“Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable". Kenyan Proverb which is also tied to an Aesop Fable.
THE FABLE:
An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a tied bundle of sticks. He said to his eldest son: "Break it."
The Son tried with all his might by was unable to break the bundle. The other sons also tried, but they two were unable to break the bundle.
'Untie the bundle", the old man said, "and each of you take a stick".
When each had done so he then said, "now break your stick."
Each was ably to do so. You see my meaning said the old man? UNITY!
We Are Unbreakable
Rabbi Marc Gellman
The Talmud and the African tribe, the Masai tribe, both teach a wisdom for our wounded world. They both taught:A Prayer for America, Yankee Stadium, September 23, 2001 Sticks alone can be broken by a child, but sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. The fears and sorrows of this moment are so heavy, they can break us if we try to bear them alone. But if we are bundled together – if we stick together – we are unbreakable. And we shall do far more than merely survive. We shall overcome. We shall overcome the forces of hatred, without allowing hatred to unbundle us. We shall overcome the forces of terror, without using fear to unbundle us. So in all our comings and our goings, from this time forth, let us remember: That the person next to you, in front of you, behind you, is not merely an obstacle to your free and unfettered life. They are a part of this bundle, that keeps you and each of us from breaking. Let us never again view our fellow New Yorkers, our fellow Americans, our fellow citizens of the world, as limitations on our life or freedom. But rather as the moral twine that binds us, and saves us, and delivers us from evil. |
The Eagle and the Arrow – An Aesop's Fable
An Eagle was soaring through the air. Suddenly it heard the whizz of an Arrow, and felt the dart pierce its breast. Slowly it fluttered down to earth. Its lifeblood pouring out. Looking at the Arrow with which it had been shot, the Eagle realized that the deadly shaft had been feathered with one of its own plumes.
An Eagle was soaring through the air. Suddenly it heard the whizz of an Arrow, and felt the dart pierce its breast. Slowly it fluttered down to earth. Its lifeblood pouring out. Looking at the Arrow with which it had been shot, the Eagle realized that the deadly shaft had been feathered with one of its own plumes.
Moral: We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.
You will note that in the left talon of the eagle in the Great Seal of the United States there are 13 arrows.
The balance or the yin and yang of the olive branches relationship with the arrows is representative of being prepared in war and peace.
Of a nation, of a community, of a family, of an individual.
Our strength in all things is strengthened by our unity. As one voice is but a whisper a thousand is a roar (Julia Garwood, paraphrased).
There are those who would silence any whisper that threatens to become a roar. There are those that would seek to keep stick from being bundled. Why? Why would divisiveness be a goal? Why would one seek to sow the seeds of separation, division, discrimination, alienation, isolation. Why would one seek to blind others to their commonality with the human spirit on earth and beyond. What selfish ends do they seek?
And have you become their pawn!
If we allow ourselves to buy into the propaganda that we can not fight the Machine, then we allow ourselves to become sticks. Broken souls easily broken irretrievably to never heal because we have lost our roots.
Certain cultures spend much time communing with the dead. It is there connection to a strength that transcends the frailties of the human. They are the bundle that can not be broken. They will soar on wings of Eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint! Isaiah 40:31
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