Title: The Transformative Power of Cellphones in Education

 

Cell phones were often seen as the bane of teachers' existence in the not-so-distant past. They were viewed as distractions in the classroom, with strict rules in place to prevent their use during instructional time. However, the landscape of education has undergone a dramatic shift, and cell phones have emerged as powerful tools that can revolutionize the learning experience for students. In today's digital age, educational apps and online resources have transformed cell phones into virtual classrooms, providing access to a wealth of educational content and opportunities for interactive learning.

As a teacher myself I can remember saying such things as "If I see your cellphone it,s mine till the end of the day"

Gone are the days when the mere sight of a cell phone in the classroom elicited a collective groan from educators. With the advent of platforms such as Google Classroom, Blackboard, and K12, students now can engage in comprehensive, interactive learning experiences using nothing more than their cell phones. These platforms have empowered educators to seamlessly transition to remote and blended learning models, allowing students to access curriculum materials, submit assignments, and participate in discussions from the palm of their hand. As a result, the traditional boundaries of the classroom have expanded, enabling learning to take place anytime, anywhere.

Moreover, the vast array of educational apps available for smartphones has unlocked a world of learning opportunities that transcend the limitations of traditional instructional methods. Visual learners, for instance, can leverage platforms like YouTube to access a diverse range of educational content, from engaging science experiments to historical documentaries. The captivating visuals and dynamic presentations found on these platforms can often be more effective in conveying complex concepts than traditional classroom lectures, catering to the individual learning preferences of students and enriching their educational experience.

In conclusion, the once-maligned cellphone has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis, evolving from a classroom distraction to a powerful educational tool. As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of education, it is essential to recognize the potential of cell phones as catalysts for innovation and enhanced learning experiences. By embracing the transformative power of technology, educators can harness the capabilities of cell phones to create dynamic, immersive learning environments that inspire and empower students to reach new heights of academic achievement.

I know this assignment was to cover one educational piece of technology. The cellphone is different from what was intended to be covered, but I wanted to cover something that I was sure no other student was going to blog about. As a teacher, I know the daunting task of reading 15-30 papers all saying the same thing. So I always turn any assignment into a challenge for myself to talk about it in a way that will hopefully be a break for the teacher from the sameness that they are getting from my classmates. 

The Dragon and the Young Priest (8-8)

  The Dragon and the Young Priest

 

Long ago, on a tall mountain, lived one of the last of the wise dragons. Every day, this wise dragon would leave its cave and head down the mountain to a particular clearing about halfway down the mountain. There, people from around the land could come and ask the dragon questions, and she would give them her wisdom. From time-to-time people would even stay on the mountain and train as an apprentice of the wise dragon.

 

One day, a young priest came to the dragon with a question so interesting that for years to come, the dragon would tell her apprentices of it. She would tell of how the young priest stood tall before her, not with bravery but oblivious of her might,

as he was so enthralled with the puzzle in his mind. He stood there not truly making eye contact but more absent mindedly looking at the rising moon, and asked, “How does one find wisdom?”

 

The dragon did not even blink before answering, “By seeking it.”

 

As if he had been asking himself and had not even noticed the dragon until now, he

quickly turned his head and took a step back, saying, “Forgive me, I mean when someone tells you something. How do you know if it is wisdom, that you should keep or useless words that should not be repeated lest you become like the fool who first spoke them?”

 

The wise dragon thought on this for some time, but the priest did not seem to notice or mind, as he too was lost in thought trying to find an answer. The silence was finally broken not by the wise dragon but by the young priest, who said, “I suppose that you would first test to see if it was true.”

 

To this, the dragon replied, “That is a great way of looking at it. Let us create a test by which anyone can judge for themselves whether some bit of information is wisdom or folly, and as you said, the first part of the test should be to determine the truthfulness of the information. Might I suggest that the second part be whether or not the information is useful?”

 

 

 

To this, the young priest said, “I can hardly see any wisdom not being of

use. So, your suggestion passes the first test and therefore was useful, and thus passed the second test. Now let us see if there is a third test of which we can judge wisdom by?”

