The Lion And The Lamb
I have been a teacher for more than forty years and during this long period of time I’ve had hundreds of interesting stories which I intend to narrate to you. But this one story stands out and I will always remember. It happened in my first few years as a teacher. I was still very young and inexperienced. At that time I used to teach eleven year old boys in a primary school. This means that I had a class of students whom I taught from 8.00 in the morning to 2.30 in the afternoon, Monday to Friday from September to July…… a whole year teaching all subjects to the same children. This fact has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages was that one gets to know the other, inside out. That year I had a nice bunch of kids amongst whom there was a lion and a lamb.
The lion was a big boy who was a head above all the others in height. He was strong and had a hard face. He was aware of his potential and he made it obvious because he was the number one school bully. During the lessons he wasn’t that much of a nuisance although his academic output was next to nothing. But he usually exploded and showed off his talents during the break when all the children of the school would meet in the school’s big yard. There, it was his hunting ground.
More often then not, he did not have anything to eat so he would just grab anything from anyone of his schoolmates. He was a hungry kid ….. sandwiches, apples, oranges, bananas, sweets……...were what he preyed on. Besides, after eating a good lunch he would often go around snatching either a comic from the hands of someone who would enjoy reading during the break or some football coupons with which some children used to play or anything which he fancied, he made his own. No student dared to even protest or go to tell one of the teachers because the lion would attack him outside the school, after school hours. The teachers, including myself used to turn a blind eye to avoid further complications with his parents who were very much like him.
I have been a teacher for more than forty years and during this long period of time I’ve had hundreds of interesting stories which I intend to narrate to you. But this one story stands out and I will always remember. It happened in my first few years as a teacher. I was still very young and inexperienced. At that time I used to teach eleven year old boys in a primary school. This means that I had a class of students whom I taught from 8.00 in the morning to 2.30 in the afternoon, Monday to Friday from September to July…… a whole year teaching all subjects to the same children. This fact has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages was that one gets to know the other, inside out. That year I had a nice bunch of kids amongst whom there was a lion and a lamb.
The lion was a big boy who was a head above all the others in height. He was strong and had a hard face. He was aware of his potential and he made it obvious because he was the number one school bully. During the lessons he wasn’t that much of a nuisance although his academic output was next to nothing. But he usually exploded and showed off his talents during the break when all the children of the school would meet in the school’s big yard. There, it was his hunting ground.
More often then not, he did not have anything to eat so he would just grab anything from anyone of his schoolmates. He was a hungry kid ….. sandwiches, apples, oranges, bananas, sweets……...were what he preyed on. Besides, after eating a good lunch he would often go around snatching either a comic from the hands of someone who would enjoy reading during the break or some football coupons with which some children used to play or anything which he fancied, he made his own. No student dared to even protest or go to tell one of the teachers because the lion would attack him outside the school, after school hours. The teachers, including myself used to turn a blind eye to avoid further complications with his parents who were very much like him.
During the break, the teachers used to form groups of two or three and walk among the students to supervise them but the lion was too cunning to be caught red handed. But in spite of this we all were aware of what was happening but since there were no complaints and there was no evidence we did not make a fuss about it. Often we talked about the lion but believe it or not, also the experienced teachers were cautious and tried not to stir things up, as much as possible. But by time I noticed that the lion had one very particular victim and about 50% of his attacks were on this particular boy who in my eyes was as meek as a lamb.
So, who was the lamb? He was the mummy’s boy type. Always neat, tidy and well organized. He was polite and diligent and his behavior showed that he was brought up in a caring family. I had good communication with him and I asked him several times about his tough class mate. But he did not want to make a big deal about it and answered that his mother always gave him too much to eat. He was rather shy and tried to avoid my questions. On the other hand I tried to joke with the lion several times, hoping that we will build a good relation but he seemed very uneasy to talk to me. I felt that he considered me as a hunter who was always ready to find a good occasion to shot him down so I never succeeded to build trust between us.
So, who was the lamb? He was the mummy’s boy type. Always neat, tidy and well organized. He was polite and diligent and his behavior showed that he was brought up in a caring family. I had good communication with him and I asked him several times about his tough class mate. But he did not want to make a big deal about it and answered that his mother always gave him too much to eat. He was rather shy and tried to avoid my questions. On the other hand I tried to joke with the lion several times, hoping that we will build a good relation but he seemed very uneasy to talk to me. I felt that he considered me as a hunter who was always ready to find a good occasion to shot him down so I never succeeded to build trust between us.
