I would like to share a parable.  

A man died and left his 17 camels to be divided among his 3 sons.  One was to get 1/9; one was to get ½; and the other was to get 1/3 of the camels.  But 17 camels aren’t divisible by 3 or even 2. 

The sons argued long and loud about how to divide the camels.  Finally, in desperation they agreed to ask a certain wise man what to do.  He was seated in front of his tent with his own camel staked out back.  After hearing their case, the wise man took his own camel and added it to the other 17 camels. 

This confused the young men until he gave 1/9 of the camels to the young man, which equaled 2.  Then he gave ½ of the camels to the other son which equaled 9 camels.  Then to the final son he gave 1/3- which equaled 6 camels.  Besides that he still had his own camel left. 

The brothers were so engrossed in their controversy that they failed to realize that their point of reference was too small.  The wise man saw this controversy from a more enlightened view.  His momentary sacrifice of his own camel provided a solution for the brothers at no cost to himself.