Carrying the Burden: An Animal's Tale

by George S. Clason

Once there was a farmer who could understand the language of animals. One evening, he lingered in the yard and heard the ox and the ass talking.

The ox was bemoaning the hardness of his lot. "I pull the plow from morning to night," he said. "No matter how hot the day or how tired my legs, or how the bow chafes my neck, still I must work. But you are a creature of leisure. You are draped with a colorful blanket and do nothing more than carry our master where he wishes to go. When he goes nowhere, you rest and eat green grass all day."

Now the ass was a good fellow and sympathized with the ox. "My good friend," he replied. "You work very hard, and I will help ease your lot. Therefore, I will tell you how you may have a day of rest. In the morning, when the worker comes to fetch you to the plow, lay on the ground and bellow so much that he'll say you're sick and can't work."

And so it was that the next morning the worker came to the farmer and said, "The ox appears to be sick and can't work."

So, the farmer replied, "Then hitch the ass to the plow, for the plowing must continue."

All that day, the ass, who had only intended to help his friend, found himself compelled to do the ox's task. When night came and he was released from the plow, his heart was bitter, his legs were weary and his neck was sore.

The farmer walked out into the barnyard to listen.

"You are my good friend," said the ox. "Because of your advice I have enjoyed a day of rest."

"I am a simpleton who thought I was helping a friend, but, instead, brought my friend's burden upon myself," said the ass. "From now on pull your own plow, for I heard the farmer say to call the butcher if you were sick again. And I wish he would, for you are a lazy fellow."

From that day forward, the ass and ox never spoke again. Their friendship had ended.

Many dentists inadvertently carry the burden for their patient's long term lack of dental care. Ultimately, "patch job dentistry" can result in the dentist and staff struggling with more emergencies, losing productivity and resenting some patients.

A conscious decision to carry a patient's past burden when they have indicated a desire to change or a genuine lack of funds is one thing. On the other hand, offering blindly to carry the patient's burden without thought to how it may affect you, your team and your long term relationship with the patient can cause you to resemble a certain animal.