THE PARABLE OF THE EAGLE
“SPREAD FORTH YOUR WINGS… AND SOAR!”
A long, long time ago, an old naturalist is hiking through the countryside when he comes to a clearing and spies a small farmhouse.
As he draws closer, he notices some chickens grubbing and pecking in the barnyard, but among them, of all things, is a magnificent eagle — also grubbing and pecking!
In all his born days, he’s never seen anything like it.
Astonished by the sight, the old naturalist knocks on the door of the farmhouse. When the farmer and his wife answer, he blurts out, “Do you realize there’s an eagle grubbing and pecking along with your chickens?”
”Of course,” replies the farmer. “We found an eagle’s egg and had one of our hens hatch it. So he thinks he’s a chicken!”
Stunned, the old naturalist says, “But clearly he’s an eagle.”
”Not anymore”, answers the farmer’s wife. “We agree with the eagle.”
Trying to prove his case.
The old naturalist picks up the majestic bird and holds him high over his head, proclaiming, “Eagle, you are an eagle. Spread your wings and fly!”
The eagle becomes visibly unnerved and quickly jumps back down to the ground to rejoin the chickens, as the farmer declares, “See that? He’ll never fly because he’s a chicken!”
Once again, the old naturalist tries to catapult the eagle into the air and once again the alarmed eagle rejoins the chickens down on the ground. That’s plenty of proof for the farmer: “I told you: he grew up a chicken, he lives as a chicken, and nothing will ever change that.”
But the old naturalist still can’t believe that this creature who could soar above the earth on mighty wings chooses to remain on the ground.
One final attempt.
The next morning, the old naturalist comes back to take the eagle to the base of a great mountain. Here, he again lifts the eagle high above his head and commands: “You are an Eagle! Spread forth your mighty wings and fly!”
More frightened than ever, the eagle frantically looks for his friends, the chickens, but it’s in vain. Directing the eagle so that he now looks into the sun, the old naturalist intensifies his command: “Eagle, you ARE an Eagle! Spread forth your mighty wings, and FLY!
The eagle shudders one last time… but then, with the beauty and strength of a true eagle, he spreads forth his mighty wings and…..SOARS!!
The moral of the story.
This parable has great meaning as we apply it today in our own lives. Whenever you feel like a chicken — grubbing and pecking on the ground — remember your true nature as a powerful human being… then soar above every challenge that comes your way!