Theme: Effort and progress
The red fish
Once upon a time there was a red fish that lived in a
beautiful lake, where other fish also lived.
A small channel used to bring water to the lake
constantly.
On the other side, another channel, also narrow, drained
the excess water and so the lake was always kept with
the same amount of renewed water.
Fish lived very well there. Effortlessly, they were able
to feed on leaves, insects, and larvae. They didn't need
to swim much, or strain for anything. Some even lived
propped up on the bottom or on the edge of the lake,
lazy.
However, over time, the conditions of the lake changed.
Sometimes the flow of water, which reached the lake, was
greatly reduced, or even stopped. Sometimes there was no
rain, other times something blocked the passage of
water. When this happened, the fish began to feel sick.
The water was dirty, dark, with little oxygen...
But the fish did nothing but wait for the problem to be
solved. When this happened, they became relieved and
quickly forgot about the problem, which was becoming
more and more frequently.
Only the red fish, which was very smart, was worried.
– What if it happens again? What if it lasts longer?
Will we be able to survive? Is our lake still the best
place for us? – he thought.
Red tried to talk to the others, but no one wanted to
think about problems.
Alone, he started looking for a solution. He wanted to
find another, safer place for them to live.
First, he learned to jump out of the water. To try to
see what he had around the lake. He would pick up
momentum and powerfully take great leaps. But he
couldn't see any other lakes nearby.
The other fish were annoyed by his agitated behavior and
complained, telling him to stop.
The red fish then began to observe how the lake worked
and realized that it would be easy to follow the water
coming out of the lake, following the current. The water
had to go somewhere, and he wanted to know where.
There was only one problem: the channel through which
the water flowed was small and tight for Red.
But he didn't give up. He decided to keep his body
thinner, to get through. And so, he started to eat less.
Just enough to not be hungry and stay healthy.
One day he realized that he was thin enough to fit in
the canal. And so, with a little effort, and the help of
the water, he began to move out of the lake.
The red fish then began a long journey. But a very
pleasant trip. The narrow channel soon widened and
received water from other channels as well. Then this
channel, already much larger, ended up into a river. And
the river, which was also small, in the beginning,
became large, with a huge volume of water and animals of
various species.
All along the way, the red fish got to know incredible
landscapes, plants, and animals. He marveled at
everything he saw.
The red fish came to live in that great river. There he
learned amazing things, made good friends, and felt safe
and very happy.
But one thought still bothered him. How were his former
companions? Would they be okay?
Always thinking about them, and feeling the commitment
to offer them his experience, the red fish decided to
return.
And so, he made the return trip, this time with much
more effort, because he swam against the current. He had
to squeeze through the small channel. But his will was
big, and he succeeded.
He arrived, tired but happy, at his old home.
However, his happiness was short-lived. The other fish
paid him no attention. Red told about the river and told
of the differences and advantages he found there, but
the others didn't seem to believe or care.
The red fish tried to explain the dangers they ran by
continuing there. He encouraged them to diet and make an
effort to fit into the lake's small outlet channel. He
assured everyone that it was well worth it.
But the fish in the lake, settled as they were, laughed
as if Red was proposing something absurd or impossible.
Disappointed with the reaction of his companions, the
red fish decided to leave. There was nothing else he
could do. Once again, he made the long journey.
Arriving at the river, he found his friends and
well-being again.
He returned to live happily and peacefully. The river
was his home now.
Every now and then he thought of the fish in the pond.
He worried about them, especially when he heard that
there had been no rain for a long time.
So, he prayed, asking God for their lives and for them
to understand in time, that without effort, no one
progresses.
(Adapted from an Egyptian tale.)
Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com
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