In a time when we seem to be experiencing more and more “supply chain” shortages, the one thing that societally we seem to have in overabundance of is opinions. This tale reminds us of the undeniable truth that it is not necessarily how much we know, but what we know, that really matters.
It happened some time ago, in an age of fantasy, that Ms. Cat met Mr. Fox in the Enchanted Wood, and because she knew of him as being clever, experienced, and shrewd in the many ways of the world, she was careful to greet him in a friendly manner.
“Good morning, my dear Mr. Fox! I pray that you feel as well as you look. My world, how do you get along apparently so well in these troubled and hard times we live in?”
Mr. Fox, full of pride, gazed at Ms. Cat from head to foot for what felt like a somewhat uncomfortable amount of time. Not knowing if he was going to say anything, Ms. Cat began to turn away. Finally, with a sly smile, the fox replied: “Oh, you poor whisker wiper, you silly piebald, you starveling mouse hunter! Are you mad? Who do you think you are, deeming yourself to be fit to inquire as to how I am getting on? What sort of education have you had? How many arts are you master of?”
“Only one,” Ms. Cat meekly answered.
“And pray, what might that be?” Mr. Fox haughtily asked.
“When the dogs run after me, I can leap into a tree and save myself.”
“Is that all?” the fox retorted. “I am master of a hundred arts, and I have a sack-full of cunning tricks to boot. Alas, though you hardly seem worth saving, come and follow me and I will show you how to escape that blithering pack of curs.”
Just then, a hunter came along with four hounds ahead of him. The cat immediately sprang trembling into the nearest tree and then crept steadily up to its topmost branches where she blended away from sight amid the twigs and leaves.
“Hurry, open your sack, Mr. Fox! Let loose your tricks now!” cried Ms. Cat, but it was too late. The dogs had him pinned hard and fast.
“Oh Mr. Fox!” cried Ms. Cat, “you with your hundred arts and sack-full of tricks, are now in the jaws of a deathtrap, while I with my one meager talent, am safe. Had you only have been able to accept my talent as being equal to even one of your many, you would not have lost your two most important treasures: your freedom and your life.”
A proud person is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. – C. S. Lewis
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque