It's Important to Contain Your Ideas!

Many years ago, I was told a story that metaphorically described the“energy flow” accompanying ideas (according to the storyteller). He was bothered by how I indiscriminately allowed my ideas to be known.

THE STORY: Little Johnny was sitting in his 6th-grade classroom, dreaming about the soapbox derby car he wanted to build. He was excited. So excited was he that when the 3 o’clock bell rang, he bolted, running all the way home. When he got home, he burst through the back door into the kitchen, where his Mom had her head in the oven, tending to dinner. “Mommy... Mommy,” he cried, “I’m going to build me a soapbox car, Mommy, Mommy...” “Yes, yes!” his Mother replied, “I know, dear, but right now, Mommy’s busy, so go upstairs and play or do your homework.

“Huh,” said Johnny, but off he went, albeit feeling dejected... Just as he started to climb the stairs to his bedroom, he saw his older brother at the top, on his way down, holding his basketball... “Billy, Billy!” Little Johnny shouted, his excitement rekindled... “I’m going to build me a soapbox car, and, and...”

“Ya, sure you are,” his brother replied, “and I’m gonna fly to the moon!” And off Big Brother went, bouncing the ball off Little Johnny’s head as he passed, just as older brothers are apt to do... “See ya later, boyo he said", just before he was gone...

This drew another “huh” from Little Johnny. By now, however, he was feeling pretty discouraged. Mom had given him the brush off. His brother didn’t take him seriously. What to do? So he went upstairs to sit on his bed, wondering. Maybe this soapbox thing hadn’t been such a good idea in the first place.

Then Dad came home, pecked his wife on the cheek, saying, “Whatever it is, it smells good!”...After a few moments, he asked, “So, where are the boys?” “Oh, Billy just went out with his basketball”, she answered, “and I think Johnny’s in his room... he was talking about a soapbox car or something when he came in, but I was too busy to pay much attention.”

“A soapbox car," exclaimed Dad... “Wow, when I was a kid, I wanted one too... never did build it, though! I had better go see; I wonder what he’s got in mind."

[Little Johnny always was his favourite!]

However, when he got upstairs and pushed Johnny’s door open, the boy looked so sad that his father was immediately concerned. “What’s the matter, Son?" he said in a comforting tone... “Nuttin”, Little Johnny replied. “Oh, come now", said Dad, “I can see something’s wrong... You know you can tell me!”

"Well,” Little Johnny hesitated... "Nobody cares... I wanted to build the soapbox car, but no one would help. I’ve been thinking about this for weeks, and I’ve got it all planned out, but nobody will even listen,” he groaned.

"Isn't that interesting!” his Dad consoled, “You know, I’m listening. Because I’ve always wanted to build a soapbox car too!"...“Really, Dad?" said Johnny. “Yes,” said his Dad, and off they went to Dad’s wood shop and got started.

SO, WHAT'S THE MORAL OF THIS STORY?

According to my storyteller, it was all about how an idea loses power when scattered to the winds instead of being contained and allowed to build.

In Little Johnny’s case, had one more person been unwilling to encourage him or contribute? If Dad had not come home, would Johnny’s project have survived?

This was described to me as the flow of negative and positive energy and how one must be careful with whom to share information. Like the biblical reference to “cast not your pearls among the swine” (Matthew 6:7), the message here is that one must not spread information indiscriminately, at least not until one knows it will either be well received or contributed to and enhanced.