I have endeavored over the years not to inject political discourse into this weekly inspirational, however, the events we’ve all witnessed in Washington D.C. over the past few weeks speaks to a dearth of understanding by our elected officials in all branches of government as to one of the basic truths of citizenship and community: In our common affairs we pull and lift together, or we perish.
The following fable illustrates that point.
THE QUAILS
Ages ago a flock of more than a thousand quails lived together in a forest in India. They would have been happy, but that they were in great dread of their enemy, the quail catcher. He used to imitate the call of the quail; and when they gathered together in to answer to it, he would throw a great net over them, stuff them into his basket, and carry them away to be sold.
Now, one of the quails was very wise, and said: “Brothers and Sisters! I’ve thought of a good plan. In the future, as soon as the fowler throws his net over us, let each one put his head through a mesh in the net, and then all lift it up together and fly away with it. When we have flown far enough, we can let the net drop on a thorn bush and escape.”
All agreed to the plan. The next day when the fowler threw his net, the birds all lifted it together in the very way that the wise quail had told them, threw it on a thorn bush and escaped. While the fowler tried to free his net from the thorns, it grew dark, and he had to go home.
This happened many days, till at last the fowler’s wife grew angry and asked her husband: “Why is it that you never catch any more quail?”
Then the fowler said: “The trouble is that all the birds work together and help one another. If they would only quarrel, I could catch them fast enough.”
A few days later, one of the quails accidentally trod on the head of another quail, as they alighted on the feeding ground.
“Who trod on my head?” angrily inquired the quail who was hurt.
“Don’t be angry, I didn’t mean to tread on you,” said the first quail.
But the quail went on quarreling.
“I lifted all the weight of the net! You didn’t help at all!” he cried.
That made the first quail angry, and before long all were drawn into the dispute. Then the fowler saw his chance. He imitated the cry of the quail and cast his net over those who came together. They were still boasting and quarreling, and they did not help one another lift the net. So the hunter lifted the net himself and crammed them into his basket. But the wise quail who avoided the dispute and stayed away from the fray, gathered his friends together and flew far away, for he knew that quarrels are the root of misfortune.”
Purpose is a very powerful thing when aligned properly. Misused or hidden it can become a powerful weapon in the hands of a destructor. Each of us is a part of a larger whole (family, friends, companies, churches, etc.) and, in that capacity, we understand that often it is necessary for us to check our personal purposes for harmony with the group, lest we impede the viability of the its purpose. This applies equally to those who govern and to those who are governed. It is each person’s responsibility to work for the common good in each interaction.
“There is open to us a noble pursuit, to which the spirit of the times strongly invites us. Our proper business is improvement. Let our age be the age of improvement. In a day of peace, let us advance the arts of peace. Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered. Let us cultivate a true spirit of union and harmony. In pursuing the great objects which our condition points out to us, let us act under a settled conviction, and a habitual feeling, that these United States are one country. Let our conception be enlarged to the circle of our duties. Let us extend our ideas over the whole of the vast field in which we are called to act. Let our object be, OUR COUNTRY, OUR WHOLE COUNTRY, AND NOTHING BUT OUR COUNTRY. And by the blessing of God, may that country itself become a vast and splendid monument, not of oppression and terror, but of Wisdom, of Peace, and of Liberty, upon which the world may gaze with admiration for ever!”
– Daniel Webster (1782 – 1852) Speech to the U.S. House of Representatives, June 17, 1825
Today, with a Congress and Executive branch more inclined toward stalemate than statesmanship, we are in desperate need of “wise quails” like Webster. But, one thing we clearly do not need is more quarreling and disharmony. For, when such discord permeates our political, business or personal lives, we lose a part of our soul to the evil one, whose “soul” objective is to cover us in his net and haul us away.
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacque’