I was doing some research on a topic for a future essay when I came across an interesting story from the collection of Aesop's Fables. In sharing this story, this month’s essay would be a valuable lesson for anyone who may be estranged from family or a loved one, or perhaps someone who has fallen out of a social or spiritual community they were once close with.
The story, about unity or lack of, could even be extended to societal differences we see around many communities today which when analysing the root cause boils down to pride, jealousy, ignorance and selfish attitudes.
From a more positive perspective, lessons of unity can be drawn when applied to communities, businesses, teams, families and relationships between husband and wife.
This Aesop's Fable is titled 'Old Man and His Sons', and is sometimes referred to as 'The Bundle of Sticks'.
Once upon a time, there was a man who had many sons. The sons, on the other hand, were always fighting with each other. As the man became older and weaker, he became worried that his sons would ruin themselves if they continued to fight. He begged them to live joyfully and peacefully together, but no one listened to him and continued to act in the same manner.
One day, the old man called all of his sons together and handed them a bundle of sticks which were tied together. "I want every one of you to take this bundle of sticks and break it," he said. The sons tried to break the bundle one by one with all their strength, but they were unsuccessful. "Please accept our apologies, father!" "No matter how hard we try, we can't break this bundle!" said all of his boys.
The old man then opened the rope that bound the sticks together. He then handed a stick to each of his sons. "Now, my sons, try to break it!" he exclaimed. The single stick broke easily. "What does this mean father?" the boys questioned. "No one will be able to break you if you stay together, just like these sticks," the old man continued. “Many individuals in this world will take advantage of you when you are single. If you stay together, you can face any challenges." They all learned a lesson and realised the importance of one another.
The moral of the story teaches us about 'power of unity'. With the reference to the bundle of sticks, the old man taught his sons that if they remained united, and together, they would be stronger, and no one would harm them. Being separated, they will be weak and can't sustain themselves against the evils of the world.
The application of unity can be applied in many of our life situations today. Here are a few examples where the power of unity, as illustrated in Aesop's Fable on unity is so important if we are to maintain a strong, resilient, productive and happy relationship with the people around us.
First and foremost, unity is about togetherness and oneness. It does not mean sameness. By this I mean that each one in a relationship is unique and has their own thoughts, and desires. They all don't think or act the same way, do the same things or speak the same. Each will have their own style and character, but with togetherness there is a sense of unity of purpose in their actions.
Unity in Family
It is commonly acknowledged that the family unit is the foundation for society. So let us start with the power of unity within the family. Family unity actually begins with a loving parental relationship that sets an example for the family which then extends in a personal way to each child. Then each child manifests these lessons through their particular character and ability. The lesson from the aforementioned Aesop's Fable is about the strength in unity. Rewards and cohesion will struggle to be afforded if there is division in family relationships. The support of family members from grandparents, uncles, aunties and extended family all go to make a strong family home, where parents and children live in harmony and fulfillment. It is said, a house divided against itself will not stand. In the Hebrew Bible, in Psalm 133:1, God promises blessings and prosperity when families live in unity, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!"
Unity of Intimacy
When it comes to husband and wife, there is a unity of intimacy in that relationship. That bond between the couple involves a selfless devotion to the other person's needs. It is said that the healthiest marriages are those in which both parties maintain separate identities and purposes as they unite under the shared purpose of fulfilling the rule of God in and through their partnership. Again it is not about sameness but togetherness. Critical to this unity of intimacy is humility, gentleness, patience and tolerance in love for each partner. As written so succinctly in the Book of Colossians 3:14, “And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
Team Unity
As the term suggests, unity in a team environment means that all members of the team trust each other and are able to work together towards a common goal. Whilst each team member is different, unity leverages each members' diverse skills and perspectives to achieve an outcome greater than if each member did their own thing. Mattie Stepanek, American poet who died at the age of 13 years said, "Unity is strength...when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." The dynamics of team unity can often surpass initial thoughts and ideas, resulting in the by-product of creativity, innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.
Culture of Business Unity
Businesses have a responsibility in fostering unity amongst their various teams. Unity in business fosters a sense of belonging and gives team members a sense of purpose. We all know that leadership drives culture, therefore if a business aims to succeed with new in-demand products, creation of innovative technologies, and staying ahead of its competitors, having its employees united in purpose is critical to its success. These aims can be achieved by having an open communication work environment, a shared vision, a lived out set of defined values, a practice of leaving no one behind in success, a culture of taking responsibility, and a leader who is prepared to 'walk the floor'. As Steve Jobs was quoted as saying, "Great things in business are never done by one person, they are done by a team of people." A culture of business unity can generate large dividends.
National Unity
The greatest challenge for any national government is to maintain national unity. In many democracies, such as in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan, United States, Costa Rica, and Germany, many of its citizens have differing views and political opinions. It is a testament to the country's national unity and stability where these expressions can be held peacefully and discussed without retribution. National unity affords its citizens the protection of the nation's peace, independence, and sovereignty. When a nation is united, its people, despite their diversity are able to work together towards common goals and effectively address both internal and external challenges. Throughout history there have been displays of national unity during times of great unrest and disasters.
During the Second World War, one of the greatest onslaught on a city's population was the Blitz. This was when the city of London experienced the Nazi's bombing campaign from September 1940 to May 1941. In rallying and encouraging the people, the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a speech, with these concluding words, "We do not expect to hit without being hit back, and we intend with every week that passes to hit harder. Prepare yourselves, then, my friends and comrades in the Battle of London, for this renewal of your exertions. We shall never turn from our purpose, however sombre the road, however grievous the cost, because we know that out of this time of trial and tribulation will be born a new freedom and glory for all mankind." As so often is shown, if divisiveness and lack of cohesion are manifested, it can weaken a nation's ability to defend itself, resolve conflicts, and maintain stability.
On the other hand, there can great national pride when the whole nation is barracking for its sporting teams, whether the national team is in the Football World Cup finals, or the national Olympics swimming team, or in the Cricket T20 World Cup finals. What jubilation is experienced among the populace when the national team brings home the prize. I still remember the morning in September 1983 when the yacht Australia II crossed the finish line. It was the first nation other than the United States to win the America's Cup after 132 years. The win resulted in tumultuous cheers around the nation. The whole nation, as I did, would have had their ears peeled to their radios or viewed the race on TV in the early hours that morning. With jubilation many heard the Australian Prime Minister euphorically expressed his thoughts which immediately galvanized us Aussies, whether we knew anything about yachting or not.
Let us consider how we can apply the lesson from Aesop's Fable on unity in the situation we find ourselves in each day. As Mahatma Gandhi was quoted as saying, "Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and test of our civilisation."