Ego & Arrogance Causes a Mighty Fall (Day - 2)
In a lush forest known as Greenvale, there was a powerful lion named Rudo. Rudo was the undisputed king of the forest. Tall and strong, with a magnificent golden mane, he ruled the animals with an iron paw. His roars echoed through the forest, a reminder to every creature that Rudo was the ultimate ruler. But as time went on, his pride grew, and so did his arrogance. He dismissed the smaller animals and ignored the advice of his wise old advisor, an owl named Sable, who constantly urged him to rule with kindness and respect.
Meanwhile, in Greenvale’s quiet northern corner, a clever young fox named Finnegan had been growing popular. Unlike Rudo, Finnegan was not strong or fierce, but he was cunning, resourceful, and compassionate. He helped animals in need, shared food with the hungry, and listened to everyone, big or small. The animals in Greenvale admired him and trusted him more than they did the mighty Rudo.
One day, Finnegan cautiously approached Rudo to suggest a partnership. "Rudo, the animals are growing unhappy. They fear you, but they don’t respect you. If we work together, I believe we could make Greenvale thrive."
Rudo laughed scornfully. "Why would I need help from a lowly fox like you? Go back to your burrow before I remind you who rules here."
Hurt but undeterred, Finnegan left, determined to continue serving the animals in his own way. But Sable, the wise owl, had heard everything. She knew that Rudo’s pride would be his downfall if he didn’t change.
Soon, a drought hit Greenvale. Streams dried up, and food became scarce. The animals were growing weaker and desperate. Rudo, refusing to leave his pride aside, hoarded what little water remained, drinking from a secret pool known only to him. The other animals were left to fend for themselves, growing hungrier and angrier each day.
Finnegan, however, gathered a team of animals willing to work together. He instructed the beavers to dig deep channels to find hidden water and asked the birds to scout for fruits and nuts in distant areas. Slowly, the animals began to thrive under Finnegan’s leadership, sharing resources and surviving despite the drought.
Eventually, word spread through the forest that Finnegan’s coalition was thriving while Rudo’s group grew weaker. Even some of Rudo’s loyal followers began to join Finnegan, realizing that he offered them the kindness and collaboration they needed.
Days passed, and the once-mighty Rudo was now left with only a few supporters. Alone and desperate, he was forced to wander the forest, searching for food and water just as the smaller animals once had. One day, he encountered Sable, who hooted at him knowingly. "Remember, Rudo, strength without respect is meaningless. True power comes from earning the trust of others."
Humbled, Rudo approached Finnegan, his head lowered. "I was wrong, Finnegan. I let my pride cloud my judgment. Will you help me now?"
Finnegan nodded, extending a friendly paw. "The forest belongs to all of us, Rudo. Together, we can make it strong again."
With Finnegan’s guidance and the cooperation of all the animals, Greenvale flourished once more. Rudo learned to listen to others and treated the smallest animals with respect. In time, he regained his place in the forest hierarchy—not as a feared tyrant, but as a trusted leader.
From that day on, Rudo understood that even the mightiest can fall if they let arrogance guide them. And so, Greenvale became a forest where strength and wisdom walked paw-in-paw, and every creature learned the value of respect and humility.
Te Pūrākau o Te Rangatira Ngākau Hūmarie - Day 34
The Tale of the Humble Leader
In a small Māori village near the coast of Aotearoa, the whānau were preparing for Te Rā o te Kirihimete (Christmas Day). It was a time of celebration, sharing, and remembering the values of aroha (love), manaakitanga (hospitality), and kotahitanga (unity). However, this year, the village faced a challenge. Their rangatira, Wiremu, had grown distant and prideful, burdened by his position.
Wiremu often made decisions alone, thinking that his wisdom and authority were enough to guide the iwi. While the villagers respected him, they felt unheard, and the spirit of unity began to fade.
As the Kirihimete celebrations approached, the kaumātua, Hinewai, decided to intervene. She invited Wiremu to the marae one evening, where she shared a story about Tāwhaki, the demigod who ascended to the heavens not through power, but through humility and service.
“Wiremu,” Hinewai said, “even the greatest leaders are at their strongest when they serve their people. Leadership is not about standing above others but walking beside them.”
Wiremu reflected on her words but was unsure how to change.
The Lesson of the Whetū (Stars)
On Christmas Eve, as the village prepared for their festivities, a fierce storm rolled in from the sea. The winds howled, and the rain poured, threatening to ruin the celebration. The central whare kai (dining hall) began to leak, and the decorations the tamariki had made were soaked. The people gathered anxiously, unsure of how to proceed.
Wiremu stood at the edge of the marae, looking at the chaos. In that moment, Hinewai’s words echoed in his mind: “Even the greatest leaders serve their people.”
Without hesitation, Wiremu took off his korowai (cloak of leadership) and joined the villagers. He grabbed buckets to catch the rain, helped rebuild the decorations, and reassured the tamariki that their work would be restored. His humility inspired others, and soon the entire iwi was working together, laughing and singing as they prepared the whare for the celebration.
A Kirihimete Under the Stars
When the storm cleared, the sky was filled with bright whetū (stars). The villagers gathered around a glowing fire outside the whare, sharing kai and stories of gratitude. Wiremu stood among them, no longer as a distant rangatira, but as a friend and servant of his people.
Under the starlit sky, Hinewai stood and addressed the iwi.
“This Kirihimete, we are reminded that true leadership is like the brightest whetū. It does not shine to outdo others but guides them through darkness. Wiremu has shown us the power of humility, and through his service, we have rediscovered our unity.”
Wiremu bowed his head humbly. “Tonight, you have all taught me that a leader is nothing without their people. Let us carry this spirit of kotahitanga and aroha into the new year.”
The villagers cheered, and the spirit of Te Rā o te Kirihimete shone brightly in their hearts.
Moral of the Story:
Leadership is not about authority or pride but about humility and service. Like the whetū that guide travelers, a true leader walks alongside their people, bringing light and unity through service and aroha. At Christmas, we are reminded of the importance of giving, humility, and leading with love.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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62% Summer
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36.5% Winter
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1.5% Other - I'll share below
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