One stick, two stick

Story:

One stick, two stick: the way of the old African kings

An old man is dying. He calls his people to his side. He gives a short, sturdy stick to each of his many offspring, wives and relatives. "Break the stick," he instructs them. With some effort, they all snap their sticks in half.

"This is how it is when a soul is alone and without anyone. They can be easily broken."

The old man next gives each of his kin another stick, and says, 'This is how I would like you to live after I pass. Tie your sticks together in bundles of twos and threes." He waits quietly as his family ties the sticks together. There are many bundles, some of two sticks, some of three sticks. "Now, break these bundles in half."

No one can break the sticks when there are two or more in a bundle. The old man smiles. 'We are strong when we stand with another soul. When we are with others, we cannot be broken."

Moral of story:

In our aloneness we are broken and in our standing with others we cannot be broken.

Source:

What dying people want

David Kuhl

Pg xxviii

PublicAffairs

ISBN: 1-58648197-5