Are You an Ocean or Well Frog?
Tags: Parable, Life Lessons, Short Story, Storytelling, Pandemic

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Are You an Ocean or Well Frog?

Sufi Parable Finale

It is fitting that this parable is the last one at least for now. I look forward to the new challenges because unlike the well frog, the vastness and wonder of exploring these parables has opened new places in my mind and soul. Looking at lessons, analyzing and exploring things from different views has helped me do that in my world also.

I want to talk about the parallels I see in this story and what is happening in the world right now. The ocean frog represents the majority of the people in the world. That includes the medical experts, the scientists and the majority of the people. The well frog represents the fringe scientists and the people that have a self-centered view of the world.

The ocean frog has from the beginning told us of the treat the pandemic is to us, and the world in general. They have talked about how deadly this virus is compared to other deadly viruses in the past. They tell us how to protect ourselves from the virus. They tell us to be patient. They admit this has been a major disruption to our lives and in fact has created a new normal. They have told us that the only practical solution to this virus is a vaccine. They have told us that heard-immunity would be too costly in lives and economic devastation to be practical. They have kept us informed with facts so we know what we are facing and give us the best picture on how long it will be effecting us.

The well frog from the beginning only sees their little world. They have never seen how a virus that started in China could reach their well let alone affect them personally. They are armed with all they know. They have seen the flu come and go annually. They have most likely gotten it once or twice. They are tough. They have survived. Sure the flu kills people every year. They are the weak, the old, and the already sick. They poke holes in expert’s stories. They search for fringe scientists and doctors that agree with them. Even though ninety-nine percent of experts say one thing, the one that agrees with them must be the only one that is correct. They know their well. They even see that this is affecting EVERY well, not just theirs. It doesn’t matter, they are right.

The ocean frogs give practical advice on how to relatively safely go about your lives with a balance of freedom and safety. They give guidelines. The people who govern use those guidelines to make decisions to keep us safe. They realize that being a part of society means that, at times, you need to balance freedom with responsibilities to the greater good. They admit that there has been damage to our economy. Their guidelines let us know the best practice way of being as normal as possible. They explain to us that if we do these things that the situation will have less impact in lives and economic toll.

The well frog doesn’t care about any of that. The well frog wants his well just the way it always was. They want to go out to the restaurant that they always ate on Tuesday. They want to go to that concert, enjoy that festival, hug, party, and live like it was 2018. Some of them get the virus. For most of them it confirms what they already know. See I told you it was nothing, I got it, I survived, and I am living my life. Well, unless they are the two and a half percent, or even one of the ones that get a severe case and survive. Many of those severe case survivors become ocean frogs right away and croak loudly to the rest of us to be careful.

I have personally enjoyed interpreting Sufi’s Parables to exercise my mind and hopefully entertain you and even pass on some wisdom. I look forward to the next challenge.