The Person of the Teacher

Abstract

It’s a very old story, told all around the world. A stranger comes to a little community that’s been under great stress, where food is scarce, and where people have drawn away from each other and are looking out for themselves. The stranger manages to borrow a cooking pot and starts making soup. He begins with a “magic” ingredient, a stone, maybe a button, or even a nail. The community members become interested in what he’s doing, and each secretly comes for a look at the pot. The stranger stirs and tastes. “Ah, it’s coming along nicely,” he says. “But it would be really wonderful if it had just a little something extra, like a potato, maybe…,” he says to one visitor in just the way she needs to hear it. She goes off inspired to find something to offer. “…like a carrot,” he says in his just-right way to another. Later, “… a cabbage,” and then “…some beans.” And soon there’s a shy parade of community folks bringing ingredients and standing around a pot that’s now aswim with good things — enough for everyone. They share a meal. There’s even a little music. Someone sings; another finds his fiddle; there’s dancing into the night. And the stranger has already gone, picking up a new “magic” stone on his way to the next community.