A team of oxen Not too many decades ago, great structures were built without the aid of machinery or advanced tools. Manpower and animal power were relied upon to do essentially all the work now assisted by the advances in technology. But some things haven’t changed when it comes to relationships and common sense.
Once upon a time, long ago, a great hall was built on the top of a mountain. The hall was to be a monument to success, a challenge of spirit, and an undertaking that required supreme coordination. The funding and design were in place and construction was to soon begin. The first task was to get all the material to the top of the mountain. The stones, wood, tools, manpower and supplies to build this great hall had to be ferried up by wagons pulled by oxen.
First to be delivered was the stone which would be the main structure for the outer walls. It was quite heavy and the teams of oxen struggled mightily to reach the top. Most teams made it because of tremendous teamwork, but not all. Next was the wood which would be used for the interior structure. Much lighter, more teams of oxen successfully delivered it without near the struggle. Next were the men, supplies, and their tools. These were usually the lightest and some loads were carried up the mountain in wagons hitched to only one ox.
One day, a team of oxen named Jacob and Josephine was a quarter of the way up the hill when Jacob broke a leg when caught up in a chasm. The driver of the wagon unhitched Jacob and was destined to wait for another ox to take Jacob’s place. But unexpectedly, Josephine, lurched and bolted as to say, “Let’s go!” The driver took off his brake to see what would happen. He was amazed as Josephine tugged but without much more than the rocking of the wagon. Suddenly, however, the wooden wheels began to move ever so slowly. Josephine seemed determined to move forward on her own and as she gained momentum, it appeared as though she had the strength to move on against the odds. The top of the mountain was reached and Josephine was exhausted, but she was successful on her own. The workers talked incessantly about her strength and determination.
A week later, it happened again. One of the oxen came up lame and had to be unhitched from the wagon. This time, the healthy oxen did not have the strength of Josephine. The load started to slip and the wagon rolled down the steep trail. The driver dove off and the wagon came to pieces. Much of the stone was lost down the mountainside. So it was, more successes than failures, but some failures nonetheless.
As the project neared completion, the workers noticed a few things which were not all that surprising. They saw that the strongest oxen teams could handle all the loads, even the heavy loads of stone. Other oxen teams, not as strong and/or of poor coordination were less successful in reaching the top of the mountain with stone, but did do better with the lighter loads of wood. However, whether the load was of stone or wood, when one of the oxen were not available or came up lame, the top of the mountain was reached far less often. But not to be forgotten were the heroic acts of many oxen like Josephine - who took the load alone, delivering the stone and contributing to the completion of the grand hall.
And what of the grand hall? Finally the day came when it was completed and named. It would be called “The Hall of Celebration”, to commemorate the tireless and heroic acts of the visionaries who saw the potential, the oxen who were pushed to the limit, and the workers who worked tirelessly in the heat and cold. It was a symbol of the success that comes about when challenges are met; when the spirit of cooperation prevails; and when supreme coordination and teamwork are paramount. Every stone that was delivered, every log that was used became evidence of individual stories of success. The grand hall, like great works anywhere, inspires and encourages. Unfortunately, not all stories of the grand hall’s construction were successful. Some stones were too heavy. Some oxen were too weak. Some logs were mishandled. They would not be a part of the grand hall, not a part of the celebration. But the visionaries took a gamble that this grand symbol of achievement would succeed overall to represent both what can happen with teamwork and determination, and what may happen with without it.
The Moral of the Story
As it is with oxen, so it is with teams of any kind. Using parents as an example, sometimes raising children is very difficult, like hauling stone. Other times, it is less stressful as in hauling wood or supplies. We also see that strong teams have a greater chance of success than weak teams. We also know teams have advantages over most individuals, but there are those that are without a team member that can also succeed - and be heroes for doing so. However, whenever possible, make any task that faces you more achievable by lessening the odds against you. Planning and having a team with you or behind you will help tremendously.
