Heart Tales is a monthly newsletter for people on an adventure toward wholeness. Heart Tales is published by Jim Cyr, storyteller, crisis intervention specialist, and minister.
(Adapted from Peace Tales: World Folktales to Talk About by Margaret Read MacDonald
The King sat with his Adviser on the balcony of the palace eating honey on a cracker. As they ate they leaned over the rail and watched the street below.
They talked about raising taxes and making war.
The King, absorbed in the conversation, let a drop of honey fall onto the railing. “Your highness, let me wipe that up,” offered the Adviser. “Never mind,” said the King. “It is not our problem.” The servants will clean it later.”As the two continued to dine on their honey and crackers, the drop of honey slowly began to drip off the railing. At last it fell onto the street below.
Soon a fly landed on the drop of honey and began his own meal. Immediately a bird flew from a nearby tree and swallowed the fly.
A cat saw bird and pounced, grabbing the bird in its mouth. Then a dog ran out from behind a cart and bit the cat!
“Sir, there seems to be a cat and a dog fight in the street. Should we call someone to stop it?” “Never mind,” said the King. “It is not our problem.”
So the two continued to munch their honey and crackers.
Meanwhile the cat’s owner arrived and began beating the dog. The dog’s owner ran up and began to beat the cat. Soon the two were beating each other.
“Your majesty, there are two persons fighting in the street now. Shouldn’t we send someone to break this up? The King lazily looked down from the balcony. “Never mind. “It is not our problem.”
The friends of the cat’s owner gathered and began to cheer him on. The friends of the dog’s owner began to cheer her on as well. Soon both groups entered the fight and attacked each other.
“Sire, a number of people are fighting in the street now. Perhaps we should call someone to break this up.” You can guess what he said. “Never mind.
“It is not our problem.”
Now soldiers arrived on the scene. At first they tried to break up the fighting. But when they heard the cause of the fight some sided with the cat’s owner. Others sided with the dog’s owner. Soon the soldiers joined the fight too.
With the soldiers involved, the fight erupted into civil war. Houses were burned down. People were harmed. And the palace itself was set afire and burned to the ground. The King and his Adviser stood surveying the ruins.
“Perhaps,” said the King. “I was wrong? Perhaps the drop of honey WAS our problem
I invite you to send me your thoughts about “Not Our Problem.” You can email me at jim@hearttales.net. Back issues of this newsletter are available on my website: www.hearttales.net
The true spirit of my work is to lead people on a life-changing adventure toward wholeness by connecting their hearts to their true selves, to others, and to God, through stories of healing, wisdom, and faith.
My life-changing adventure toward wholeness includes performances of folk and fairy tales, sacred stories, and personal stories, and workshops on how to tell stories in therapeutic settings.
“Jim, I want to thank you for your time, efforts, and talents in presenting your Clinical Benefits of Storytelling Workshop. I was very impressed with your professional and fun deliverance of the material and many useful resources and examples. I felt I benefited from it both personally and professionally, and will use what I learned…”
—John J. D. Schweska, L.P.C. Assistant Program Director Mobile Response and Stabilization Services Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen
“…your newsletter is a wonderful resource, and I hope that many will subscribe to it.”
—Dr. Robert Béla Wilhelm, Storyfest Ministry
“…Thank you once again, Jim, for sharing your stories/your story and influencing my healing.”
—Eileen