A Crocodile’s Tale: Navigating Life’s Unfairness and Choosing What Matters

I used to feel a profound sadness whenever I heard stories of war, suffering, or tragedy—plane crashes, floods, shootings, or any form of loss. These events weighed heavily on my heart. I’d find myself asking, “Why does this happen? Why to the innocent?”

Closer to home, I’d feel my heart break when walking the streets of San Francisco and seeing people experiencing homelessness. The same questions haunt me: Why does this happen? Can we solve this problem? Why are there so many issues in the world?

I’ve often grappled with the problem of evil. If you’ve felt this way too, let me share a story before we continue.

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A Story About the Way the World Works

“There’s a powerful story about a little boy walking along the bank of a river. He sees a crocodile who is trapped in a net. The crocodile says, “Would you have pity on me and release me? I may look ugly, but it isn’t my fault, you know. I was made this way. But whatever my external appearance, I have a mother’s heart. I came this morning in search of food for my young ones and got caught in this trap!”

So the boy says, “Ah, if I were to help you out of that trap, you’d grab me and kill me.”

The crocodile asks, “Do you think I would do that to my benefactor and liberator?” So the boy is persuaded to take the net off and the crocodile grabs him.

As he is being forced between the jaws of the crocodile, he says, “So this is what I get for my good actions.”

And the crocodile says, “Well, don’t take it personally, son, this is the way the world is, this is the law of life.”

The boy says, “ This is not the way the world is, this is not the law of life.”

So the crocodile says, “Do you want to ask someone if it isn’t so?” The boy sees a bird sitting on a branch and says, “Bird, is what the crocodile says right?”

The bird says, “The crocodile is right. Look at me. I was coming home one day with food for my fledglings. Imagine my horror to see a snake crawling up the tree, making straight for my nest. I was totally helpless. It kept devouring my young ones, one after the other. I kept screaming and shouting, but it was useless. The crocodile is right, this is the law of life, this is the way the world is.”

“See,” says the crocodile. But the boy says, “Let me ask someone else.” So the crocodile says, “Well, all right, go ahead.” There was an old donkey passing by on the bank of the river. “Donkey,” says the boy, “this is what the crocodile says. Is the crocodile right?” The donkey says, “The crocodile is quite right. Look at me. I’ve worked and slaved for my master all my life and he barely gave me enough to eat. Now that I’m old and useless, he has turned me loose, and here I am wandering in the jungle, waiting for some wild beast to pounce on me and put an end to my life. The crocodile is right, this is the law of life, this is the way the world is.”

“See,” says the crocodile. “Let’s go!” The boy says, “Give me one more chance, one last chance. Let me ask one other being. Remember how good I was to you?” So the crocodile says, “All right, your last chance.” The boy sees a rabbit passing by, and he says, “Rabbit, is the crocodile right?”

The rabbit sits on his haunches and says to the crocodile, “Did you say that to that boy?

The crocodile says, Yes, I did.” “Wait a minute,” says the rabbit. “We’ve got to discuss this.”

“Yes,” says the crocodile. But the rabbit says, “How can we discuss it when you’ve got that boy in your mouth? Release him; he’s got to take part in the discussion, too.”

The crocodile says, “You’re a clever one, you are. The moment I release him, he’ll run away.”

The rabbit says, “I thought you had more sense than that. If he attempted to run away, one slash of your tail would kill him.”

“Fair enough,” says the crocodile, and he released the boy.

The moment the boy is released, the rabbit says, “Run!” And the boy runs and escapes. Then the rabbit says to the boy, “Don’t you enjoy crocodile flesh? Wouldn’t the people in your village like a good meal? You didn’t really release that crocodile; most of his body is still caught in that net. Why don’t you go to the village and bring everybody and have a banquet.” That’s exactly what the boy does. He goes to the village and calls all the menfolk. They come with their axes and staves and spears and kill the crocodile. The boy’s dog comes, too, and when the dog sees the rabbit, he gives chase, catches hold of the rabbit, and throttles him.

The boy comes on the scene too late, and as he watches the rabbit die, he says, “The crocodile was right, this is the way the world is, this is the law of life.”

A Reflection on the Story

When I first read this story, it struck me deeply. It mirrored the very questions that troubled me about suffering and chaos. This story, shared by Anthony De Mello in his book Awareness, offers a profound perspective: no explanation can fully account for the suffering, evil, and uncertainty in the world. Life is a mystery, and our logical minds often struggle to make sense of it.

This was a transformative realization for me. I’ve come to see that the problem isn’t life itself—it’s our resistance to its harsh reality. We suffer more when we fight the fact that the world isn’t always fair or just. Yet, this does not mean we should do nothing about the challenges we see around us.

The Power of Caring for What Matters

The story of the crocodile teaches us to accept certain aspects of life’s unfairness, but it also reminds us of our capacity to choose how we respond. We may not be able to fix everything, but we can focus on the causes we care about and take meaningful action within our control.

For some, this might mean helping those in need through donations or volunteering. For others, it could be advocating for environmental protection, supporting education, or simply being a source of kindness in their communities. Whatever your cause may be, your actions—however small—have the power to make a difference.

Acceptance of life’s harsh realities doesn’t mean you stop caring or lose empathy. On the contrary, it can inspire us to act with more clarity and purpose, knowing we are focusing on what truly matters.

Balancing Acceptance and Action

Instead of letting thoughts of the world’s problems consume me, I’ve begun focusing on what I can control. While I cannot solve every issue, I can contribute in small, meaningful ways. I can donate to organizations doing important work, volunteer my time, or simply offer compassion to those around me.

What I’ve also learned is that endlessly feeling bad about the world doesn’t help anyone—not those facing challenges, not the causes I care about, and certainly not me. I’ve come to see that my sadness or guilt are just passing feelings. They don’t define me, and I can let them go.

By accepting life’s imperfections and directing my energy toward the things I can influence, I’ve found a sense of peace and purpose. I don’t have to fix everything. I just have to try where I can.

A Final Reflection

The world is full of suffering, yes. But it is also full of beauty, hope, and moments of grace.

We cannot solve every problem, but we can choose how we respond. We can care deeply, act with compassion, and make an impact—no matter how small. Life’s challenges may never have clear answers, but perhaps the solution isn’t in understanding everything—it’s in facing life with courage, love, and a commitment to the causes that matter most to us.

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