The other day my wife was listening to an audio CD by Mr. Matthew Kelly as she fiddled about in the kitchen. I caught bits and pieces of his talk as I went in and out while working on another project but then he started into a story that that caught my attention. The tale is called The Boy and the Snake. I had heard it before (at least a version of it) many years ago. It’s an old story and has many versions. It has been told by Cherokee, Seneca, Hindu, and many other people all around the world. As I sat and listened I thought of how it applied to me, the choices I’ve made and the choices I’ll face. I’d like to share this little tale with you.
The Little Boy and The Rattlesnake
The little boy was walking down a path and he came across a rattlesnake. The rattlesnake was getting old. He asked, "Please little boy, can you take me to the top of the mountain? I hope to see the sunset one last time before I die." The little boy answered "No Mr. Rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you'll bite me and I'll die." The rattlesnake said, "No, I promise. I won't bite you. Just please take me up to the mountain." The little boy thought about it and finally picked up that rattlesnake and took it close to his chest and carried it up to the top of the mountain.
They sat there and watched the sunset together. It was so beautiful. Then after sunset the rattlesnake turned to the little boy and asked, "Can I go home now? I am tired, and I am old." The little boy picked up the rattlesnake and again took it to his chest and held it tightly and safely. He came all the way down the mountain holding the snake carefully and took it to his home to give him some food and a place to sleep. The next day the rattlesnake turned to the boy and asked, "Please little boy, will you take me back to my home now? It is time for me to leave this world, and I would like to be at my home now." The little boy felt he had been safe all this time and the snake had kept his word, so he would take it home as asked.
He carefully picked up the snake, took it close to his chest, and carried him back to the woods, to his home to die. Just before he laid the rattlesnake down, the rattlesnake turned and bit him in the chest. The little boy cried out and threw the snake upon the ground. "Mr. Snake, why did you do that? Now I will surely die!" The rattlesnake looked up at him and grinned, "You knew what I was when you picked me up."
From time to time we all dare to pick-up the snake. We do things we know deep inside we shouldn’t be doing, for me its cigarettes, for others it may be something else. Even as a nation we’ve dared to pick up the snake. As a nation we listened to the soft words, we fell for the hype and promises. As a nation we heard and wanted to believe but the promises were hollow, the promise of Hope and Change has left many of us hoping for a change. For three plus years we have been injected with the venom of division, envy, hate and animosity. Again because of our choice as a nation for the next few months we will have to endure the venom of deceit, slander and innuendo
In his own words speaking to Professor Steven Rogers (form the book The Amateur)
“Come on, man, you should know better when politicians make promises”
"You knew what I was when you picked me up."
Come November 6th as a nation we can end the steady flow of venom we have endured over the previous four years.
The TOMCAT
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