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Quote: “Hope is not a wish, but an intention.” By Steven Charleston
The Stone Soup of Co-existence
The first version of the French folktale “Stone Soup” was published in 1720. Entitled “Soupe au Caillou,” the fable was recorded and modernized by French journalist and author Anne-Marguerite Petit du Noyer. “Stone Soup” existed as a story for many years previous to this first printed edition in rural oral traditions. It is an amazing guide to successful human cohabitation.
The story begins with three soldiers traveling down a road that leads to a French village. The townsfolk see them coming and turn a cold shoulder to the town’s newest visitors. These were times were times of hunger and great poverty and when they saw the soldiers, they saw three more mouths to feed. They hid what food they had in their homes and barns.
The soldiers asked for food and were denied it. After all, the townsfolk had nothing to spare. So the three soldiers, being crafty and quick witted, asked if anyone in town had a spare, large soup pot they could put over a fire and three stones they could add to the pot. The fire was built, the soup pot arrived, the soldiers drew water from the well. The villagers offered them three, clean smooth stones. The stones and the water went into the pot. The citizens of the village were flabbergasted. What on earth were they doing and how could anyone get soup from stones?
The soldiers then asked for a large spoon to stir the soup and were provided one. They began to stir the water and stones. They kept saying repeatedly, “what a glorious soup this will be if only we had some carrots?” Then after a small while, the soldiers asked, “If only we had a few potatoes.” The villagers brought the potatoes. Numerous rounds of gifted vegetable offerings followed with folks bringing onions, cabbage, tomatoes, celery, parsley and more until they had gallons of hearty vegetable soup simmering and awaiting the final ingredient, a bit of beef. The rising aroma was divine!
The soldiers cooked for a long while and then called the villagers to the scene. They explained that when everyone shared just a little, a lot could be made. The soldiers asked them to bring their bowls and feast with them. The story ended there with a happy ever after.
The news of these clever soldiers has spread for centuries. Their wisdom is still valuable today. The moral of the story being that together we can support each other far better then when we are alone. This story brings me to the research I have personally been simmering in for a while that is both profound and fundamental to life on earth. We humans, however, need to be reminded by science and fairy tales of its importance.
This science is called Endosymbiotic Theory and was championed by Lynn Margulis who theorized that eukaryotic organelles, and in particular the mitochondria and chloroplasts of a certain type of bacteria, originally lived engulfed in a larger host cell. Over time these two cells learned to work together in a mutually beneficial relationship and eventually evolved into the organelles. The theory hypothesizes that these new and complex cells were the foundation of life beginning on earth. They are called eukaryote organisms. There are those who don’t fully agree with this theory, however, I think it ties beautifully to our folk tale of soup from stone.
Collaboration, inclusion, diversity and trust can all be part of our soup of life and grow our mutually beneficial relationships. What we simmer in our soup pot could be saving our ecosystems, finding clean energy, feeding the hungry, wiping out diseases and housing the unhomed, for just a few examples. Working together, just as the soldiers did, benefits community. We need functional communities to survive. Isn’t it better to be a contributor than to be a hoarder of information, food, money or resources both for our individual selves and the greater good? The soldiers thought so, and I do too!
I hope you carry this story with you always. There are multiple versions of this story (some illustrated) currently available at local bookstore, the library and wherever you find your reading material. It is a tale worth treasuring.
As always,
Sandra L. (Sandy) Place
