A Cultural Parable: The Monkey and the Fish

When I began training a short-term mission team, a friend gave me this parable. I don't know where he got it from, but it changed the way I thought of culture. During my years in Kenya, I saw many monkeys visit us.

A typhoon stranded a monkey on an island. In a protected place on the shore, while waiting for the raging waters to recede, he spotted a fish swimming against the current. It seemed to the monkey that the fish was struggling and needed assistance. Being of kind heart, the monkey resolved to help the fish.

At considerable risk to himself, the monkey moved far out on the precarious limb of a tree, reached down, and snatched the fish from the waters. Scurrying back to the safety of his shelter, he carefully laid the fish on dry ground. For a few moments, the fish showed excitement but soon settled into a peaceful rest.

Welcome to Across Cultural Consulting's new blog. I hope we can engage each other as we explore this world.

David