Today I came across Martin Luther’s (1483 –1546) fable of the wolf and the lamb.
It struck me, because although it was written centuries ago, it still is very true. The original Version is in german, so I will translate it for the english readers among you:
„The Wolf and the Little Lamb“
A wolf and a little lamb met at a river because they wanted to drink. The wolf was upstream the river, the lamb way downstream. As the wolf saw the lamb, he approached it and spoke: “Why do you tarnish my water, so I can not drink it anymore?” The lamb answered: “How can I tarnish the water for you? You drank upstream and likely tarnished my water instead.” The wolf answered: “Now you insult me as well?” The lamb answered:” I do not insult you.” The wolf answered then: “Well, your father did the same thing to me six months ago and you just want to be like him.” The lamb answered: “Six months ago I was not even born. Why should I suffer for my father?” The wolf answered: “But you ate all the grass from the meadows and fields and therefore ruined them.” The lamb answered: “But how can this be true, I do not even have teeth.” “Well…” said the wolf ”…Since you are able to argue and talk well, I will not be without devouring today.” So he suffocated the lamb and ate it.
Lesson: Thats how it is in this world. If you want to be pious and somebody is looking for trouble, you have to suffer. Because violence stands above justice. If you want to be mad at the dog, he has eaten the leather. If the wolf wants so, the lamb is wrong.
What do we learn from this? If you encounter a bully, stand up and punch him in the face. Otherwise you will become a tool or a punching bag for someone, in which case you will suffer a lot more than if you fight back one time.
