STONE SOUP

By Robert Theobald

A stranger comes to a starving town,
Promising to make Stone Soup.


He finds some firewood,
Uses his own pot,
Puts water on to boil.


As the water heats,
He wanders around,
Selecting,
Rejecting,
Cleaning Stones.


He adds them to the pot,
Carefully,
With strange muttered recipes,


Intruiged,
The villagers gather round,
This is the best entertainment
Their village has had since the famine began.


As they listen,
They hear the stranger admit,
That while stone soup is good,
It does taste better with a taste of salt.


One of the crazier people
(Or is she actually more caring?)
Brings out some salt she has hoarded.


The stranger
Gets bolder,
Suggests carrots,
And potatoes,
And swedes,
And dried tomatoes,
And herbs.


As each one is added,
Others remember their own stores,
And bring them to the common stew.


We have all made something out of nothing,
By remembering the old, old lesson,
That together we can create opportunities,
Which escape us when we hide,
Our resources and skills from others.


It is time to build community again,
To share what we have,
And to experience miracles.


It is time to live,
Expecting grace
And finding it,
Daily,
Even hourly,
In the midst,
of our harried lives.

Robert Theobald is a speaker, consultant and writer who has been on the leading edge of fundamental change isues throughout his forty-year career. He has worked with business and labor, education and health, government and local communities. Widely published, he is the author of over 25 books that deal with change, economics, and related issues, recent titles including Reworking Success (1997), Turning the Century (1993) and The Rapids of Change (1987). A British citizen, he currently resides in Spokane, WA.