Then one day something happened which affected both the lion and the lamb and it affected me too. It was quite an ordinary school day but it started to rain heavily just a few minutes before break time. In such an occasion the head of school sent one of the janitors to tell each teacher that that day every one should have their break in classroom. So when the bell rang and we said a short prayer, all students sat down in their chair, took out their lunch and begun to eat. I was there sitting in my place observing the boys in my class as they started to have their unusual break. My attention soon focused on the lion. His place was at the back of the class. He seemed restless.
As usual he had not brought anything to eat. He was looking at his class mates who were all eating what they had brought with them. To have a bird’s eye view of the class he stood up and soon his eyes fell on the table of the lamb which was just in front of my desk. The lamb was enjoying his lunch. He had spread a napkin on the table and placed a couple of sandwiches in the center. He also put a plastic bottle full of orange juice and as desert he placed a big bar of chocolate all covered with nuts on his table. I could tell beyond a shadow of a doubt that the lion was aiming at the big bar of chocolate. How mouth watery it seemed! Surely he was already imagining that big bar of chocolate in his hand and slowly putting it in his hungry mouth……the first bite filling his mouth with a sublime taste, a mixture of chocolate and hazel nuts………..but……. but he was just dreaming!!! He must have cursed the rain at that moment. If it did not rain that big bar of chocolate would surely be his by this time.
As usual he had not brought anything to eat. He was looking at his class mates who were all eating what they had brought with them. To have a bird’s eye view of the class he stood up and soon his eyes fell on the table of the lamb which was just in front of my desk. The lamb was enjoying his lunch. He had spread a napkin on the table and placed a couple of sandwiches in the center. He also put a plastic bottle full of orange juice and as desert he placed a big bar of chocolate all covered with nuts on his table. I could tell beyond a shadow of a doubt that the lion was aiming at the big bar of chocolate. How mouth watery it seemed! Surely he was already imagining that big bar of chocolate in his hand and slowly putting it in his hungry mouth……the first bite filling his mouth with a sublime taste, a mixture of chocolate and hazel nuts………..but……. but he was just dreaming!!! He must have cursed the rain at that moment. If it did not rain that big bar of chocolate would surely be his by this time.
The lamb had already eaten the sandwiches and also took a couple of sips from his bottle. Then he took hold of the big chocolate bar. The lion was desperate; he was going to lose this time and what a prize he was losing! What could he do.? Will he dare to come over and take the big bar of chocolate from the lamb’s hand in front of my eyes? I could notice that he was thinking about it because he became more and more restless. There was no time to lose he stood up……..I was curious……..would he dare? I pretended to look somewhere else to give him the chance to come over…..this time I will be ready for him and catch him red handed. But at that very moment the lamb stood up and came over to me with the big bar of chocolate still in his hand. He asked me, “May I please go to speak to my friend Sir?” I gave him permission thinking that he was going to share the chocolate with one of the other class mates with whom he usually stayed. With my eyes I followed him walking to the back of the class and he went straight towards the lion who was by now sitting on his chair with a questioning expression on his face. “My friend,” said the lamb, “today you cannot take away anything from me so I came myself to give you this,” and he handed over to him the big bar of chocolate. I still hear that sentence echoing in my ears. The other students did not notice this great event. I was literally stunned. The lion was under shock and only had enough strength to say in a quite voice, “For me??? “ “Yes, all for you,” was the reply. And the lamb went back to his place.
After this episode things changed. The lion and the lamb became great friends. Not only that, the lion was now the bodyguard of the lamb. Not that he had a difficult job to do because everybody loved the lamb. The lamb gave something good to his new friend everyday because as he said, his mother always gave him too much. Besides, now in my class and in the school, there was one big tame lion.
After this episode things changed. The lion and the lamb became great friends. Not only that, the lion was now the bodyguard of the lamb. Not that he had a difficult job to do because everybody loved the lamb. The lamb gave something good to his new friend everyday because as he said, his mother always gave him too much. Besides, now in my class and in the school, there was one big tame lion.
Quote of the day:
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
Marcus Aurelius
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
Marcus Aurelius