 

With that, both the priest and the dragon became silent again. It was not until the

moon was high in the night sky, and the air had become chilled, that the dragon’s

apprentice, a young human by the name of Noyet, spoke up. “May I pose a third test, master?”

 

The dragon and the priest both answered yes at the same time, then gave each other a look and broke out in laughter. When they had calmed themselves, Noyet continued. “You have always told me that if something was no good, it was of no use. So, I pose the third test be whether or not the information is good.

 

Both the dragon, the priest, and even Noyet, thought on this for a little while,

and then all agreed that this was a good start to finding wisdom. That would help any in finding it, but it would take many more tests to truly determine the true definition of truth, usefulness, and goodness. But as the dragon would tell

her apprentices when recanting this tale, those are other stories.           

 

 

The END

 

 

The Dragon and the Merchant (7-8)

 The Dragon and the Merchant

Long ago, on a tall mountain, lived one of the last of the wise dragons. Every day, this wise dragon would leave its cave and head down the mountain to a particular clearing about halfway down the mountain. There, people from around the land could come and ask the dragon questions, and she would give them her wisdom. From time-to-time people would even stay on the mountain and train as an apprentice of the wise dragon.

One day, a young man came to the wise dragon early in the morning before the crowds of people started to arrive. He approached the dragon and bowed deeply. Then spoke. “Great dragon I am Kaheal. You may not remember me, as it has been many years. Once, long ago, I came here with my mother, as I was just about to start my training, and you helped me face my fears, and I have lived by the wise words you gave me that day Through-out my school days. Now, tomorrow I leave the house of learning to make my way as a merchant.”

The wise dragon responded with, “It is nice to see you again, Kaheal, I am glad you have done so well for yourself. I am always fascinated by how fast you humans grow. How may I help the young man who once trembled before me as a small boy?”

 

Kaheal began his question by explaining, “In the learning house, I did train for many years, first as a tailor, and then later as a blacksmith. Last night, I walked the great city, thinking about what business I should try and open after I graduate tomorrow. As I walked the streets, I noticed ten different tailor shops, some doing well, and others looked more like they would close for good any day now. There were even more blacksmith shops then tailor shops, some specializing in tools 

and some just for the working of gold or silver. I do not see the point in opening 

another one of these shops and competing for the coins they now earn.”  Kaheal paused for a moment then went on, “Beyond that, I want to do something that 

will be of some good but also allow me to make coins for myself. As hard as I try to think of what I should do, I cannot see it.”

The wise dragon contemplated what the young man had said and asked. Then after some time, spoke, saying. “It is true there are many tailors and blacksmiths within the city. Most of all, it is honorable that you wish to do good with your work. 

It is also wise that you wish to earn, while doing good works.”

The dragon then paused and turned its head from side to side, as if it were checking that no one else was listening. Then went on to say, “Because of this, I will tell one of the secrets to making profit while doing good work. The tailor, the blacksmith, and most crafter within the city must first buy the supplies 

to make their art. They must then sell the crafts at a higher price than what it cost to make it. This difference between cost and sale is how they make profit.”

The dragon then leaned her head down close to Kaheal and whispered, “Now, here is the secret to finding work that does good and earns a profit for you. Just outside your city wall, there is a place to get free supplies to craft and make. If you find a way to make profit from these free supplies, all that you sell at any price will be profit. As it cost you nothing but your time to make it.”

The young man was eager to start, so he begged, “Where is this hidden market of which I can buy supplies without spending coin? Tell me, and I shall make my way there this day, to begin.”

“It is just outside the west wall of your city. Go now, see what supplies call out to you and what crafts you can make to sell. While you are there, keep your eyes and your mind open to the many hidden, potential products you could make.”

