Nothing More Than a Fox

Grateful to be tamed

“To you I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me you shall be unique in all the world. To you I shall be unique in all the world.” -from The Little Prince

As year two of The Empathetic Fox begins, I am filled with excitement and motivation. I wasn’t sure where this blogging journey was going to take me. The goal was to write every week for a year, and, as volume two begins, I am hoping to replicate that blueprint. Guiding me as always will be a combination of everyday observations, lessons from former teachers and coaches, past experiences, quotes, humor and, most importantly, faith.

One of the most impactful courses I was blessed to take at Saint Ignatius High School was called Christian Manhood. A must for anyone who attended school on West 30th and Lorain, the popular course was taught by Jim Skerl, whose life was a lesson on what it means to be a Christian Man in and of itself.

Jim left us at way too young of an age after a gallant battle against cancer. His intrepidity on full display, Mr. Skerl gave his last lesson to students lovingly gathered around him outside on campus just days before he died—teaching to the very end. There are not enough words to describe or honor the significance of such a man. Please take a moment and read this account to get a better understanding of this true Man for Others and his impact on thousands of his students.

The curriculum for Christian Manhood was unlike any other course I have been associated with as both a student and a teacher. Looking back, there was no textbook specifically aligned with it, rather, one very unlikely book would play the biggest part in relaying Mr. Skerl’s ultimate message. That book was Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince.

Published in 1943 originally in French, this unique piece of children’s literature follows a young prince traveling from planet to planet in search of knowledge—something he attains from a variety of characters—and wisdom. Among those the young royal runs into on his travels is a fox, and one of the many traits portrayed by the magnificent mammal is empathy, something that takes many folks a long time to understand—no pun intended.

The fox created by Exupery isn’t your typically natured one. Foxes often get a bad rap in the animal kingdom. He uses the word taming to describe the importance of friendship and the bond people have with one another. He isn’t looking to sneak into a chicken coop, rather, he hopes he and the Little Prince can tame each other. Undoubtedly, the greatest message from the fox comes when he says, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

There is a beautiful implication about humanity in these nineteen words, and Jim Skerl knew as much. The heart must always lead us as we go throughout life, even if it leads to pain and suffering. Following our hearts creates a better world. In order to follow one’s heart, you often need to be willing to put yourself out there, which could lead to failure, scorn from your fellow man, and ultimately cause us to question our decisions and actions. But rest assured that the heart is indispensable when it comes to guiding us on this journey called life.

These weekly writings have no doubt been influenced by that quote I first heard in Loyola Hall back in the 1990s. Thankfully, the course Christian Manhood continues to have a huge impact at my famed alma mater due to some incredible teachers and even better human beings who knew and loved their colleague. His legacy lives on in their classrooms.

To the four hundred and ninety-nine of you that have “tamed” me by subscribing to The Empathetic Fox—thank you for reading. Please feel free to share these weekly musings with someone who could use some positivity and joy in their lives, something Mr. Jim Skerl provided so many of us during his time here on Earth.

A.M.D.G.

-Tommy O’Sionnach