Here Stan tells us a fable about how differences can serve cooperation for a larger task.
THE RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL – A STORY
There once lived a rabbit and a squirrel, deep in the forest. It was on a certain autumn day, before the coming winter season, when both the rabbit and the squirrel realized that they were not prepared for winter.
The rabbit said, “How are we going to manage the cold winter? We have no shelter from the ravaging cold winds and no food stored away. What shall we do?”
“I have an idea.” Said the squirrel. “Let’s get together and build a home in the old oak tree. We’ll take turns gnawing at the bark and wood with our sharp teeth and build a space, big enough for both of us to live for the winter.”
So, the rabbit and the squirrel took turns gnawing at the bark and wood of the tree, and managed to create a space within the tree, big enough for both of them to live happily together for the cold winter months.
“But what about our food?” asked the rabbit.
Again the squirrel said, “I have an idea.”
“I’ll gather my food in a special cloth, and you do the same. Then, we’ll bring the two cloth bundles of food into our tree house. We’ll tie the two cloths of food together and share our food for the winter with each other,”
And so, the rabbit agreed, and they both brought their cloths of food together in the tree house and lived happily together for the cold winter months.
Fr. Stan Fontaine
Veronica Dunne is a Sister of our Lady of the Missions (RNDM), who has primarily worked as an educator and counsellor in institutional and community based settings in Canada. She has also served with the RNDMs outside of Canada in Senegal, Peru, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
A 2002 Doctor of Ministry graduate from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto, she subsequently served as director of the Doctor of Ministry program at St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Her current research interests are in eco-theology and cosmology, and their intersections with indigenous cosmologies and spiritualties.
She presently serves on the RNDM leadership team in Canada.
I love this story Veronica! Thank you for sharing. The four-legged and winged and feathered and other creatures of the earth have much to teach if we are inclined to listen.