Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud ~ We’re Better Together. A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Lion and The Three Bulls. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“Three Bulls were grazing in a meadow, and were watched by a

Lion, who longed to capture and devour them, but who felt that he

was no match for the three so long as they kept together. So he

began by false whispers and malicious hints to foment jealousies

and distrust among them. This stratagem succeeded so well that ere

long the Bulls grew cold and unfriendly, and finally avoided each

other and fed each one by himself apart. No sooner did the Lion see

this than he fell upon them one by one and killed them in turn.”

Note: Disputes happen. If we’re not careful we can let an angry word drive us apart. I’ve witnessed good friends stop speaking because of some foolish event. I’ve seen families split apart because there was no forgiveness. I’ve seen people protect their grudges with more strength than they would protect a loved one. It doesn’t make sense of many levels. To my way of thinking peace is better than war. Love is better than hate. Forgiveness is better than holding tightly to a grudge. We’re better together and the more we are together and expand our circles, the better we’ll be.

Thinking Out Loud ~ A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables About Courage

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

The Fable

“A Fox who had never seen a Lion one day met one, and was so

terrified at the sight of him that he was ready to die with fear.

After a time he met him again, and was still rather frightened, but

not nearly so much as he had been when he met him first. But when

he saw him for the third time he was so far from being afraid that

he went up to him and began to talk to him as if he had known him

all his life.”

Note: Our parents, neighbors, culture, and friends often unknowingly pass on biases to us. We learn early on to fear, dislike, or even hate those who are different from us. They may worship differently, they may talk differently, they may have a different skin color. The list goes on, we learned that being different from us is dangerous. If we have courage, we dare to move into a space that allows us to enter a dialogue with those who are different from us. If we’re patient we learn that most differences are superficialities. We learn that we share similar human experiences. We discover we desire the same things. Those who remain blinded by their biases miss out on beauty of our world and the wonderful gifts people whom we initially viewed as different from us bring to us.

Thinking Out Loud ~ A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables

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

The Fable

“A Tortoise, discontented with his lowly life, and envious of the

birds he saw disporting themselves in the air, begged an Eagle to

teach him to fly. The Eagle protested that it was idle for him to

try, as nature had not provided him with wings; but the Tortoise

pressed him with entreaties and promises of treasure, insisting

that it could only be a question of learning the craft of the air.

So at length the Eagle consented to do the best he could for him,

and picked him up in his talons. Soaring with him to a great height

in the sky he then let him go, and the wretched Tortoise fell

headlong and was dashed to pieces on a rock.”

Note: Knowing ones’ self is tough to do. Aristotle framed it this way, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” When we know ourselves we can set boundaries. We can say, “I am this.” Or, “I am not this.” When we know ourselves it becomes easier to make decisions. We make decisions based on a solid foundation. For me, I knew I was born to love my wife and family. Everything else either supported that or I let it go. My wife is no longer here, but I have no regrets because I knew what I was born to do.

Thinking Out Loud ~ There are Multiple Perspectives

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

The Fable

“A Man and a Lion were companions on a journey, and in the course

of conversation they began to boast about their prowess, and each

claimed to be superior to the other in strength and courage. They

were still arguing with some heat when they came to a cross-road

where there was a statue of a Man strangling a Lion. “There!” said

the Man triumphantly, “look at that! Doesn’t that prove to you that

we are stronger than you?” “Not so fast, my friend,” said the Lion:

“that is only your view of the case. If we Lions could make

statues, you may be sure that in most of them you would see the Man

underneath.”

Note: My life would be much easier if everyone saw things the way I see them. It would also be boring if that were the case. In most cases there is my way, your way, and if we want to grow, a better way. Discovering the better way requires large doses of courage and humility mixed in equal proportions. Discovering a better way requires hard work and patience. A better way doesn’t appear by magic. It takes honest conversation and an openness to the insights that emerge from honest conversations. The man and the lion each saw the world from their perspective. They didn’t see the whole world, only the slice they wanted to see.

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