The young man went at once. As he walked, he imagined what type of hidden market he would find. He wondered if the merchants there gave away their supplies by order of the king for those lucky enough to find it. Perhaps the 

merchants where there by suggestion of the dragon, giving away all they had in 

hopes of finding enlightenment and wisdom. When he left the city out of the west 

gate and begin looking for the hidden marketplace, he passed first by a group of the king’s slaves unloading a cart full of horse droppings that they gathered from the city streets. As the young merchant passed the men, he thought to himself, these slaves must have to do this every day to keep the city clean. He could see the slaves, dumping the waste on a pile, so huge it reached for the sky. Towering almost as high as the city wall itself, and behind that mountain of waste where five more just as high. A few minutes later, he found himself standing before a huge pit 

at least a mile wide and even longer than its width. The pit was full of trash that had been tossed out by those who lived inside the city. The young man spent three days searching around the edge of the pit and around the area before giving up on finding the hidden market, returning on the fourth day to the wise dragon on the mountain.

When he approached the dragon, she spoke first. “It is good to see you again Kaheal, what business have you decided on?”

Kaheal looked ashamed and lowered his head as he spoke. “I am afraid, I was unable to find the hidden market you spoke of and thus have no more 

a business plan, than when I last saw you.”

“Could not find it? It is not hidden and quite large, how could you not find it?” asked the wise dragon.

“All I found was the city’s dump where they throw out the trash, great dragon,” 

Answered Kaheal.

“Then you did find it, young merchant!” Replied the dragon, and then went on. “All within that place is profit for you. It is as if the people of the city have left you coppers and silver, just in piles in a pit outside the city. All you need to do is to find a way to use their waste.”

Kaheal thought about this for a moment, then said, “It is true that the farmers of the 

field do pay for cow and sheep droppings, to enrich the soil in which they plant. I also saw much scrap and torn leather within the pit of which I could clean and 

make into small coin bags.”

The dragon smiled and said, “Now you are looking with an open mind, and as you will pay nothing for these supplies, you can sell what you make cheaper 

than others who sell the same products. The piles discarded there, grow every-day. 

If nothing changes, one day the piles will be as big as the city itself, and the smell 

will cover the city. This is how you will be doing good works for all, especially me, for the smells of the pit and piles already wafts its way to my cave on the top of this mountain. Remember, Kaheal, as you go forth from here, there is no such thing as waste. Only stuff in the wrong place. If you keep this in mind, you will always find profit where others are not looking”

THE END

The Dragon and the Slave (6-8)

 The Dragon and the Slave

Long ago, on a tall mountain, lived one of the last of the wise dragons. Every day, this wise dragon would leave its cave and head down the mountain to a particular clearing about halfway down the mountain. There, people from around the land could come and ask the dragon questions, and she would give them her wisdom. From time-to-time people would even stay on the mountain and train as an apprentice of the wise dragon.

Near the tall mountain that the wise dragon lived on was a large city, in this city was a good and noble king, who often came to the dragon for counsel. He had asked many questions about slavery, as it was a common practice of the time. 

Yet the king questioned the ethics of allowing it within his kingdom. After many long sessions with the wise dragon, the king decreed that no man shall be a slave because of race, gender, or religious beliefs.

Slaves were only to be made of those men and women who found themselves in debt to another, with no way of paying that debt. He also decided that a court of people, wise in the wisdom of numbers would hear each case and decide the length of time a person would have to be a slave to pay off their debts.

On this day, it was one of these slaves of the nearby city, that came with the crowds of inquisitors to ask the dragon a question. He approached the dragon slowly, with his head down, and spoke with a quiet voice, saying,

“Long I have been a slave, for I was foolish as a youth, and in a state of depression after my father’s death. I did gamble my inheritance at the dice tables, and when my purse was empty, I did go to the money lenders and raise a debt that could not be paid within my lifetime.”

 Hearing no question, the dragon sat patiently for a moment, then asked, 

“What advice do you seek, young man?”

The slave continued, “You see, I have met a young woman who I do wish to make my wife, but being a slave, her father will not have it.”

The wise dragon knew what the slave was asking, but also knew from her experience that it was important to have her guest clearly state their question so that they could be awakened by the answer she gave them. So, she asked again,

“I see, it is good to find love. But what is your question?”

The young slave continued, “I wish to know, with so much debt, how I can become a free man so that I may marry and then still provide for her.”

The wise dragon thought for a few moments while the slave stood quietly, waiting for a response. Then she spoke. 

