The people gathered in the forest around a fire waiting for the storyteller to begin. He walked slowly as he wove his tale, an ancient story forgotten by most.

As the storyteller told the stories, he would at times, close his eyes. It was as though he were in the story and telling it as it unfolded. The words were indeed old, but the message was eternal.

The words of the storyteller filled each listener with wonder, mystery, and life. As he spoke, the listeners saw beyond this world.

There was one who thought the stories were childish and the storyteller a fraud. “What do you see when you close your eyes?” demanded the listener.

“I see the stories, feel their messages, and sometimes get lost in their mysteries. Many times, the stories touch my very inner being, my heart and soul.” Answered the storyteller.”

“That’s ridiculous!” countered the listener. “The stories you tell are for children, they’re from a time of superstition and for people without knowledge. The stories were used to control people and have no place in today’s society where people are educated and understand much more than any time in history.” The listener proudly refuted.

The storyteller was silent for a moment or two and then he seemed to drift off into another place. “what people see is a matter of perspective. For you see there once was a man who had a magnificent vision and began pursuing it.”

“Two others saw the first man’s vision and began to follow him. Time passed as it always does and the children of those who followed asked what was in the vision.”

“Sadly, the parents described what they saw, but what they described was merely the coattails of the man in front of them. The children did not see the magic or wonder of their parents’ vision. They could not see the colours or feel the warmth in their parents’ words, so, alas, they turned away from their parents’ vision. They felt the vision was not worth following.”

The storyteller asked the listener who raised his challenge, “So what did you think of the story?”

The challenger was quiet, he had no answer.

The storyteller looked at the listener for a moment and then continued, “We see that children deny what they have not experienced. We find parents who believe in what they have not experienced.”

The storyteller paused to allow the challenging listener time to think on his words, then he explained, “The question is not, what do I see when me eyes are closed, but what do you see when you open your eyes?”

The listener thought for some time and then discounted, “When I closed my eyes, I don’t see anything. So, there is nothing to see when I open them.”

The storyteller sadly answered, “What you see is your ignorance. You can’t see what you don’t want to see. When one can not find their ignorance, they can be certain they have lost their wisdom.”

The listener became angry and demanded, “You can’t answer my question so you make fun at me?”

With a gentle voice the storyteller began a story:

Once there was a fool who traveled the highways and roads to the king’s palace. All along the way, people laughed and treated the fool badly. “Why should a pathetic fool like you be going to the king?”

The fool just puffed up his chest and answered, “I am going to be the king’s teacher!” His comments only brought more laughter from the people along the way. After some time the fool finally arrived at the king’s Palace. He demanded to see the king.

The king was very amused that a fool wanted to see him and decided to have some fun at the fool’s expense. So he had the fool brought to the throne room. The room was filled with important people. “Why do you come before the king?” asked the king.

“I have come to be the royal teacher,” answered the fool in a very assertive way. The king was indeed amused. He laughed so hard tears fell down his cheeks. “And what can a fool teach me?”

“You see,” countered the fool, “like a student, you ask me questions.” Silence fell through the room as the king composed himself as he stared at the fool. “You’ve answered me with wit, but you have not answered my questions!”

“Only a fool has all the answers.” Replied the fool with a slight smile. The king was caught off guard and did not know how to respond, but finally he asked, “What would others say if they knew the king had a fool for a teacher?”

“Better to have a fool for a teacher than a fool for a king.”

When he heard this, the king, who was a good man, confessed, “now I feel like a fool.” “Absolutely not,” answered the man, “it is only a fool who has never felt like one.”

The storyteller explained, “One needs to listen with an open mind and allow the stories to do their work. They can take you anywhere at any time. They prepare the listener to face the challenges of life, to learn wisdom and strength, and faith.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

Click here for more storytelling resources

Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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