Relationship

Think Out Loud – A Lesson in Humility

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Monkey as King. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“At a gathering of all the animals the Monkey danced and

delighted them so much that they made him their King. The Fox,

however, was very much disgusted at the promotion of the Monkey: so

having one day found a trap with a piece of meat in it, he took the

Monkey there and said to him, “Here is a dainty morsel I have

found, sire; I did not take it myself, because I thought it ought

to be reserved for you, our King. Will you be pleased to accept

it?” The Monkey made at once for the meat and got caught in the

trap. Then he bitterly reproached the Fox for leading him into

danger; but the Fox only laughed and said, “O Monkey, you call

yourself King of the Beasts and haven’t more sense than to be taken

in like that!”

Note: There’s a country song that has the words, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” Every time I hear the song I chuckle and think of myself until my next humbling experience happens, usually within the hour. Real humility is a sign of strength. It is like the eons of time that passed as the Colorado River wedged its way through the Grand Canyon flowing a mile below the North Rim. Humble people know who they are. They know their strengths and weaknesses. They are aware of their light and dark sides.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Better to be Silent Than be a Fool

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Old Crab and His Mother. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“An Old Crab said to her son, “Why do you walk sideways like

that, my son? You ought to walk straight.” The Young Crab replied,

“Show me how, dear mother, and I’ll follow your example.” The Old

Crab tried, but tried in vain, and then saw how foolish she had

been to find fault with her child.”

Note: I love the fall in the U.S. I especially love football season. A few of the teams I’m rooting for are having a very good season. And one team I’ve rooted for since childhood is having a terrible season. When I have a conversation with other U.S. football enthusiasts it’s easy to see how all of our teams would be much better only if we were the coach. Why, our teams wouldn’t lose a game because we have insights into strategies that no one else has thought about. That sounds ridiculous, and it is, but it is part of the conversation. It’s always easy to criticize when you’re not caught in the middle and have to live the part. I think this week I’ll be lot easier on my teams, their players and the coaches. Afterall, I don’t want to be the Old Crab in the fable.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Actions Count – A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Boasting Traveler. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Man once went abroad on his travels, and when he came home he

had wonderful tales to tell of the things he had done in foreign

countries. Among other things, he said he had taken part in a

jumping-match at Rhodes, and had done a wonderful jump which no one

could beat. “Just go to Rhodes and ask them,” he said; “every one

will tell you it’s true.” But one of those who were listening said,

“If you can jump as well as all that, we needn’t go to Rhodes to

prove it. Let’s just imagine this is Rhodes for a minute: and

now—jump!”

 

Note: Actions count. Words not so much. I tire quickly when I am in the company of someone who tells how great he/she is or how I should act. They will brag of their successes and share their contempt for anyone who stood in their way. They will encourage me to be more like them and less like me. I quit listening ten seconds into their sermon and contemplate how to exit the situation. When we are sure of who we are, there is no need to boast. We let our actions do all the talking that needs to be done.

Thinking Out Loud ~ It’s What Friends are All About – A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables

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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.

Thinking Out Loud ~ We May Not Be as Important as We Believe We Are

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Gnat and the Bull. Aesop’s

Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Gnat alighted on one of the horns of a Bull, and remained

sitting there for a considerable time. When it had rested

sufficiently and was about to fly away, it said to the Bull, “Do

you mind if I go now?” The Bull merely raised his eyes and

remarked, without interest, “It’s all one to me; I didn’t notice

when you came, and I shan’t know when you go away.”

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Note: One of the observations I’ve had while working in academia is that many professors have an inflated sense of self importance. There were times when I was attending meetings that I thought I was experiencing Dante’s seventh circle of hell. One or two people monopolized the conversations going on and on about something that was important to them but to no one else. Like many academic meetings, the meetings ended with nothing accomplished. People who make a difference are the people we miss when they go away. The gnats, not so much.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Know When to Step In and Know When to Stand Aside

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Dolphins, Whales, and the Sprat. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“The Dolphins quarreled with the Whales, and before very long they began fighting with one another. The battle was very fierce, and had lasted some time without any sign of coming to an end, when a Sprat  thought that perhaps he could stop it; so he stepped in and tried [a small fish of the herring family] to persuade them to give up fighting and make friends. But one of the Dolphins said to him contemptuously, “We would rather go on fighting till we’re all killed than be reconciled by a Sprat like you!”

