WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023 - AESOP’S FABLES - BELLING THE CAT

This week I’m looking at Aesop’s Fables.  Today, a familiar one - belling the cat.

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Belling the Cat

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last, a very young Mouse got up and said:

"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.

All we have to do is to hang a bell around the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."

All the Mice were very surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:

"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"

It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

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I have a plan to save energy!!!  In winter (preferably the coldest day of winter), I take large black trash bags and fill them full of cold air.  I put the bags in the attic.  When summer comes, I take down a bag or two and release the cold air - instant air conditioning!!!

Likewise, when I’m done letting the cold air out, I’ll fill the bags with HOT air   I will save the large black bags of hot air (in a different part of the attic) and next winter I’ll open a bag when I need some heat!!!   

(Boy am I brilliant!!!)

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While my plan for heating and cooling is great, it is similar to the mice planning to put a bell on the cat - it just won’t work.

There is a joke about NASA planning a rocket ship to the sun.  Somebody suggested “Won’t it get hot?  And the answer was “No, we’ll only fly at night!!!”.

Another plan was made by a religious order for housing pilgrims at their shrine.  The plan had been developed and passed to the highest official in the group, who almost immediately rejected the plan and said “Are they, angels?”

The planning committee was bewildered.  They asked the official why did you reject our housing plans?  His answer was - “You didn’t include any bathrooms!!!”  

There have been plans to tunnel under cities and put major roads underground.  They would be express routes.  Sounds great until one figures the cost.  (The Boston “Big Dig” spent many times over the original budget to make their tunnel).

It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

I can make plans to eat better, to exercise more - but like the moral to the mice story, It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.

What have you planned or said that just isn’t going to work?  

I say “Love Wins” and that is good (or at least I think it is good).  But, can I carry that out?  Can I be loving, forgiving, not judging, kind, and merciful? 

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LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, FEBRUARY 15, 2023