The young angel was led to two doors. The guardian of heaven opened one of them, allowing the angel to look inside. In the middle of the room was a huge round table. And in the middle of the table was a large pot containing a deliciously aromatic stew…
The young angel salivated with envy. The people seated around the table were thin and livid. They all looked hungry. They held spoons with very long handles, attached to their arms. All of them could reach the stew dish and fill a spoonful. But, as the spoon handle was longer than their arms, they couldn’t bring the spoons to their mouths.
The young angel shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
So, this is hell, he wondered.
They both headed for the second door.
The door opened, and to his surprise, the scene was identical to the previous one. There was the big round table, the pot of delicious stew, which still made the young angel salivate. The people around the table were also equipped with long-handled spoons. But this time, people were well fed, plump, smiling and talking to each other with laughter.
The young angel exclaimed: I don’t understand!
Well, the answer was simple. It’s just a question of skill. They’ve learned to feed each other, while the gluttons and the selfish only think of themselves.
Note:
The theme of this fable is cooperation, the benefits of cooperation over individualism.
It can be told in class and at home.