“I have a few questions before I advise you. First, how is it that you are here asking 

me this question and not working for your master?”

The slave explained, “My master is not unfair and does let me go my way after I have done my daily tasks for him. As long as I return in the morning on time.” 

The old wise dragon nodded at this and then asked another question. “What profession does your master, and you work at?

“My master owns the bakery, he has me work hard in the morning stoking the fires 

and mixing the ingredients, that he uses to make the cakes and bread that he sells once the sun comes up and his shop opens.”

The dragon thought about this for a few moments, then finally spoke to the young 

slave these words, “Your master does seem wise and does seem fair indeed. He too must know that he will not receive all the money that you owe him within your lifetime, right?”

The slave answered, “You are right, my master knows this fact. He does not hound me with it like other masters would.” 

The dragon went on, saying, “Therefore, go to him and ask him, may you 

take the cakes and breads that are not sold during the day on a tray and walk the streets as the sun sets. Tell your master you will try and sell them to the traders on the street.” 

The dragon paused and then added. “Explain and ask him also, as you will be 

working during your free time, could you keep one copper out of every silver you earn him in this way so that you may invest it in hopes of one day paying off your debt. Do you think your master would consider this idea?”

Now the young slave stood silent for a moment, contemplating what he thought his 

master would say to this idea. Finally, after a moment he spoke. “My master is kind and does not beat me as other masters do to their slaves. He cares much about the coins he earns, so I do believe he would agree to this idea.”

The dragon smiled at this and added, “That is good then. Go to your master this 

day and ask him, so, that you may start on your path to freedom right away, and in one cycle of the moon, return here and tell me of your success.”

The slave, now inspired with new hope, bowed to the dragon, and went hastily to the home of his master to enact the dragon’s plan.

One full moon later, the slave did return as asked to tell the dragon how things had progressed. He began by telling the dragon first about what his master had said about the idea. “My master was happy to see the want of freedom in my eyes again, and thought the idea was so sound that he agreed to give me two coppers for each silver I earned him after the shop had closed for the day. Saying that all he makes in a day that does not sell, he takes the next day to the slave trader. Selling it at one copper per pound, so any sales after the shop closes, but before the next dawn is a great profit to him.”

The dragon responded to this, saying, “This is great news, and in the last twenty-eight days how much have you made for yourself, by selling after the shop is closed?”

To this, the slave responded, “I had saved nine silvers and eight coppers, but as the money was mine and not my master’s. I did spend eight silvers to the jeweler for a bracelet with two small stones set in it, that I gave to the women I plan to marry when I am free.”

The dragon looked saddened at this and spoke softly to the slave. “If you spend your earnings instead of investing them, how will you ever become free?” She did not let him respond, instead told him to go and continue to earn for one moon, but 

this time save or invest all his earnings and return to tell her where he was on the path to freedom the next time the moon was full.

Another moon came and went, and the slave returned as asked by the dragon and 

spoke this, “Great dragon, I did as you have taught last when I was here, I did have one silver and eight copper coins, and within this moon, I have added to it ten silver and four copper. I have found that I can sell all my master’s baked goods in a day if I spend my night outside of the house of the ladies of the night. As their clients leave the establishment, they are truly hungry, and in a state of happiness. 

The men spend their coin freely to fill their stomachs with the honey cakes and sweet treats my master makes.”

The dragon smiled and said, “You are wise to find a place where you may sell your product throughout the night. Tell me what you have done with your earnings?”

To this the slave smiled and said, “I listened, wise dragon, this time, and have 

divided what I have earned in two piles five silver and two copper, which I have loaned to the shield maker. He is, as we speak, on a boat to the land of the east. 

He plans to buy the fine rugs that they make there. When he returns, he will sell these rugs to the rug maker, and he plans to pay me three gold for my loan.

The dragon shook her head sadly and spoke. “You are young, I know, but why would you trust a shield maker to know how to buy rugs? What knowledge does he have of cloth and dyes? Your hard-earned money that you entrusted with the blacksmith is most likely now gone. Do not seek quick wealth, no matter how much you desire freedom faster. Money runs from those who chase it unwisely.” 

