Stone Soup
Parables and Illustrations for Values Education |
In a small village, a woman was a big surprise to see that it had called at his door a stranger, properly dress, asking for something to eat.
-Sorry - she - said but now I have nothing at home.
-Don't worry - he said kindly stranger-I have a stone soup in my bag. If you would allow me to throw it in a pot of boiling water, I would make a delicious soup. A large pot, please.
Picó women curiosity, put the pot into the fire and went to tell the neighbors the story of stone soup.
-Bah, that will be having a few cubes - skeptical said one of them.
-No, no, the spoke of a stone with a delicious soup. That has to be some special invention which has not yet reached our land. In this town we live so far away from civilization...
When water broke to a boil, all the neighborhood had gathered there to see the secret of the strange and their stone soup. The man took an ordinary stone of your bag, threw her in the water that you boiled, proved a spoonful with real delight and cried:
-Delicious! All you need are a few potatoes.
-I have potatoes in my kitchen! -a woman exclaimed excited. And in a few minutes he was back with a great source of peeled potatoes that went right to the pot.
The stranger returned to the stew.
-Excellent! -you said, adding thoughtful:-If we had a little bit of meat, up to do a zancocho of the most divine...
Another housewife ran out and returned with a few ribs of beef introduced the stranger, after politely, accept them in the pot.
When he returned to try the soup, put the eyes in white of satisfaction and said:
-What flavor! If we make a few vegetables, it would be perfect, absolutely perfect...
A neighbour ran to his house and returned with a supply of cassava, Cocoyam, celery, carrots, onion... After introducing the vegetables in the pot, the stranger again proved the stew and convincing tone said:
-The salt! Only missing salt already.
-Here you have it - he told the owner of the House. Then ordered the Lord:
-Dishes for everyone.
People went to his house to find dishes and spoons. Some returned with bread and some fruit. Then they sat down to enjoy the splendid food, while the stranger was abundant portions of his incredible soup. All felt strangely happy while they laughed, chatted and shared his food for the first time. Amid the uproar, the strange snuck silently, leaving after of the miraculous Stone Soup, which they could use whenever they wanted to do an excellent zancocho.
Some theologians think that the true miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes was precisely put people to share what each had. In this way, everyone could fill and even a good amount left over.
Today there is much talk of competitiveness and solidarity is muted. Economic success has become the Supreme value. Money is the decisive criterion of the goodness or badness of any operation, the Holy and sign of respectability or contempt who deserve the companies, people and countries. Pushed and drugged by a culture that insistently promotes the ambition to own, build and consume, human beings are reduced to its mere capacity for income generation and to succeed in the markets. The common good disappears as a central objective of politics and the economy. Social Darwinism, the survival of the strongest, brand relationships.
For this reason, we live in a world where a minority accumulated wealth unimaginable and incredible while billions painfully survive or die of hunger and hardship. 350 families accumulate more wealth than the two billion poor in the world. Die 14 million children each year from diseases associated with poverty. 20% richest population consumes 80% of the resources and energy of the planet and cause 75% of pollution and destruction of the land, which not only deny the possibility of life to current generations, but to the future, and even threatened with the final destruction of the planet. If for the first time the scientific and technological development could allow all the satisfaction of vital needs and access to a decent life, human selfishness leads to a few perish of fill against hunger of the majorities.
Yes, we teach to produce, combat culture rentier, clientele, parasitic, of drones who want to feed on the efforts and work of others, but show also and above all to share. Let's not forget the in-service training and generosity. We teach students that if they have received much, they must be much and that thousands of people, not so privileged as they expect of their solidarity. Let us strive to combat selfishness that is killing us in front.