The fable of the hummingbird
I do my part, "Everyone in his little one of him, everyone for what he can, everyone for what he knows"
Never as in these days, for the particular historical moment we are living in the throes of Covid-19, the ancient tale of the Hummingbird can serve as a stimulus.
The story is quite well known, it belongs to a cycle of ancient African fables and, like all fables, obviously includes a moral.
It is said that one day like many others, in an African forest, a fire suddenly breaks out due to the excessive heat. Faced with the advancing flames, all the inhabitants, terrified as never before, lion in the head, who pompously boasts the title of "king", immediately flee, in order not to run the risk of dying roasted among the flames. While the fire destroyed everything mercilessly, lions, zebras, elephants, rhinos, gazelles and many other animals were animatedly discussing what to do.
The only one not to flee is a small hummingbird that in flight, with a drop of water in its beak, not only does not go away but penetrates inside the dense vegetation, with the intent of being able to extinguish the fire that blazes . The fire did not even notice it and continued its run pushed by the wind. The hummingbird, however, did not lose heart and continued to dive to collect each time a small drop of water that it dropped on the flames.
The lion then, who, in the meantime, observes the scene from afar, turns with bold sarcasm to the bird and says: "What are you doing?" "But what do you think you are doing? Can't you see that the forest is burning? ”.
The little bird replied: "I'm trying to put out the fire!".
The lion began to laugh: "You so small do you pretend to stop the flames?" . And along with all the other animals he began to make fun of him.
But the little bird, heedless of laughter and criticism, replied: "I'm doing my part."
In this fable, all the animals flee the fire and prefer to surrender, except one: the hummingbird.
He is a lonely hero, who does his utmost in an effort that seems apparently useless at first, but then generates imitation, solidarity, results.
He believes in his strength, even when other animals mock him and ask him what his attempts can be for.
Will, tenacity, self-confidence are the main values of the hummingbird, the same ones that animate and have animated many other "hummingbirds" that, in reality, have fought against other fires, often left alone and derided in an attempt to put out the flames. To tame them they also sacrificed their lives.
Known, unknown heroes, ordinary and extraordinary men and women who chose to fight because they believed - they firmly believe in their values, energy and compass of their flight. They know that their efforts, alone, will not be enough to put out the fire and yet they insist on taking drops of water to throw them on the woods. Their efforts will be imitated. They are animated by an inner strength that sustains them even when they are bewildered by being alone. Each of their actions is a small action that generates others.
Even each of us then, like the hummingbird, can "do his part" in his own small way: respecting what we are asked to do by the Authorities, giving a smile to those who are crying, a hope to those in torment, a moment of serenity.
There is no need to be terrified and landed by negative thoughts, but it is necessary to maintain trust, believe that all together we can do it, maintaining firm respect for ourselves and for others.
None of us are required to be a super hero, but we must all feel involved, just as Borsellino, the Italian magistrate victim of the Cosa Nostra, said: "Each in his own small way, each for what he can, each for what he knows".
Never as in these days, for the particular historical moment we are living in the throes of Covid-19, the ancient tale of the Hummingbird can serve as a stimulus.
The story is quite well known, it belongs to a cycle of ancient African fables and, like all fables, obviously includes a moral.
It is said that one day like many others, in an African forest, a fire suddenly breaks out due to the excessive heat. Faced with the advancing flames, all the inhabitants, terrified as never before, lion in the head, who pompously boasts the title of "king", immediately flee, in order not to run the risk of dying roasted among the flames. While the fire destroyed everything mercilessly, lions, zebras, elephants, rhinos, gazelles and many other animals were animatedly discussing what to do.
The only one not to flee is a small hummingbird that in flight, with a drop of water in its beak, not only does not go away but penetrates inside the dense vegetation, with the intent of being able to extinguish the fire that blazes . The fire did not even notice it and continued its run pushed by the wind. The hummingbird, however, did not lose heart and continued to dive to collect each time a small drop of water that it dropped on the flames.
The lion then, who, in the meantime, observes the scene from afar, turns with bold sarcasm to the bird and says: "What are you doing?" "But what do you think you are doing? Can't you see that the forest is burning? ”.
The little bird replied: "I'm trying to put out the fire!".
The lion began to laugh: "You so small do you pretend to stop the flames?" . And along with all the other animals he began to make fun of him.
But the little bird, heedless of laughter and criticism, replied: "I'm doing my part."
In this fable, all the animals flee the fire and prefer to surrender, except one: the hummingbird.
He is a lonely hero, who does his utmost in an effort that seems apparently useless at first, but then generates imitation, solidarity, results.
He believes in his strength, even when other animals mock him and ask him what his attempts can be for.
Will, tenacity, self-confidence are the main values of the hummingbird, the same ones that animate and have animated many other "hummingbirds" that, in reality, have fought against other fires, often left alone and derided in an attempt to put out the flames. To tame them they also sacrificed their lives.
Known, unknown heroes, ordinary and extraordinary men and women who chose to fight because they believed - they firmly believe in their values, energy and compass of their flight. They know that their efforts, alone, will not be enough to put out the fire and yet they insist on taking drops of water to throw them on the woods. Their efforts will be imitated. They are animated by an inner strength that sustains them even when they are bewildered by being alone. Each of their actions is a small action that generates others.
Even each of us then, like the hummingbird, can "do his part" in his own small way: respecting what we are asked to do by the Authorities, giving a smile to those who are crying, a hope to those in torment, a moment of serenity.
There is no need to be terrified and landed by negative thoughts, but it is necessary to maintain trust, believe that all together we can do it, maintaining firm respect for ourselves and for others.
None of us are required to be a super hero, but we must all feel involved, just as Borsellino, the Italian magistrate victim of the Cosa Nostra, said: "Each in his own small way, each for what he can, each for what he knows".
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