The wise dragon then looked the slave in the eyes and said, “It is wiser to walk after wealth at a steady pace, so that it does not hear your footsteps approaching and run farther away.”

The dragon then went on to say, “Perhaps you will be lucky with this deal 

with the shield maker, but it is not likely. Come back in next full moon, so I may hear more of your journey to freedom. Remember as you go, trust your money 

with only people who are wise in the field, they are doing business in.”  

The slave left the mountain hoping that the wise dragon was wrong. Again, one month passed, and the slave returned to tell of the last month’s progress. “Great dragon, your wisdom was true. The shield maker did return with rugs, but when he went to the rug makers to sell them, he found that the expensive rugs he bought 

were made of common thread.”

The slave paused and the wise dragon could tell he was upset by what he had to say next. “Even worse, the dyes used were not the rare ones of the east, but common sugar beet juice that will run and fade after just a few washings. Thus, the rug maker would not buy them. And me being a slave, the shield maker has no intent to pay me back my loan. As he made no profit.”

 The slave continued, “As a slave, I may not take him to the courts to demand my payment. Thus, my money was halved, as you said it would, but I did not let this stop me! I have continued to work long nights and take only one day off each week to fully rest. I have taken my five silver and two copper and added to it eight silver and six more copper. Bringing me to one gold, three silver, and eight copper coins. I plan to hold onto my money longer this time as I search for a safe way 

to invest it.”

 

To this, the dragon smiled. “You are not only gaining coins each time I see you, but wisdom as well. You have learned to earn as well as save. You have learned not to give your money away on chances of quick wealth. Come to me not next moon, but instead wait for twelve moons.” 

The elder took a step forward while saying this last part, to emphasize its importance. “As you now know, wealth takes time. Over this year, do not dismay. 

If a man plans to walk a great distance, he will always make it as long as he does not stop walking.”

With that, the slave went back to town and labored hard for twelve moons. When he returned to the dragon, he was proud to say, “I am now a free man! When I left here last, I was a slave who sold my master’s works at night to those who would not dare come into his shop during the day. Men and women whose lives were spent awake during the night. When good folk sleep. I soon learned that the same way I gained my great debt could be my way out of debt.”  

The once slave went on to say, “Each day, I took all that I earned and gave it to the money lender as a loan to him with the agreement that for every silver o mine he holds and lends to others will make me one copper each full moon, and every gold earns me one silver a moon. All I earned from my labor, I gave to him, and all he paid me, I too gave back to him to earn me more.” 

After that, the now free man went on to say, “After eight moons of this, the money lender came to me and said that he could see I was a good earner and wise with money, thus, he offered to give me a loan equaling my debt as a slave 

to pay my master for my freedom. Now I work for the baker instead of being 

his slave, and he does pay me one silver a week, of which I must pay nine coppers to my loan to the money lender, but I am free.”

The man continued, “The best news is last month I did ask my love’s father again if I could have his daughter’s hand, and he did not say a slave will not marry my daughter. Instead, he told me to find myself a good home in which his daughter may raise children and be happy. Then he would consider my proposal.”

To this, the wise dragon did smile and said, “Much have you accomplished these 

last twelve moons, more than I expected. But I am sorry to tell you, you are not free. You may no longer have the title of a slave, and you may no longer have the iron upon your limbs, but that is because it has moved to your purse. Let me ask you this, do you work any less than you did before as a slave?”

To this, the man answered, “No, if anything, I work harder now for the 

baker than I did when he was my master, as the success or failure of his shop is now my success or failure as well.”

“That is true, you have learned much, and today I will teach you the last lesson I can about freedom. You were once a slave to the baker, then you became a slave to your debt. I trust that with the wisdom you have gained you will soon be free of that as well.”

 

The dragon paused for a moment, thinking of how best to word her final point to this once slave.  “You were once physical slave now a financial slave but soon you will be a truly a free man. Remember as you go, you will only be truly free when your time is yours to do with what you want. Without fear. As your money is 

doing the work needed to meet your needs and wants. In other words, we are all slaves to money until we become its master.” 

