Parable of the Village

 

    "So the election didn't turn out the way you expected?" Ben says in a facetious tone I can't miss.

    "It didn't turn out the way anyone expected," I reply. Ben falls silent for so long I'm afraid my cynicism has taken a toll on his delicate soul.

    "Story time," I declare and put my tea cup down.

 

    Imagine a small village in West Africa- say Nigeria, about 30,000 years ago. It's been dryer than usual the last couple of years, food and water supply is thin, fewer travelers pass by with goods to trade, there have been attacks on people and livestock from leopards.

    It's bad for Little Ear --they call him that because his left ear got chomped on by a dog. He and his two wives, and couple of kids are just hanging on like everyone else.

Some new folks arrive and set up camp near the jungle-always a dangerous place- and the villagers are anxious about sharing their scant resources with more people.

    Little Ear is especially irked by the new guy who doesn't do much, but sit around staring at things and tinkering. Useless, he sneers. Little Ear decides if survival is between him and these travelers--it's going to be him.

    Sure enough the weather worsens and everyone gets hostile. The villagers drive away those who aren't hunting or helping so the Tinker and his small family leave much to Little Ears satisfaction.

    Then a year later when things are desperate, the Tinker family return and Tinker shows the headman how to dig a canal and draw water from a distant stream and how to grow food there instead of foraging in the jungle.

    Little Ear thinks it's stupid but after some hesitation the other villagers see the results.

    "Working together we can prosper in one place or wander and risk death," Tinker tells Little Ear.

    Ben is quiet when I finish telling the story.

    "I guess it means everyone is useful but not the way you expect," Ben says at last.

The gentle soul has potential, I conclude with a smile.