The Ostrich, the Lion, and the Truth
The sun hung high over the savannah, casting golden shadows through the grasslands. Mama Ostrich had just returned from a short forage for food, expecting to see her two fluffy chicks right where she’d left them. But the nest was empty.
Her heart skipped. She scanned the ground—there! Tracks. Two tiny pairs, side by side with much larger pawprints. Her feathers bristled. “Lion,” she whispered.
With long strides and pounding steps, she followed the trail through the grasses until she came to a shadowy cave carved into the hillside. There, nestled among the stones, were her chicks—safe, but snuggled up beside Mama Lion.
Truth on Trial
“Those are my babies!” Mama Ostrich cried.
“Your babies?” Mama Lion yawned, curling her tail. “You must be mistaken. Clearly, these are my cubs.”
“They have feathers, not fur!” Mama Ostrich snapped. “They walk on two legs—not four! Those are ostrich chicks!”
But Mama Lion bared her teeth. “Then bring me one animal who agrees with you. Just one. If someone—anyone—can say they are yours, I’ll give them back.”
Desperate, Mama Ostrich hurried away, seeking help. But every animal she asked hesitated. Who would dare oppose a lion?
The Wisdom of a Friend
Finally, she reached the den of an old Mongoose known for his cleverness.
He listened patiently. Then he smiled. “I have a plan. Dig a tunnel beneath the big anthill at the center of the savannah. It must have two exits—one on each side. Then invite everyone to meet at sunset.”
She dug, she worked, and by evening, the animals gathered. Gazelles, tortoises, hyenas, and zebras—every curious creature came to hear what all the fuss was about.
The Test
Mama Ostrich stood before them. “Mama Lion has taken my chicks. I ask only for one brave animal to tell her the truth: that they are mine.”
But the crowd murmured. No one dared step forward. Some shrugged. Others looked away. Mama Lion’s stare kept them silent.
Finally, Mongoose stepped forward. “Feathers on a lion? Chicks with beaks and wings? Anyone can see—they belong to the ostrich.”
Before Mama Lion could roar, Mongoose darted into the tunnel and vanished. She lunged after him—but the tunnel’s second exit let him escape unseen. In the commotion, Mama Ostrich gathered her chicks and slipped away.
Mama Lion was left alone, waiting for a Mongoose who never came out. The truth had spoken—and it did not need a crowd to confirm it.
Truth Is Not a Vote
The animals learned a lesson that day. Just because the crowd is silent doesn’t mean the truth is. And just because someone is loud, powerful, or feared doesn’t mean they are right.
“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil…” ( Exodus 23:2 )
God’s truth does not shift with opinion or numbers. It stands firm—even if only one voice dares to speak it.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” ( John 17:17 )
In a world where many would rather be quiet than be right, let us be like the Mongoose—brave enough to speak, even if we stand alone. Because truth, no matter how small the voice that speaks it, is still truth.