The Story of VYO

“Vyo is so boring!” his best friend Lester commented one day. “You always stay and study all the time. Are you afraid? Why don't you come and fly around with us?”

But Vyo never let his friends’ criticisms change his heart. He knew that pretty soon, he’d be old and strong enough to have to rely on the wisdom he’d been gaining from the old folks. This was knowledge passed down from generations. His favorite lesson was how to keep watch at night. It was his favorite because of the importance of being vigilant. He understood is a constant effort and that the safety of all the owls depended on it.

While everyone was relaxing at home one night, he went to meet the senior barn owls who were on Nightwatch. “I want to learn as much from you guys as I can,” said Vyo. “When I grow up, I’ll be the one in charge of protecting my family.”

He had a good night of observation training with the senior barn owls and was on his way home when he noticed that something wasn’t right. He put his lessons in vigilance to use and saw a snake lurking in the shadows of his family’s home.

Without a second thought, Vyo released a loud alarm call that got the attention of all the senior barn owls on duty. “Sounds like the alarm is coming from near Vyo’s home,” announced one of the owls. And with that, they rushed to the location and scared the snake away.

“That was great call, Vyo,” remarked one of the senior barn owls. “You bravely put your training to good use and protected your family from danger.”

Vyo felt proud that his lessons in vigilance paid off. With time he became the leader of the Nightwatch.

Moral: 
When wisdom guides your actions, it is easy to sense when danger is near.

There was a lot that Vyo liked about being a kid, playing, and having friends. But something told him that there was great value in gaining wisdom from senior barn owls and learning on the job with them. He knew this would be of great help for himself, for his family, and for the community. He believed that sooner or later, he would have to call on the lessons learned. In Fact, he made the right decision.

As he sensed, a potentially dangerous situation arose involving his family, and he used what he learned to keep them out of harm’s way. By being prepared, he was resilient.

Like Vyo, it isn’t always easy to tell when quick thinking is required. Sure it’s nice to have carefree days, but preparation for the unexpected is also important. Knowing the future may be uncertain, but presently knowing that you are prepared will help greatly in facing anything that life presents.

Wisdom can come from various sources that you encounter throughout your day. From your parent's advice to experiences you have on the bus, there are always opportunities from which to develop your own wisdom.

One wise piece of advice is to remain vigilant at all times, even when you feel comfortable in your environment.

When things are going smoothly, it’s super easy to let down your guard and openly trust what’s around you. But sometimes danger is lurking very close and where you least expect it. Keeping in touch with your instincts is the way to identify when something isn’t right.

Just like in the fable, the lessons you learn come in handy when you need them!

If you dedicate some of your time to enjoying your life, consider reserving some time for lessons in wisdom also. Reserve some time to meditate and to reflect. They’re there to guide you through those times when your instinct is needed to overcome a worrying challenge.