Flying

Looking out a window, I saw a flock of Canada geese meandering across a field. Strutting as if kings and queens of their domain, they were clearly headed to a nearby pond. I watched in amusement, but then wondered, given their capacity to fly, why they were walking?

The minute I asked the question, it circled over the flock of geese and back to me like a boomerang. Why, when you can fly, are you content to walk, it asked. Such a question has as much inspiration in it as regret.

I believe we were endowed by our creator with certain inalienable gifts. Unique to each of us, we have all we need to fly, but we spend our time wanting the gifts of others, or doubting the ones we’ve been given. I also think the idea of flying scares us. So, we keep walking. We may puff out our chest and strut for all to see, but, the fact is, we’re still walking. God created us to fly. 

What would it take for you and me to stop walking? I think it would mean putting aside the paralyzing fear of not doing something perfectly. I think it would mean embracing gifts and not downplaying them. I think it would mean refraining from looking over at others in the flock and comparing. I think it would mean no longer listening to what others might say if we were bold enough to fly. 

Easier to think or write, than to do.

And yet, wouldn’t it be great to be the people we were created to be? Not the people we think our parents wanted us to be, our spouses, our children, or or neighbors want is to be, nor the people work pays us to be. No, I mean the people beyond such constrictions, beyond our imaginations - people who have the audacity to fly when everyone else is walking. I know, walking is easier and safer.

I guess it comes down to trusting that the one who made the earth under our feet also make the air under our wings. God’s got us. That’s the most important thing to remember. Yes, there’s a pond nearby, but, if we fly, we can find the sea.

Additional food for thought:

Watch/Listen to this song by Mary Chapin Carpenter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bduBIq433sI&list=RDbduBIq433sI&index=1

Our Deepest Fear

By Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? 
You are a child of God. 

Your playing small 
Does not serve the world. 
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking 
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, 
As children do. 
We were born to make manifest 
The glory of God that is within us. 

It's not just in some of us; 
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, 
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 
As we're liberated from our own fear, 
Our presence automatically liberates others.