Flying Free From The Barn
A captivating tale of an ornithologist who discovers a young eagle raised in a barn among hens. As he tries to help the majestic bird reclaim its true destiny in the sky, the story unfolds as a metaphor for self-discovery, courage, and breaking free from limitations.
Once upon a time, there was an ornithologist, a bird lover, you know? One day, while wandering along a misty jungle path in the mountains—searching for his favorite birds to snap some photographs—he decided it was time for a little lunch break. So, he plopped down on a chopped tree trunk, and from there, he could see a cozy little cottage with a big barn and a courtyard just around the bend. As he relaxed, his eyes drifted to the woman of the house, busy with her daily tasks: feeding the hens, tidying up the courtyard, and calling out to her kids. Such a familiar scene in sleepy, hilly villages worldwide, he couldn’t help but think. But then something caught his eye—something quite unusual. There, in the courtyard, was a massive eagle, young and majestic, actually playing with the hens! How bizarre, right?
Curiosity got the best of him, and he approached the family to find out how this odd situation came to be. The woman explained, quite calmly, that her husband, a woodcutter, had stumbled upon the eaglet after a fierce storm. He found it alive, nestled beneath its deceased mother, who was still warm. They were frugal folks and didn’t have much, but they couldn’t just leave the poor bird to die. So, they took it in, giving it a safe home—even if that meant keeping it among the hens. The ornithologist felt a twinge of sadness for this king of birds, now living such a humble life, but he was thankful to the family for rescuing such a magnificent creature. The eagle strutted around the barn like a true king—a king of the barn, he thought—but still a king! Yet, he couldn’t help but say to the family, “This barn just isn’t the right place for such a bird to live and eventually die.”
The following day, just before the sun peeked over the horizon, the kind-hearted ornithologist took the eagle to a nearby ridge. He turned the majestic bird toward the warm sun and declared, “Oh, my lord, king of the sky, fly! Make the clouds your home. A barn isn’t where you belong, and hens aren’t your friends. You’ve got a grander purpose waiting for you. Go, explore!” But when the eagle heard those words, he seemed scared and confused. He looked back at the barn—his comfort zone—and then gazed at the vast sky above. He gave it a half-hearted try to lift off, but his wings just fluttered weakly. He couldn’t do it.
Not one to give up, the ornithologist came back at dawn the next morning, taking the eagle to an even higher cliff. Holding the bird up to catch the first rays of sunlight, he said, “Oh, king of the sky! Fly! Rule the heavens! You were made to conquer the skies. Go find your kind and explore your world.” This time, the eagle really tried hard, flapping his powerful wings with newfound strength. For the very first time, he managed to stay up in the air, feeling exhilarated! But then, he looked down at the barn, and his heart sank. Tears filled his eyes, and he found himself unable to fly anymore.
On the third morning, the ornithologist took the eagle to the highest cliff in the jungle. He said, “Your Majesty, you are the emperor of the sky. Go on, rule! Rule the sun, the sky, and all that lies beneath. Live the life you were meant for.” The eagle sat there for a long moment, soaking in the golden rays of the sun that warmed his wings and stirred his spirit. Then, for the first time ever, he let out a powerful scream that echoed across the sky and through the jungle. It was a battle cry from a warrior, a king reclaiming his rightful place. It was the roar of a soul that had finally found its calling—a purpose worth living and dying for. And just like that, he soared, never to return to the barn again.
Kind of resonates with some of us, doesn’t it?
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