Page 26 - Plowing the Desert

PARENT NOTES
The Man Who Plowed the Desert
TOPIC: One of the almost universal irra onal beliefs of children is, Things should always come easily to me. The fallacy of this belief is obvious and folk wisdom has produced a counter, more ra onal belief, Nothing worthwhile comes easily.
Unfortunately, for most children and many adults this irra onal message is the one we insist on maintaining. This story demonstrates how this belief has in uenced our modern society’s epidemic of was ng me in pursuits that lead nowhere.
The average high school senior will have spent more me in front of a television than they have spent in the classroom. In our e ort to have fun we engage in ac vi es that consume our precious me but are as truly valuable as plowing the desert.
During one of his adventures, Cosmos Crow ends up in a desert, si ng in cactus. He observes a pair of oxen and a man plowing rows in the desert. When the plowman takes a break, he es the oxen to the cactus where Cosmos is roosting. Cosmos then has a conversation with the oxen about something he knows very little about ... wasting time.
At first, Cosmos is very impressed with the rows being plowed.
The oxen comment that the rows are all perfect and since they
are plowing in the desert sand, it is effortless and enjoyable. Then Cosmos asks the question that will cause him much confusion, What will grow in such a dry climate. To this the oxen reply ... Well nothing. Cosmos then asks, When are you going to plant the seeds for your crop. Why never, is the reply from the Oxen.
23