The Fox and The Stork

by Tim Atchison
Jesus conveyed many truths through stories – parables. Our literature is filled with stories some of which seek to convey meaning and morals or lessons to live our lives. I was recently reading some of the fables of Aesop. These stories, are attributed to Aesop, who lived approximately between the years 620 B.C. and 564 B.C. One of these stories is the fable of the Fox and the
Stork.

​A Fox one day invited a Stork to dine with him, and, wishing to be amused at his expense, put the soup which he had for dinner in a large flat dish, so that, while he himself could lap it up quite well, the Stork could only dip in the tops of his long bill. Some time after, the Stork, bearing his treatment in mind, invited the Fox to take dinner with him. He, in his turn, put some minced meat in a long and narrow-necked vessel, into which he could easily put his bill, while Master Fox was forced to be content with licking what ran down the sides of the vessel. The Fox remembered his old trick, and could not but admit that the Stork had well paid him off. (Book of Fables, containing Aesop’s Fables, American Book Exchange, 1880, page 28.)

This is a relatively popular fable and interestingly there are various lessons that are stated for
this in different re-tellings. In a printing by the Easton Press published in 1979 the point is
stated to be “We must learn to take a joke as well as to make one.” In a telling of the story
published by Field Enterprises Educational Corporation in their Childcraft series (Volume 3) the moral is starkly stated as “One bad turn deserves another.”

An internet search produces many retellings of this story. A particularly interesting such page is at The Fox and The Stork - Fables of Aesop. The main lesson there is stated as “Do not play
tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the same treatment yourself.” Or further that
“There are games that two can play at.” Of particular interest on that page are some past
homilies that have been drawn from this story. One by Samuel Croxall, an Anglican
churchman, writer and translator, (c. 1688/9 – 1752), who published a well regarded set of the
fables, is worth setting out at length.

​It is mighty imprudent, as well as inhuman and uncivil, to affront any body; and whoever takes the liberty to exercise his witty talents that way, must not think much of it, if he meets with reprisals. Indeed, if all those who are thus paid in their own coin, would take it with the same frankness the Fox did, the matter would not be much; but, we are too apt, when the jest comes to be turned home upon ourselves, to think that insufferable in another, which we looked upon as pretty and facetious, when the humour was our own. The rule of doing as we would be done by, so proper to be our model in every
transaction of life, may more particularly be of use in this respect: because people seldom or never receive any advantage by these little ludicrous impositions, and yet, if they were to ask themselves the question, would find, that another’s using them in the same manner would be very displeasing. (Samuel Croxall as contained at The Fables of Aesop, The Fox and the Stork, 4 July 2016 by DeBoss, The Fox and The Stork - Fables of Aesop.)

It is indeed well and good to learn how to take jokes, how to laugh with the jest. We all learn
that as part of growing up. But there is a flip side to this coin. I recently saw a video posted online where a trick is played on a very young girl. Two adults stand on either side of the little girl who is perhaps 3 or 4 years old. They are preparing to make a cake and are going to crack
eggs into a bowl. They count down and the two adults, instead of cracking their eggs on the
bowl, break them on the little girl’s head. The little girl is at first stunned, then her face morphs
into a look of pain and betrayal as she says to the adults, “that was not very nice.” Meanwhile,
the adults are laughing at the funny joke that they have played on the little girl. The little girl
then turns and breaks her egg on one of the two adults who continues to laugh.

Now in terms of physical injury to anyone in this scenario, of course there is none. But in terms of mental and developmental injury to this little girl, one has to say that there is enormous harm. She trusted these two adults. She looks up to these adults in the trusting way that very young children have with the close family adults around them. The adults abused that trust and have, willingly or no, placed a doubt on that child’s trusting relationship with them. Now ultimately, the child will get over the little joke and may even later find it funny and play such pranks herself, on others. But underneath that acceptance, in her developing psyche, such a prank can have very negative and long lasting effects.

As Christians, it is well that we might ask how Jesus might see such pranks? As Samuel
Croxall points out above, Jesus calls us to treat others as we ourselves would wish to be
treated. The Childcraft lesson stated above, “one bad turn deserves another,” is a most un-
Christlike take on the story. And yet, that is often the very approach that we take to the things
that happen to us in life. Revenge, pay back, how do you like it, serves you right. Those
become the mantra of Justice that we instinctively think is the justifiable response. And to any hurt feelings or pain caused to others, we may say, with so many, well you just need to learn how to laugh with the joke. But that is not what Christ says to us.
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“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 (ESV))

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31 (ESV))

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (Romans 15:2 (ESV)).

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17 – 21 (ESV))

At all times we are called, I think, to consider our actions. Christ does not call us to leave our
sense of humor behind but to temper it with due regard for the dignity and feelings of others.
And certainly, not “one bad turn, deserves another.” A joke that betrays another’s dignity or
trust, which brings another down or harms them physically OR mentally, should be considered
in the light of how that other person will feel. Are we treating that person as we would wish to
be treated. It is good to be able to “take a joke.” It is part of growth and maturation to learn how to roll with flow – to take things in stride. At the same time, we are also called to have a careful regard for others. Is it truly harmless to break the trust of a child for the sake of a laugh? Or is it something that can do harm far beyond the moment and even if they later laugh about it? So many videos are posted on the internet for entertainment where practical jokes are played on the unsuspecting. It is a popular pastime among many. It is worth considering the victims of these practical jokes. Can we picture Jesus doing this to others?

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