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I have a sad story today, but one that can be inspirational if you look at it the right way.
Yesterday morning, as my son and I were walking out the door to go to school, we noticed a baby bird (not a robin - a sparrow) fluttering on the ground. It was struggling to pick itself up. It appeared that it had injured one of its legs when it was trying to learn how to fly.
We didn't see the mom around, and there was nothing we could really do to help it. Unfortunately, it was under my car, which I had to move, and it would have been crushed if I had done so. So, I went inside to get a hockey stick to gently move it.
Well, we tried to be quiet and approach it quietly, but the poor thing got so scared that it suddenly jumped and landed upside down. Now, it was in the middle of the car (so I wouldn't crush it), but I feel horrible that I must have given the poor bird a heart attack. Imagine if two large unidentified creatures were approaching you when you were helpless.
Well, I don't think I have to tell you that the poor little bird did not survive, and I don't think I will ever forget those few moments. Sometimes, no matter what you do, there's nothing you can do to help someone in need.
I really didn't want to get you down, especially on a Friday. So, even though I am still so sad about the little bird, I think we can all learn a lesson from this.
Aren't we all trying to fly? With the economy the way it is right now, many of us may even feel like that little bird. But not every story has such a sad ending. Think about how many baby birds really do learn to fly.
I imagine that when a baby bird tries to fly, it's kind of like a child learning to ride a bicycle. It may take a lot of hard work and persistence, and most of us fall a lot in the process. The important thing is to never give up. You may have bumps and bruises, but when you finally learn how to ride, it's an experience you'll carry with you for life.
So just remember, we're all trying to fly. It may be easier for some than for others, and we all may be tested in ways we could never have imagined. With the right combination of persistence, determination, and passion though, we all really can learn to fly.
