바다를 삼킨 대지

재 치있고 말을 잘 하는 이솝이 조선소를 구경하게 되었습니다. 조선소는 바다를 항해하는 배를 만드는 곳입니다.

조선소에서 일하던 사람들은 작고 못생긴 이솝을 보자 놀렸습니다. 이솝은 자신을 놀리는 소리를 듣고 기분이 상했습니다. 

이솝은 미소를 지으면서 자신을 놀리던 사람들이 있는 곳으로 걸어갔습니다. 그리고 이솝은 부드러운 미소를 지으면서 입을 열었습니다.

"이 세상이 처음 생길 때에는 모든 것이 뒤죽박죽인 채로 온통 물에 잠겨 있었습니다. 제우스 신은 세상을 좀더 좋게하기 위해 땅을 만들기로 했습니다. 그래서 대지의 신에게 바다를 세 번 삼키라고 명령했습니다."

조선소에서 일하는 사람들은 이솝의 이야기가 무척 재미있다고 생각했습니다.

"그래서 어떻게 되었습니까?"

이솝은 사람들을 한 번 둘러본 후에 천천히 말을 이어나갔습니다.

"대지의 신이 한 번 바다를 삼키자 산이 생겼습니다. 그 다음에 두번째로 바다를 삼키자 평야가 나타났습니다. 만약 대지가 한 번만 더 바다를 삼키기로 마음먹는다면, 바다가 모두 사라질 것입니다. 그러면 배가 필요없을 테니까 당신들은 모두 일자리를 잃게 되겠지요."

조선소에서 일하는 사람들은 현명한 이솝을 놀리다가 따끔한 이야기를 들었습니다. 겉모습을 가지고 함부로 다른 사람을 판단하거나 비웃으면 자신도 다른 사람으로 부터 똑같은 일을 당하게 될 것입니다.

이솝은 무엇때문에 이런 이야기를 했던 것일까요?

이솝의 우화를 듣고 조선소 일꾼들은 어던 생각을 하게 되었을까요?

이솝은 단지 이야기를 잘 하는 것만으로도 역사에 이름을 남겼습니다. '이야기' 혹은 '말'이 지닌 힘이라는 것은 어떤 것인지 생각해 보세요.

A witty and eloquent Aesop visited a shipyard. A shipyard is a place where ships that sail the seas are built.

The workers at the shipyard saw the small and unattractive Aesop and mocked him. Aesop felt hurt by their teasing.

With a smile, Aesop walked over to the people who were mocking him and spoke with a gentle smile.

“When the world was first created, everything was chaotic and submerged in water. Zeus decided to make the world a better place by creating land. So, he ordered the god of the earth to swallow the sea three times.”

The shipyard workers found Aesop’s story very interesting.

“So, what happened next?”

Aesop looked around at the people and continued speaking slowly.

“When the god of the earth swallowed the sea once, mountains appeared. When he swallowed the sea a second time, plains emerged. If the earth decided to swallow the sea one more time, the sea would disappear entirely. Then, there would be no need for ships, and you would all lose your jobs.”

The shipyard workers, who had mocked the wise Aesop, received a sharp lesson. Judging or ridiculing others based on their appearance can lead to experiencing the same treatment from others.

Why did Aesop tell this story?

What thoughts did the shipyard workers have after hearing Aesop’s fable?

Aesop left his mark in history simply by being a good storyteller. Think about the power of ‘stories’ or ‘words.’

A witty and eloquent Ryder visited a shipyard in Adventure Bay. A shipyard is a place where ships that sail the seas are built.

The workers at the shipyard saw the small and young Ryder and mocked him. Ryder felt hurt by their teasing.

Ryder smiled, walked over to the people mocking him, and spoke gently.

“When the world was first created, everything was chaotic and submerged in water. Zeus decided to make the world a better place by creating land. So, he ordered the god of the earth to swallow the sea three times.”

The shipyard workers found Ryder’s story very interesting.

“So, what happened next?”

Ryder looked around at the people and continued speaking slowly.

“When the god of the earth swallowed the sea once, mountains appeared. When he swallowed the sea a second time, plains emerged. If the earth decided to swallow the sea one more time, the sea would disappear entirely. Then, there would be no need for ships, and you would all lose your jobs.”

The shipyard workers, who had mocked the wise Ryder, received a sharp lesson. Judging or ridiculing others based on their appearance can lead to experiencing the same treatment from others.

Why did Ryder tell this story?

What thoughts did the shipyard workers have after hearing Ryder’s fable?

Ryder left his mark in Adventure Bay simply by being a good storyteller. Think about the power of ‘stories’ or ‘words.’