by Yonghoo Lee
March, 2006
The story The Turtle and the Swans, retold by Robert Scott, is about one turtle and a pair of swans. They lived at a lake, and one day the water dried up. The swans decided to carry the turtle to safety by a stick. During the flight the turtle talked to explain how smart he was, and he fell to his death. I think the author's message is modesty. Don't boast about your wisdom. Keep silent from your haughtiness.
I think the turtle is a symbol of a person who is haughty. Most people are like this turtle, even me. In this story, through the author, we see the effect of the turtle's haughtiness - death. So, if you don't want to be like the turtle, turn glory to your team or to another person. Don't take it for yourself.
When I read this story, I wanted to go anywhere else because my past was haughty like the turtle's. Somebody once told me, "You are so haughty," but I didn't know what that meant. As I grew up, I realized my haughtiness. This story reminds me of it, so I feel shame.
This is the author's warning about haughtiness. Humans are haughy because we appeared thousands of years ago, but we have killed half of the animals, and the ozone has a big hole. We are breaking the value of nature. I think that people living with nature and animals is the best way to live. Modern people live for themselves and only care about themsevles. Pray for them so they can help each other and share and not kill or go the turtle's way.
I am thinking that if they turtle was wise or modest, he would never have died. In the Bible, I read that haughtiness is the fast way to death. When you raise your hand to speak, or when you teach or guide, think about the turtle one more time.