thinking out loud

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.

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 ~ 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 ~ 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 ~ 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 ~ Is It Time to Test Your Perceptions?

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

The Fable

“The Hares once gathered together and lamented the unhappiness of

their lot, exposed as they were to dangers on all sides and lacking

the strength and the courage to hold their own. Men, dogs, birds

and beasts of prey were all their enemies, and killed and devoured

them daily: and sooner than endure such persecution any longer,

they one and all determined to end their miserable lives. Thus

resolved and desperate, they rushed in a body towards a

neighboring pool, intending to drown themselves. On the bank were

sitting a number of Frogs, who, when they heard the noise of the

Hares as they ran, with one accord leaped into the water and hid

themselves in the depths. Then one of the older Hares who was wiser

than the rest cried out to his companions, “Stop, my friends, take

heart; don’t let us destroy ourselves after all: see, here are

creatures who are afraid of us, and who must, therefore, be still

more timid than ourselves.”

 

Note: As an academic I was a qualitative researcher. My students would go with me to fieldsites to conduct our research. The central point of our research was to gain qualitative data chiefly through interviews. My students understood they were collecting data and not arguing perceptions with the interviewees. They followed the maxim, perception is reality. What we see may not be accurate. We may be seeing it through biased filters, faulty memories, or our own faulty value system. It takes courage to question our perception, beliefs, and other tenets we live by and test them to see if they are accurate or still viable. If we fail to test them we may continue to live life not perceiving reality. Perhaps you know people whose perceptions are based on something that is not true. It’s difficult to convince them of reality and they may end up diving into the pond (as the hares intended to do).

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.

”

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.

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