There is the parable told by the Baal Shem Tov of how once
a group of people worked together to make a ladder so that one person could
climb to the top to retrieve a rare bird. As people at the bottom waited
they became distracted and left and the whole ladder collapsed. The
Baal Shem Tov told this to members of the minyan after they left while he was
praying. But it could work the same as a way of saying that only when
everyone invests in the conversation is it possible to accomplish the goal.
“Between 1305 and the early 1800’s. the House of Taxis ran a form of pony express service all over Europe…. Its couriers clad in blue and silver uniforms, crisscrossed the continent carrying messages between princes and generals, merchants and money lenders.” –Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave We may think we are the first generation consumed by rapid communication but we are not. Throughout our history it has been a priority. Of course, now in the 21 st century we must ask: are we better or worse for it?
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