The Moral Of The Story

Since childhood, I have always loved fables and allegories, as well as the parables in The Bible. Indeed, one of my favorites is The Widow’s Two Mites in Luke 21. As a little girl, I used to listen intently to the story of the poor widow who gave more generously to charity than anyone else in the temple, because she gave all that she had. The life lessons and spiritual wisdom in these stories fascinated me.

Recently, I discovered an amusing tale that deals with both the ego and the need to be pragmatic. Three monks sat on a bankside, each in deep meditation. One of the monks, however, became cold, and this interrupted his ability to meditate. He told the other two that he was heading back to their cabin to find his blanket. Off he went, crossing the stream both ways with no problem. Soon he was back, in next to no time, and as dry as he was when he had left.

A short while later, another monk remembered that he had not left his wet clothes out to dry, so he too needed to head back to the cabin to tend to his laundry. Off he also went. The third monk saw, in amazement, how he easily walked across the water back to the cabin, and when he returned, just like the other monk, he was as dry as he had set off.

Seeing his two fellow monks cross the creek without getting wet infuriated the third monk. “So, you think you are both better than me!” he yelled at them. “Well, I will show you that if you can walk on water, then so can I!”

He ran up to the stream, put his foot on the surface of the water and instantly fell in, waist-deep! As a result, the third monk became even angrier and yet more determined to walk on the water. But time and time again he attempted to cross the creek without getting wet, but to no avail.

Distraught by his many failed attempts, one of the other two monks turned around to his friend and said, “Don’t you think it is time we tell him where those stepping stones are?”

This story did not only make me smile, but it also made me reflect upon my life. Indeed, there have been times when I allowed my ego, needlessly, to stand in the way of my better judgment. Like that third monk, I have also allowed myself to become envious and upset by comparing my own achievements to that of others.

Stories are our primary tools of learning and teaching, the repositories of our lore and legends. They bring order into our confusing world. Think about how many times a day you use stories to pass along data, insights, memories or common-sense advice ~ Edward Miller

But I have since learned that being realistic about my own skills and abilities, and learning from other people, was the better way to go. Thankfully, I have become a much more empowered and enlightened person who now leads a more abundant life as a result.

Another parable I was drawn to during the pandemic, since I have been doing a lot of reading during this time, was that of The Butterfly Struggle. It is the tale of a man who finds the cocoon of a butterfly, which he takes home with him. For hours, he watches the butterfly struggle hard to break free from the cocoon.

At some point, the kind-hearted gentleman feels so sorry for the struggling butterfly that he takes his scissors and gently cuts part of the cocoon so that the butterfly can break free mor easily – which it does. However, rather than flying away to freedom, as it should, the butterfly has to struggle all its life by limping around and never able to take flight.

You see, if the butterfly had been allowed to break free of its own accord, this would have forced fluid from its body into its wings so that it would then be able to fly. Sadly, the man’s well-meaning intentions destroyed this possibility forever.

This story really made me look at how I had helped other people in the past and whether or not I was genuinely empowering them in the process. You see, spirit always likes us to give to, and assist our fellow man. However, it is how we go about doing this, and how much we offer them that matters. Otherwise, like that poor butterfly, we may stop them from achieving true success in life, perhaps even permanently. As the story tells suggests, sometimes, a personal struggle really is necessary.

Finally, there is the inspirational story of a church verger that positively influenced my life. The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham is the tale of a church caretaker who cannot read or write. One day, a new vicar arrives at the church and says that he only wants a verger who is literate and therefore, sadly, the old verger is asked to leave.

Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity ~ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi

Obviously, the poor gentleman is very downhearted and does not know what to do. After all, he cannot read and write and therefore does not have much chance, he believes, in finding another job. Nevertheless, he is sensible with his severance money and invests in a small business. In time, he turns out to be a particularly good businessman, and his success allows him to invest in further enterprises, until he becomes an extremely wealthy person.

Due to his success, he needed to open a new bank account at some point. Sadly, because he is illiterate, he could not sign his name on the required paperwork. Upon discovering this, the astounded bank manager says to him, “You cannot sign your name, yet you are such a good businessman? I wonder how successful you might have been, had you been able to read and write!”

“I would have just been a church verger,” was the man’s sober reply.

Many times, in my professional life, I have felt like that church verger. However, I remained positive and put my skills and talents to the best possible use. Thankfully, I eventually found myself in a better place, even after many failures and setbacks.