The frogs in the well – is it time for YOU to move on?

Times are changing and with it the ability of many groups, businesses and organizations to adapt to new ways. Today, more than ever, it is important to learn to share and cooperate with each other in a friendly, non-authoritarian manner. If you are involved in such a situation, it is very stressful: do you stay and help initiate change, or move on yourself? If you stay, will they listen, or turn on you as the purveyor of unwelcome information? This is a common theme running through many of the personal and land consultations I have recently been working on – yes, land, too is in conflict between the old ways of nature and the attempt of humans to exert control.  This inspired me to write the following story, the retelling of an old Indian tale.

Once upon a time there was a group of frogs who felt they were living in a fine old well. They were very proud of themselves for the well was very strong, deep and dark. It was a permanent sort of a place, you see, and they felt they owned it all to themselves. They believed that this was all there was to the world and so long as they were in charge and in the well, they were safe.

Oh, sure, from time to time mysterious outside frogs would suddenly appear in their tiny little dark hole. These outsiders were full of mischief and evil ways. They lied profusely to the well frogs, telling tales about a world of light where frogs could jump any place they pleased – a peaceful world of colors, they were told, of sights and sounds that were far too strange to ever be possible for anyone to see – who did these outsiders think they were fooling!! Why, they simply wanted the well frogs to jump outside into the dangerous world beyond, so that these annoying outsiders could take over their fine, strong, protected well home!! Outrageous!!

It pleased the frogs to think that they were defending their special world from all invaders, and inevitably they would chase away the outsider frogs with curses and beatings and a closing of ears and eyes to their words.

Eventually, visitors to the well became fewer and farther between. Those who managed to stay awhile would beg and plead with the well frogs to open their ears and see with their eyes that there were other possibilities. There were other ways to act, other places to go. If so many other frogs were coming with the same tale – of a world of light, love and peace in a great realm beyond their well – shouldn’t they at least explore whether this might be true?

A few frogs began to waiver about their belligerent defense of their dark well. Some even left with the visitor frogs. They never returned and this made a few core recalcitrant frogs dig in even farther. “You see,” they told the others. “The visitors were lying. Where are our friends? They said they were going only for a visit but they have never returned. That is because they are dead! The strange frogs took them out of our protection and killed them. The next strangers who come here, no one is to listen to at all. Kill them as soon as they appear.”

And so they did. Each time a strange frog appeared, the ring leaders would command the others to circle around the frog and attack. If the frog was lucky, it would escape. If it wasn’t, it was killed.

And then one day the impossible happened. One of their own came back home. How he had changed!! The frog was big and fat and very, very healthy. He said their other friends weren’t dead after all but up there in the sun, alive. He said these frogs had agreed one would return to the well and invite their old friends to join them in the sun, and he had agreed to be the one.

At first the frogs were so happy to see him. But then trouble set in. Others began believing in this frog and that was very dangerous, the leaders said among themselves. He was sowing doubt within the community. This frog must be lying; where were the other friends he talked about? Why hadn’t they come as well? Clearly this frog had gone over to the enemy and was now telling lies just like the others. He must be silenced. The leaders told the other frogs not to listen to the old friend on penalty of banishment from the well; then they would see how horrible the world above really was!

The returning frog was very upset. “Look,” he said. “I have come back into this dark well of my own free will, to tell you about the large world outside. You have known me from when I was just a baby you cared for and nurtured. What these visiting frogs told you is true. It is very beautiful, healthy and free in the world beyond this dark hole. Come with me, see for yourselves. You will join the others who have left before. They are waiting outside to welcome you.”

Well, the leaders of the small group had just had enough. Furious at the lies of the frog, they started beating on him, backing him into a corner and calling on all the others to join in. One by one the rest of the well frogs reluctantly then furiously joined the pummeling.

Finally, badly beaten, the frog pretended to be dead and lay very still. Thinking their job done, the dark frog leaders called off their colleagues and went to another part of the well to celebrate the deceitful frog’s demise. Meanwhile, the frog dragged himself to his feet and made his way slowly up and out of the well.

After that, the frogs in the sunny world above the dark well no longer tried to share their knowledge with those below. They knew now it would do no good. For the well frogs indeed had eyes but would not see and ears but would not hear.

The frogs outside the well turned their faces to the sun and moved off to other places.

The frogs inside the well were very satisfied with themselves, believing they had so successfully defended themselves that they had scared off any more invaders. Their world, they felt, was now safe.

And you, my dear friend: are you a frog in the well, or a frog who has climbed into the sunlit world above? At what point do you decide it is time to let the well frogs enjoy their darkness, where they are happy and content, and you turn toward the community of light in which you now live, and go forward as one with them. When, for you, does living in the light take precedence over saving those in the dark who do not wish to see or hear?

What do you choose?