 Note: I come from a large extended family, lots of uncles, aunts, and cousins. I enjoyed all of them, but there were some who didn’t enjoy each other. In one family, when my uncle died, my aunt changed her will to make her daughter the executor instead of the oldest son (large families like to gossip about each other when they get together and one family is missing). The family was split between siblings who favored my aunts decision and siblings who disagreed. They stopped talking to each other. A well intentioned uncle tried to broker peace and help them to reconcile. His reward? Both sides stopped speaking to him. There are times, especially in relationship problems, to stand on the sidelines, especially when you are friendly with both parties, and hope the disagreeing factions will come to their senses.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Are You Being Duped? Check Out Today’s Aesop’s Fable

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Wolf resolved to disguise himself in order that he might prey

upon a flock of sheep without fear of detection. So he clothed

himself in a sheepskin, and slipped among the sheep when they were

out at pasture. He completely deceived the shepherd, and when the

flock was penned for the night he was shut in with the rest. But

that very night as it happened, the shepherd, requiring a supply of

mutton for the table, laid hands on the Wolf in mistake for a

Sheep, and killed him with his knife on the spot.”

 

Note: Some folks consider themselves clever. They believe they’re smarter than everyone else; they believe they can manipulate everyone else. They do, until the people who are being taken advantage of decide enough is enough and confront the situation demanding honesty. It’s not always easy because the clever ones couch their motives as if they are working in our best interests when they are serving their self interests. In the end karma catches up to them. When we measure a person’s words through his/her actions we can see if they are working in our best interests or if they have another scheme afoot. We are not powerless. We don’t have to be duped.

Thinking Out Loud ~ The Fox and the Stork, A Lesson from Aesop’s Fable

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Fox and the Stork. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Fox invited a Stork to dinner, at which the only fare provided

was a large flat dish of soup. The Fox lapped it up with great

relish, but the Stork with her long bill tried in vain to partake

of the savory broth. Her evident distress caused the sly Fox much

amusement. But not long after the Stork invited him in turn, and

set before him a pitcher with a long and narrow neck, into which

she could get her bill with ease. Thus, while she enjoyed her

dinner, the Fox sat by hungry and helpless, for it was impossible

for him to reach the tempting contents of the vessel.”

 

Note: I enjoyed this fable. It tells us so much about life. When we are trying to get one up on another it’s only a matter of time before the tables are turned. The cycle keeps repeating until we realize that it is better to cooperate despite differences. It is always possible to find a workable way among people who disagree. It takes hard work and a willingness to try to create something that benefits everyone.

Thinking Out Loud ~ A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables about Consequences

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Mistress and Her Servants. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Widow, thrifty and industrious, had two servants, whom she

kept pretty hard at work. They were not allowed to lie long abed in

the mornings, but the old lady had them up and doing as soon as the

cock crew. They disliked intensely having to get up at such an

hour, especially in winter-time: and they thought that if it were

not for the cock waking up their Mistress so horribly early, they

could sleep longer. So they caught it and wrung its neck. But they

weren’t prepared for the consequences. For what happened was that

their Mistress, not hearing the cock crow as usual, waked them up

earlier than ever, and set them to work in the middle of the

night.

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Note: I live near a large park with wilderness trails, warnings of rattlesnakes, coyotes, mountain lions, javelinas and more. I do not stray off the created trails. I witnessed a hawk diving toward an open space and snagging a squirrel. Good for the hawk, tough for the squirrel. There are consequences in nature. There are also consequences in our lives. Although we cannot foresee what will happen, we can predict outcomes with a high degree of accuracy. For example, if I continually show up late for work, I’ll be fired. Conversely, if I apply myself and work hard, I’ll succeed. Consequences can be good or bad. We have a choice.

Thinking Out Loud ~ The North Wind and the Sun ~ Wisdom from Aesop’s Fables

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, North Wind and the Sun. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A dispute arose between the North Wind and the Sun, each

claiming that he was stronger than the other. At last they agreed

to try their powers upon a traveler, to see which could soonest

strip him of his cloak. The North Wind had the first try; and,

gathering up all his force for the attack, he came whirling

furiously down upon the man, and caught up his cloak as though he

would wrest it from him by one single effort: but the harder he

blew, the more closely the man wrapped it round himself. Then came

the turn of the Sun. At first he beamed gently upon the traveler,

who soon unclasped his cloak and walked on with it hanging loosely

about his shoulders: then he shone forth in his full strength, and

the man, before he had gone many steps, was glad to throw his cloak

right off and complete his journey more lightly clad.”

 

Note: We see it all around us. It doesn’t matter where we live. Many believe in the myth that power is better than gentle persuasion. Force may require physical compliance, but it never captures or converts the heart. St. Francis of Assisi said that the best sermons were those preached through one’s actions. Our lives matter and how we act takes on great significance when we realize others are watching us to see if the words we speak align with the actions we take.

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