The Three Brothers

A Fable of Fracture and Regret

In a quiet little village that seemed untouched by the wider world’s chaos, three brothers lived and worked together in a family business, embodying the spirit of community and mutual support. The village, with its serene simplicity, was a sanctuary for the siblings who had returned after years of travel to contribute to their ancestral home’s prosperity.

Thomas, the eldest, was revered for his wisdom; Peter, the middle brother, was known for his cunning yet was plagued by unseen insecurities; and Lucas, the youngest, was cherished for his vivacity and innocence. Together, they should have been invincible, but the seeds of discord lay in the envy that festered in Peter’s heart.

Driven by a misguided desire for recognition of the community and the other workers, Peter began to weave a web of lies, casting Thomas as a villain in the eyes of the village, claiming he bullied Peter without mercy, when in fact it was he who bullied Lucas because of his insight and calm demeanor. Peter’s wife, equally adept at deceit, spread false tales of Thomas’s tyranny, exacerbating the rift. The village, misled by the couple’s manipulation, turned its back on Thomas, their former respect replaced by suspicion and whispers. 

Lucas, young and impressionable, was torn. The escalating accusations against Thomas, whom he had always admired, confused him. The pressure and the village’s growing ostracism weighed heavily on him, leading to a decision that shocked everyone: Lucas left the village. His departure was a silent protest against the toxic culture that had enveloped his family and the community, a desperate search for peace away from the turmoil that Peter had created.

Thomas, faced with the alienation of his community and the loss of his youngest brother, found his heart heavy with sorrow. Despite understanding the root of the lies, the weight of isolation became unbearable. One day, he too packed his belongings and left the village, seeking solace in a return to his traveling life, leaving behind a legacy tainted by falsehoods.

Peter, who had initially reveled in the attention his machinations brought him, found the victory hollow. The departure of his brothers and others who could not accept the reality of the broken fellowship, particularly the innocent Lucas, whose admiration he had once sought, left him in a profound state of isolation. The village’s support, which he had manipulated so carefully, felt empty, as the bonds that had once tied him to the community were now revealed to be built on a foundation of deceit.  The future of the enterprise was also in question and many wondered if it would survive this blow.

As the years passed, Peter’s triumph turned to ash. The loneliness became a constant companion, a stark reminder of the family he had fractured. While some in the community still applauded his accomplishments, it was hollow because of the absence of trust and the constant fear of retribution.  His wife, once his partner in deceit, became a mirror reflecting his own guilt and remorse. The realization that his actions had driven away those he cared about most led to an inescapable prison of guilt.

Moral of the Story

The tale of the three brothers serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of envy and deceit. Peter’s inability to reconcile with his brothers, compounded by the irreversible damage caused to his relationships, underscores the profound loneliness and guilt that can consume one’s life when driven by jealousy and dishonesty. The story illustrates that the pursuit of personal gain at the expense of colleagues and family leads to an irrevocable loss, a life haunted by what could have been—a life filled not with the warmth of family but the cold specter of regret.

Two sides of the stream…

Consider a stream with two shores.  Which shore would you travel?  You know that you will stray from the banks into the woods and explore the forests and fields, always returning to the flow of the stream, guiding you, enticing you, to the destination that the flow demands. Occasionally you find yourself wondering if the path would be easier or more rewarding on the other side.  But, the land continues to draw you to the great expanse and you turn your back on that haunting feeling that you are missing half of what might be possible, half of the challenge, half of the reward, half of the inspiration and discovery.

paraLLeLLives is about understanding the journey of two people, could be any two people, and their journey along the stream of life.  The stream may be small, or even a trickle with two friends holding hands across the narrow separation and able to stay connected.  But, the two could be separated by an ocean of complexity and yet they still follow a subtle path of time and space despite their distance.  In summary, there is something that both joins and separates us as we journey along the flow.

Let them sing!

Blue skies, crumpled leaves, and blustery winds
Wrapped around the cobbled bricks of buildings intertwined.

Voices fill the spaces with earnest thought
And wide eyed curiosity hanging from the moments
Strung together through themes and provocations
Day upon day, minute upon minute.

But, on this day, voices can be heard in the heart of the connected spaces drawing us to a crowded gathering.
A unison of message and mind
Reflections on a bygone era
Cautious…
Respectful…
Earnest…
A chorus that captures ten decades
In the smiling faces of musical accomplishment.

For one evening we are a single voice of memory,
Performers and Audience together.
Let the song have no ending.
Look back to look forward,
As a mirror embraces the eye.
Never forget!
Love, Learn, Live, Life
Let us be thankful and embrace our becoming!