THE END

 

The Dragon and the Beach (5-8)

 The Dragon and the Beach

Long ago, on a tall mountain, lived one of the last of the wise dragons. Every day, this wise dragon would leave its cave and head down the mountain to a particular clearing about halfway down the mountain. There, people from around the land could come and ask the dragon questions, and she would give them her wisdom. 

From time-to-time, people would even stay on the mountain and train as an apprentice of the wise dragon.

On this day, the wise dragon had many visitors, who posed many questions. At the end of the day, the last man to walk up to the dragon and ask a question was a young, poor merchant who had been trying hard for the last two years to become financially stable but had not succeeded as of yet.

He walked up and asked the wise dragon, “What is the one thing that I can do to 

become successful in my business?” The wise dragon thought for a moment, then told the young man that, “If you truly want to be successful, meet me at the beach tomorrow morning before the sun has woken for the day, and I will teach you the secret.”

So, the next morning, the young man showed up at the beach in his best robe, 

looking to impress the wise dragon and learn the secret to making lots of money. As soon as the young man approached the wise dragon on the beach, the old, wise dragon said, “If you want to know the secret to success, follow me.”

Then the dragon started to lead the young man out in the waves. At first, they walked out to the point where the merchant was standing knee deep in water. 

Here, the merchant paused and asked the wise dragon, “I sell robes, not fish, what are we doing in this freezing water, wise one? 

The wise dragon just ignored this and said, “A bit farther, don’t worry, the water 

holds many secrets.” And then whispered, “Not just to fishermen.” 

The dragon journeyed farther out into the sea. The young man followed, now feeling uncomfortable in his soaking wet fine robes. The man was now almost at his shoulder depth, and the dragon was almost to its underbelly. The waves keep hitting the merchant in the face. It was here the old, wise dragon turned to the young man and said, “You want to know how to be successful?” 

The young man said, “Yes,” while spitting out a mouthful of seawater 

that had splashed him in the face.  The young merchant had been unaware that 

the dragon’s tail had been slowly creeping up behind him under the water.  It was now that the wise dragon used this tail to grab the merchant by the top of the head and pushed him underwater. The wise dragon held the young man’s head under the water and quickly counted to twenty, then let the young merchant up.

The young merchant’s head came up out of the water gasping for air. with a shocked and angry look on his face. The old, wise dragon said to him, “When you were underwater, what was the one thing you wanted?”  

The young man, completely confused and worried for his life, started to stammer, “wh…. Wh… what…?” 

The wise dragon repeated herself. “When you were underwater, what was the one 

thing you wanted?”  

Now the young merchant proclaimed a bit angrily. “I WANTED TO BREATHE!” 

The old wise dragon said, “YES, and you will only truly be successful, when you want to succeed more than you wanted to breathe, just then.”

The man still looked a little confused and angry. So, the dragon continued. “If you want to succeed, you will need to want it as much as you want to breath. Success must be the thought that wakes you in the morning, feeds you throughout the day, and tucks you in when you lay down to rest at the end of the day.”   

The man was still angry, the wisdom of the dragon was not sinking into his mind. 

The wise dragon could see this, so, she tried one more time to make herself clear.

“You want to succeed. That is clear by you following me out into the water today. 

Many want to succeed, my child. If you want it more than them and you put more effort into it than them, you will be one of the many who find success.”

       

The man’s anger subsided as the wisdom of the dragon became clear.

Wisdom from the dragon (part 4 - The Dragon and the Two Seeds)

 

The Dragon and the Two Seeds

Long ago, on a tall mountain, lived one of the last of the wise dragons. Every day, this wise dragon would leave its cave and head down the mountain to a particular clearing about halfway down the mountain. 

There, people from around the land could come and ask the dragon questions, 

and she would give them her wisdom. From time-to-time people would even stay on the mountain and train as an apprentice of the wise dragon.

One morning, when the wise dragon arrived at the clearing, 

a young maiden dressed in a flowing white robe was there, holding the 

hand of a scared young child. The wise dragon spoke in her softest, friendliest voice and asked the maiden, “What can I do for you this fine morning?”

