CHAPTER 14
Pillar—Leadership
A folktale called “Stone Soup” has been told in many versions in Europe and North America, including ones by the Brothers Grimm, by storytellers from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, France, Portugal, and England, and by children’s authors and even cartoon characters such as Donald Duck.
A hungry traveler arrives in an impoverished village and knocks on the door of one ramshackle house.
“I have nothing to feed you,” says the old woman who answers the door. “See?” She motions toward the pot sitting empty in the front yard.
“No problem,” says the traveler in a much happier tone than would seem to fit the circumstances. “I have a special stone here.” He pulls a rock about the size of his palm from his pocket. “With this stone, we can make enough soup to feed ourselves and the whole village!”
Despite worrying that the traveler was a bit daft, the woman decided she had nothing to lose in humoring him. They put the stone carefully into the big pot, put the pot on the fire, and started filling it with water. A neighbor came out to investigate.
“What are you doing?”
“We are making the most wonderful soup you have ever tasted,” said the traveler. “You’re welcome to have some.”
“But it’s just a stone and water.”
“Oh, it won’t be ready until we put in some seasoning.”
The neighbor thought for a moment. “I’ve got some salt and pepper in my picnic basket,” and went to retrieve them. While he was gone, the neighbor on the other side brought over a chicken carcass that ...
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