PERENNIAL 25
On Expectations (and Seeing the World)
The Wisdom of Parables
An ancient parable has the power to influence the way we see the world. These short tales illustrate universal truths in a memorable narrative. Although the meaning of a parable is often not explicitly stated, it is usually relatively straightforward and obvious.
How do You See the World?
The truth is we all have expectations. Think for a moment; any upcoming event or task leads us to make predictions. For this reason, a critical aspect of a philosophy of life includes how one sees the world. The ancient parable known as The Two Villages illustrates this point.
The Two Villages Parable
A man who was traveling came upon a farmer working in his field and asked him what the people in the next village were like. The farmer asked “What were the people like in the last village you visited?” The man responded “They were kind, friendly, generous, great people.” “You’ll find the people in the next village are the same,” said the farmer.
