Stacks Image 77

The Ferryman and the Travellers

Stacks Image 1774
In what way do you enjoy life more?

Believing yourself to be right and seeing someone else as an asshole, who should have behaved differently in the past, who is wrong, who didn’t show their love in the way you wanted it?

Or, seeing that you are no more right or wrong than anyone else, that just like you, others are also amusing, often very different to you, who love you, despite perhaps not showing it in the way you would like?

One way of looking at people, looking at life, encourages our love, happiness and compassion.

The other, the continuation of victimhood, suffering and misery.

Here’s one of my favourite stories, which I first heard from Michael Neill, that I often read when giving a talk:
------------
🔹The Ferryman and the Travellers🔹

Once upon a time, many years ago from now, there were two travellers riding on a ferry across a great river that flows between two distant lands. As much to pass the time as anything, the first traveller decided to strike up a conversation with the ferryman.

"What are the people like on the far side of the river?" he asked.
The ferryman looked at him curiously. "What are the people like where you come from?"
The traveller grunted in disgust: "Horrible, selfish, greedy, and mean-spirited. That's why I'm leaving!"
The ferryman shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid you'll find the people on this side of the river are much the same."

A bit later in the journey, the second traveller approached the ferryman and once again asked, "What are the people like on the far side of the river?"
The ferryman looked at her curiously. "What are the people like where you come from?"
The traveller sighed: "Wonderful, kind, supportive, and generous. I hate to leave them behind."

The ferryman smiled. "I wouldn't worry about it. I think you'll find the people on this side of the river are much the same."

______
Photo by William Bayreuther on Unsplash
Back