Aesop’s Fables

Thinking Out Loud ~ Listen to the Voice of Wisdom

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

The Fable

“A Wolf was worried and badly bitten by dogs, and lay a long time

for dead. By and by he began to revive, and, feeling very hungry,

called out to a passing Sheep and said, “Would you kindly bring me

some water from the stream close by? I can manage about meat, if

only I could get something to drink.” But this Sheep was no fool.

“I can quite understand”, said he, “that if I brought you the

water, you would have no difficulty about the meat.”

Note: Most people I know have been taken in by the cunning words of someone who was not as kind as they purported to be. It hurts when we discover that someone we trusted, betrayed us. It’s happened to me. I tend to trust. My wife was more careful. I recall two specific incidence where she told me not to trust someone. I asked her why. She’d simply say, ‘His eyes don’t match his smile.’ She was right. I didn’t take her advice the first time and carry the scars. The second time I listened, and it made all the difference. You may have to work with folks whom you can’t trust, but keep your guard up, they’re very good at deception.

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 ~ Give Love & Forgiveness a Chance

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

The Fable

“One hot and thirsty day in the height of summer a Lion and a

Boar came down to a little spring at the same moment to drink. In a

trice they were quarrelling as to who should drink first. The

quarrel soon became a fight and they attacked one another with the

utmost fury. Presently, stopping for a moment to take breath, they

saw some vultures seated on a rock above evidently waiting for one

of them to be killed, when they would fly down and feed upon the

carcass. The sight sobered them at once, and they made up their

quarrel, saying, “We had much better be friends than fight and be

eaten by vultures.”

Note: All I have to do is flip on my TV or turn my iPad to today’s news to see the wisdom in today’s Aesop’s fable. Countries fight inflicting immeasurable pain on each other. The suffering is immense on all sides of the conflict. Courageous people will search for ways to resolve differences before they escalate into a war. Perhaps forgiveness and love should be given a chance.

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

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Oxen and the Axel-Tree. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A pair of Oxen were drawing a heavily loaded wagon along the

highway, and, as they tugged and strained at the yoke, the

Axletrees creaked and groaned terribly. This was too much for the

Oxen, who turned round indignantly and said, “Hullo, you there! Why

do you make such a noise when we do all the work?”

Note: I have a large extended family with lots of uncles, aunts, and cousins. I’ve been present to many family social gatherings. My dad who had jobs as a shoe worker, bartender, and janitor never talked about his work or the people he worked with at these gatherings. There were a couple of uncles who couldn’t stop complaining about their work. The uncles who complained the most were the ones who were always looking for a new job. It’s pretty much a truism, those who do most of the work, don’t complain. They concentrate on getting the job done.

Thinking Out Loud ~ A Lesson from Aesop’s Fable

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

The Fable

“A Farmer, being at death’s door, and desiring to impart to his

Sons a secret of much moment, called them round him and said, “My

sons, I am shortly about to die; I would have you know, therefore,

that in my vineyard there lies a hidden treasure. Dig, and you will

find it.” As soon as their father was dead, the Sons took spade and

fork and turned up the soil of the vineyard over and over again, in

their search for the treasure which they supposed to lie buried

there. They found none, however: but the vines, after so thorough a

digging, produced a crop such as had never before been seen.”

Note: Has it ever happened to you where you wanted something so badly, didn’t get it, felt disappointed, and sometime later looked back and were happy you didn’t get it? You discovered you got something better. It’s happened to me many times. There were times when I prayed and prayed for something. I was sure God wasn’t listening to me. I discovered later that something better was waiting for me. Something that I could not imagine was possible for me. There ae times when all we can do is to trust and keep on working. It may feel like walking in a dense fog where one can only see a few feet. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Keep working. Be open to wonderful surprises.

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 ~ 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.

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