and the absence of the wanted nourishment sometimes made them pevish and harsh with each other.

In the corner of the room on occasion lay an old man, napping.

Periodically he would wake up and remind the men that they could just explore the territory personally, and stop arguing with each other about the map ... the territory after all was right outside the tent.

Mostly they ignored him.

Sometimes he disappeared for a time.   Having investigated the territory already, and found his path through the maze, he would go to the field and take its nourishment on a regular basis.  Well fed he was able to work outside the map-room-tent, accomplishing many tasks in the world.  Always when he returned to the map room he found the men arguing.  Sometimes there were many and sometimes just a few, ... but always they were arguing and discussing the details of the map.

He liked going to the map room when he needed a nap, because the arguments were often superficial and boring, and that would soon help him set aside his outer world cares and help him drift into deep, yet not dreamless, sleep.