Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Bear and the Travelers. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.
The Fable
“Two Travelers were on the road together, when a Bear suddenly
appeared on the scene. Before he observed them, one made for a tree
at the side of the road, and climbed up into the branches and hid
there. The other was not so nimble as his companion; and, as he
could not escape, he threw himself on the ground and pretended to
be dead. The Bear came up and sniffed all round him, but he kept
perfectly still and held his breath: for they say that a bear will
not touch a dead body. The Bear took him for a corpse, and went
away. When the coast was clear, the Traveler in the tree came
down, and asked the other what it was the Bear had whispered to him
when he put his mouth to his ear. The other replied, “He told me
never again to travel with a friend who deserts you at the first
sign of danger.”
Note: A friend is someone we count on when the going gets tough. I have lots of folks I’m friendly with. I know and am friendly with all my neighbors. But who can I count on when my back is against the wall? I am fortunate to have friends who would drop everything and help me. I hope they feel the same way about me. True friends are the glue that holds society together. Life has its difficult moments for everyone. During those difficult moments a faithful friend offers the strength we need to grind through. I hope you have true friends and offer true friendship to others.