Still love listening to Grandma’s stories, sitting on the floor besides the fire-place and sparkling Xmas tree. Child-like, nostalgic next to her ancient rocking chair. On Xmas Eve she narrated the ‘Stone Soup’ story, reflecting true Xmas spirit.
Imagine a world in which we shared our gifts, bounty rather than just focus on self preservation? A traveler once came into a town beset by famine. Inhabitants tried to discourage traveler from staying, fearing he would want some food. Told him in no uncertain terms there was no food to spare.
Traveler explained he didn’t want any food. In fact, he planned to make a soup to share with them. Villagers watched curiously, suspiciously as he built a fire, filled a cauldron with water. With great ceremony, pulled a stone from his bag, dropped it into a pot. Sniffed the brew extravagantly, exclaimed how delicious it was!
As the villagers began to show interest, he mentioned how good the soup would be with just a little cabbage to add. A villager brought cabbage as an ingredient. This episode repeated until the soup had cabbage, carrots, onions, tomatoes, beets. A substantial soup that fed everyone in the village!
This story addresses human tendency to hoard in times of stress, deprivation. This metaphor plays out beyond the realm of food. When resources are scarce, worried we pull back, focus energy into self-preservation. Sub-consciously isolate selves. We may hoard material stuff, ideas, love, imaginations, creativity, gratitude. Think, we’ll be richer if we kept it all just to selves?