3. Service
“I don’t know who I am when I’m not needed,” said the Stag.
“Then make sure you always are,” said the Rat.
“Who are you when you are needed?” said the Wren.
The Stag paused.
“The strong one,” he said.
“The one who fixes things. The one who knows what to do.”
“And when nothing needs doing?” said the Wren.
“That doesn’t last,” said the Rat.
“Answer the question,” said the Wren.
The Stag looked at the ground.
“Restless,” he said.
“Useless.”
“Dangerous place to be,” said the Rat.
“Better to stay busy.”
“What do they actually need from you?” said the Wren.
“To fix things,” said the Stag.
“Fix things?” said the Wren.
The Stag looked at the River.
“I don’t know how to be there without doing something.”
Silence.
“Being needed is who I am,” said the Stag.
The River flowed whether it was needed or not.
If you recognised something in this dialogue, you're not alone.
For leaders Some men travel to Prague to walk by the Vltava River for a day. No agenda. No framework. Just space to hear which voice is speaking. [Walk With Me →]
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