The maiden replied, “I am not the one in need of guidance today, great dragon. It is my son Kaheal who has a question.” With that, she guided the small boy to step 

forward, never letting go of his hand.

The wise dragon waited for the boy to gather enough courage to speak in her presence. Finally, he spoke with a shaky, timid voice. “Tomorrow is my first day at the sacred learning house, and I have heard horrible tales of the tricks the older boys play on the new children. I do not want to go. My mother says that all good children go to school to learn a trade, but is there not another path I can take without being tortured by the older apprentices?”

The dragon thought long and hard about the boy’s question and finally decided how she would respond. “Of course, you have a choice. Even not making a choice is still a choice, my child. Your question is not really about your path in life. Your question is more about you being afraid to go start your training at the learning house. I cannot tell you whether or not going to school is right for you, but I can tell you a story that might help you make up your mind. Would you like that?

 The small boy, now less afraid, said, “Yes, please.”

The wise dragon laid down, so her head was closer to the boy’s height, and began to tell her story. “Long ago, in the valley below, lived a farmer who planted two corn seeds. As the seeds sat underground, it was warm and comfortable. One morning, the first of the two seeds spoke to the other, saying, “It is so nice here in the soil. f I reach my stalk up above the ground and spread my leaves, the sun may be too bright, and I may burn. Or the rain may not come, and I will wither and die. Or if the rain does come, it may be too much, and I may be washed away.  It is safer if I just stay here in the ground.”

The second seed said, “But we must grow. It is what we are meant to do. If we do not grow, we will never produce corn and never be enjoyed by the farmer.”

The first thought about what the second had said and cried out in fear, “If I grow and make corn it will be eaten by bugs, and I will be useless to anyone.”

Over the next few days, the second seed reached its roots down into the earth and sent its stalk up to find the sun, but the first seed was too afraid to grow and was too comfortable in the warm soil, so it did not grow.

The dragon then asked the child, “Do you know what happened next?” 

The child, with excited eyes, answered, “No, what happened?”

The dragon continued, “A few days later, the farmer’s chickens got loose, 

and while scratching the ground looking for food, dug up the first seed and 

gobbled it up. But when they scratched at the second plant, its roots were strong, 

and even though they pecked at the second brave seed, 

it had grown to be a plant, and soon healed from the pecking.”

“So, remember, my child, never be too afraid to grow and learn, or you will be eaten up by life. Do you understand, child?”

The small boy looked up and said, “I think so?” 

By then, many more people had shown up and were waiting for their turn to ask the wise dragon a question. So, the mother smiled and took the young boy away. But as they were leaving, the wise dragon heard the young boy tell his mother. “I think, I’ll go to the learning house tomorrow!”   

THE END

 Wisdom of the dragon part 3-10

The Dragon and the Rabbit

 

Long ago, on a tall mountain, lived one of the last of the wise dragons. Every day, this wise dragon would leave its cave and head down the mountain to a particular clearing about halfway down the mountain. There, people from around the land could come and ask the dragon questions, and she would give them her wisdom. From time-to-time, people would even stay on the mountain and train as an apprentice of the wise dragon.

 

At this moment in history, the wise dragon had a young human boy named Noyet, who had learned many skills in his training with the wise dragon. He had stood by the dragon’s side each day for five years as others came and asked their questions.

 

He had heard all the answers to these questions, and each night after the crowds

left, he would get to ask his questions about what the dragon had said throughout the day.

 

Most of the time when people would come and ask the dragon a question,

the dragon would think for a few moments and then answer, but sometimes she would not answer them. Instead, the wise dragon would tell the person to go up the hill a little way and to talk to the wise one who lived in a small shack there. That they were wiser on such matters thane even her.

 

Today, Noyet had witnessed another of these moments, when a royal from a

foreign land had arrived seeking the wisdom of the dragon. He had approached, head held high, and did not bow, as was the custom. Noyet had noticed that this did not seem to bother his master.  When he spoke, he did so as one who was new to the language.