Find a good teammate - take on challenges with determination - have a spirit of cooperation – and watch your team beat the odds!
Once upon a time, long ago, a great hall was built on the top of a mountain. The hall was to be a monument to success, a challenge of spirit, and an undertaking that required supreme coordination. The funding and design were in place and construction was to soon begin. The first task was to get all the material to the top of the mountain. The stones, wood, tools, manpower and supplies to build this great hall had to be ferried up by wagons pulled by oxen.
First to be delivered was the stone which would be the main structure for the outer walls. It was quite heavy and the teams of oxen struggled mightily to reach the top. Most teams made it because of tremendous teamwork, but not all. Next was the wood which would be used for the interior structure. Much lighter, more teams of oxen successfully delivered it without near the struggle. Next were the men, supplies, and their tools. These were usually the lightest and some loads were carried up the mountain in wagons hitched to only one ox.
One day, a team of oxen named Jacob and Josephine was a quarter of the way up the hill when Jacob broke a leg when caught up in a chasm. The driver of the wagon unhitched Jacob and was destined to wait for another ox to take Jacob’s place. But unexpectedly, Josephine, lurched and bolted as to say, “Let’s go!” The driver took off his brake to see what would happen. He was amazed as Josephine tugged but without much more than the rocking of the wagon. Suddenly, however, the wooden wheels began to move ever so slowly. Josephine seemed determined to move forward on her own and as she gained momentum, it appeared as though she had the strength to move on against the odds. The top of the mountain was reached and Josephine was exhausted, but she was successful on her own. The workers talked incessantly about her strength and determination.
A week later, it happened again. One of the oxen came up lame and had to be unhitched from the wagon. This time, the healthy oxen did not have the strength of Josephine. The load started to slip and the wagon rolled down the steep trail. The driver dove off and the wagon came to pieces. Much of the stone was lost down the mountainside. So it was, more successes than failures, but some failures nonetheless.
As the project neared completion, the workers noticed a few things which were not all that surprising. They saw that the strongest oxen teams could handle all the loads, even the heavy loads of stone. Other oxen teams, not as strong and/or of poor coordination were less successful in reaching the top of the mountain with stone, but did do better with the lighter loads of wood. However, whether the load was of stone or wood, when one of the oxen were not available or came up lame, the top of the mountain was reached far less often. But not to be forgotten were the heroic acts of many oxen like Josephine - who took the load alone, delivering the stone and contributing to the completion of the grand hall.
And what of the grand hall? Finally the day came when it was completed and named. It would be called “The Hall of Celebration”, to commemorate the tireless and heroic acts of the visionaries who saw the potential, the oxen who were pushed to the limit, and the workers who worked tirelessly in the heat and cold. It was a symbol of the success that comes about when challenges are met; when the spirit of cooperation prevails; and when supreme coordination and teamwork are paramount. Every stone that was delivered, every log that was used became evidence of individual stories of success. The grand hall, like great works anywhere, inspires and encourages. Unfortunately, not all stories of the grand hall’s construction were successful. Some stones were too heavy. Some oxen were too weak. Some logs were mishandled. They would not be a part of the grand hall, not a part of the celebration. But the visionaries took a gamble that this grand symbol of achievement would succeed overall to represent both what can happen with teamwork and determination, and what may happen with without it.
The Moral of the Story
As it is with oxen, so it is with teams of any kind. Using parents as an example, sometimes raising children is very difficult, like hauling stone. Other times, it is less stressful as in hauling wood or supplies. We also see that strong teams have a greater chance of success than weak teams. We also know teams have advantages over most individuals, but there are those that are without a team member that can also succeed - and be heroes for doing so. However, whenever possible, make any task that faces you more achievable by lessening the odds against you. Planning and having a team with you or behind you will help tremendously.
Find a good teammate - take on challenges with determination - have a spirit of cooperation – and watch your team beat the odds!
