Religious Education Update: November 23, 2008
Lessons from Stone Soup
In the Stone Soup Story, the villagers learn to share with their neighbors, and discover that they improve their own lives in the process. Many of this know this lesson well. Volunteering our time or donating to various causes makes us feel better. For me, the main character in the story has the most difficult task of all. He’s the one who has the audacity to ask for help. He begins with asking for something that the villagers would be likely to give, such as a stone or a pot or some water. Once the villagers find it in their hearts to give, they’re able to share possessions that they have been hoarding, such as their scant supplies of onions or potatoes.
Accepting help can be difficult for some of us. Unlike the main character in the story, I often find myself resisting offers of help, however kindly stated. A grocery clerk offers to split my groceries into two separate bags, and I feel offended. I think to myself, “Does she think that I’m too weak to carry a big bag of groceries?” I fail to hear her offer as a gesture of kindness. Giving help is much easier. Someone recently asked me for a ride home from the Emergency Room after treatment for an acute illness, and I was more than happy to help.
A more advanced lesson from the Stone Soup story is that asking for help, and giving help are both needed to produce the magical soup. Applying that lesson to our UUP community, we could choose to honor both the askers and the givers. Many thanks are owed to those who request us to bring bagels, make a pledge, serve as greeters, or lead worship. Being willing to ask is a huge gift to our group, and is just as essential community as being willing to give. Another advanced lesson of the story is that it is okay to ask for help for oneself, when the task at hand seems too much or too tiresome. Someone might surprise you by being happy to assist. If we could open our minds to both the possibilities of asking and receiving, what an amazing community we could be!
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
In the Stone Soup Story, the villagers learn to share with their neighbors, and discover that they improve their own lives in the process. Many of this know this lesson well. Volunteering our time or donating to various causes makes us feel better. For me, the main character in the story has the most difficult task of all. He’s the one who has the audacity to ask for help. He begins with asking for something that the villagers would be likely to give, such as a stone or a pot or some water. Once the villagers find it in their hearts to give, they’re able to share possessions that they have been hoarding, such as their scant supplies of onions or potatoes.
Accepting help can be difficult for some of us. Unlike the main character in the story, I often find myself resisting offers of help, however kindly stated. A grocery clerk offers to split my groceries into two separate bags, and I feel offended. I think to myself, “Does she think that I’m too weak to carry a big bag of groceries?” I fail to hear her offer as a gesture of kindness. Giving help is much easier. Someone recently asked me for a ride home from the Emergency Room after treatment for an acute illness, and I was more than happy to help.
A more advanced lesson from the Stone Soup story is that asking for help, and giving help are both needed to produce the magical soup. Applying that lesson to our UUP community, we could choose to honor both the askers and the givers. Many thanks are owed to those who request us to bring bagels, make a pledge, serve as greeters, or lead worship. Being willing to ask is a huge gift to our group, and is just as essential community as being willing to give. Another advanced lesson of the story is that it is okay to ask for help for oneself, when the task at hand seems too much or too tiresome. Someone might surprise you by being happy to assist. If we could open our minds to both the possibilities of asking and receiving, what an amazing community we could be!
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma @ 8:16 PM
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