 

“Great lizard, I have travel far to seek ye, my kingdom has had plentiful troubles. If my people do not work upon each seventh day, they will not pull in the harvest before the great snow comes. If this passes, they will starve in the cold of

winter. But it is commanded by our god that each seventh day is a day of rest.

 How do I convince my people that it is just and rightful for us to live and to do so they must work every day till the snow comes, even on the seventh day?”

          

The dragon thought on this for some time, then told the king to go up the hill and speak with the wiser one. There, she would tell him what to tell his people about keeping their commandments with their god.

 

The man walked up the hill and went into the shack. He was there for only a few moments, then came back down, now angry at the dragon, and even put his hand on the hilt of his blade but did not pull it, as his manservant grabbed his hand and whispered something in his ear. The royal figure and his party then left without

saying a word. That night, Noyet thought back to other times he had seen his master send people to the shack, he remembered that many of them had come back

looking more confused than when they had gone up. He had to know who

the master in the shack was, and what they could have said to anger the king so much and confuse so many others.

 

So, he asked the wise dragon, “Who lives in the shack?”

 

The dragon told Noyet, “One who is wise in guiding others who

wish to control others’ beliefs.”

 

Noyet thought about this while the two ate their dinner. Then asked his master, “What does the wise one in the shack tell these people who wish to control others?”

 

The dragon smiled, something Noyet still could not get used to, for when his master smiled, she showed her massive teeth, and even though Noyet knew he was safe with his master always, it was still a bit frighting. She then spoke, saying,

“If you are curious, why don’t you go ask the one who lives there?”

 

Noyet became excited and asked his master, “I would not be bothering them this late?”

 

“No, no, she loves company,” answered the wise dragon with another grin.

 

Noyet went up the hill to the small shack. He had never been higher up the mountain than the clearing and felt like he was almost intruding. By the time he found the shack, he could see the dragon’s cave opening farther up the mountain. 

 

The door was still open to the shack, so Noyet stepped inside to see a table. On that

table was a large brown pillow with gold tassels at each corner. Setting on that pillow was a large, white rabbit with long, soft, fluffy ears, that drooped down till the tips were resting on the soft pillow.

 

At first, like the others who had come before him, Noyet was confused. He stood for a moment and waited for someone to come out of the shadows, but nothing happened.

 

Then he thought, I have heard tales of talking animals, and this rabbit does just sit there with the door wide open and does not run away as any caged rabbit should.

Perhaps it has some magic to it.

 

Noyet asked the question that the king had asked earlier that day, but again  nothing happened.

 

Noyet thought for a moment, possibly the rabbit knows this question is not my own, so it answers not.  So, he tried to remember every question he had ever heard his master refuse to answer and had sent the asker here for guidance.

 

 

 

It came to him that all the questions he had heard had dealt with prayer or devotion, and he tried to think of a question of his own that delt with such a topic.

Finally, it came to him, and he asked the rabbit.  “The last time I went to town,

I noticed my sister did not wake for morning prayers with the sun as she should, and now I worry she may have fallen off the path. What should I do?”

 

Again, the rabbit just sat there, it did not speak or even make a sound.

 

Noyet was used to waiting for answers from the dragon and did not want to seem

impatient, so he waited for quite some time, till the cold night air filled the tiny shack, before leaving and closing the door. As he walked back down the mountain, he was met by his master walking up the mountain.

 

“What have you learned, Noyet, from your visit to the wise one?” Asked the wise dragon. Noyet looked a little sad as he answered his master.

 

“I am not sure I understand, master. I asked the question the king asked and even asked another question about prayer and my sisters’ path in life, but again, the rabbit within the shack said nothing.”

 

The dragon let out a small sound that Noyet could only guess was a chuckle,

Then spoke, saying, “Yes! That is right, Noyet. Nothing! You wish to one day be as I, a guide of men. Remember this lesson well. Noyet, when men come asking you what I should tell others about how to live or how to worship, tell them nothing, for it is not their place to tell others these things, nor is it yours or mine.”

         

The wise Dragon finished by saying,

         

“The best answer to such people who would seek to tell others who their God

or Goddesses should be, or how to be one with them,

is to say nothing at all.” 

 

THE END