“I am only a sparrow among-st a great flock of sparrows.“
If the wings of a bird are clipped it cant fly;
It will never be free to just be, its insides just rot and die.
Never to explore the world and all its glories;
to enjoy the skies, and share its stories.
It may always stay connected to the grounds below;
often trailing its own shadows simply to say “hello”.
Great adventures lie in the vast great beyond;
but this small creature doesn’t feel strong, like it belongs.
It cowers,and it whimpers, chirping its fears;
a language often spoken in different words which no one hears.
It carries with it burdens others simply can not imagine;
harboring its thoughts and emotions, locked secretly away in a far off forest in a rustic old forgotten cabin.
Its wings will heal in splendid grandeur;
it takes much love, time, and lots of candor.
For it must travel to far off places without fear or reservation;
the only thing that matters to this tiny creature is utmost self-preservation!
– G. Parkhurst
” Never let your world become to small.” – Shane Skusek
If the wings of a bird are clipped, it cant fly. This we know. It will never be free to explore the world and to enjoy the skies, or have most the freedoms that other creatures like it do. It will be grounded……connected to the Earth, never knowing what adventures lie out there in the vast great beyond.
What if you could somehow mend that broken wing? What if you took it in, nourished it, harbored it, and gave it purpose again? What if you helped it to become strong, resilient, to grow and encouraged it to overcome all obstacles in the foreseeable future? Is it possible? You bet!
Do you think that once freed that this tiny creature would return unscathed? If it returned at all? What if the wings of the bird weren’t clipped but broken all together? Or, what if that very same bird….never had wings at all…it never knew any different? Would it be unsure on how to fly? Would it even try? Would you give it confidence and teach or train it to overcome its fears?
The bird seems weak, frightened….and unsure. Without you and your knowledge on how to be prepared….it could quite possibly die. DO you show it compassion and speak its language? Showing it mercy and love. You have taken it in, accepted it for being different…and it you. You posses the willingness to try and help another living being. Its difficult no doubt in the beginning, but over time, it becomes second nature to both you and this living thing. What if I were to tell you that for some…..with abusive backgrounds….or trauma, we are that Sparrow? We are that living thing…that creature that’s so afraid. Some may have had their wings broken and some never knew that they could even fly. What if that being…..is you?
The world in its entirety is ever changing. And we with it. A good friend …..my best friend said to me once….”Never let your world become to small Gwen.” He is a smart man. He never sustained any trauma or abuse that I know of. Yet, he is so compassionate about the things that he couldn’t possibly understand. His willingness to learn about my past and to understand it when I talk is impeccable. He never judges me or criticizes. Just listens and asks frequent questions.
Is he right?
I think that this reaches far more then abuse. We teach our children for example that they should be proud of who and what they are. Yet, we ourselves look and want to be more. Is this ok? Im not sure. I know this much. Early on in life, we adapt. We all adapt to change and over time accept it. We give in to it. Im not saying change is always good nor bad. Just that we do it. For example, if you were to take a picture of yourself as child, the again as teenager, college, wedding day, middle age…ect..ect. you would see that you have changed and adapted. Some people I think do it out of feeling forced and others go along with it….some never at all…yet stuck in time. The world is full of possibilities and constantly ever growing. In it…we are with it. We must keep an open mind. Never falling into the close minded thoughts or segregation of Victims, Abuse, and Violence. Rather, carrying with us the desires to explore life, ourselves and to constantly change and grow with it. If you never try how will you know. Its ok to fail as I have stated before in previous blogs. If you never give yourself of someone you know that chance to be something great……you are breaking their wings and keeping them grounded.
First things first. Be content with you. Without being a victim, you couldn’t make it into Survival. Accept you for who you are. Its amazing and great that you want more out of life…we all do. What Im saying is that you need to make EVERY day count. Im not a religious person….but there is a prayer that rings true for many people from ALL walks of life.
Today’s personal lesson comes from the heart……bare in mind those out there that may be Sparrows….they may be grounded and lost. To afraid to fly for fear of falling. Encourage them to live life, heal, grow, move on….and to fly free from those things that cause them to live in pain.
If you are fortunate enough to never have been in this position….then live life as you were intended…carefree…..and to the fullest. Make each moment count…like its your last! Dont become grounded and fearful….instead be fearless…and remain adventurous and courageous! Let these traits seep out of you and leech into others lives. NEVER LET YOUR WORLD BECOME TO SMALL!!!
Now go fly free my little Sparrow friends…..free to grow, change, live happily, and flourish into the creature you were intended on being!
I wish for you, pure happiness and joy. I wish that you find yourself, and grow inside to spread your wings and fly…..taking on new heights in life and becoming the adventurous kindred spirit….wild and free that your past has prevented you from becoming! I wish for you health, wealth…and personal gain…that you may be successful in your journey and wherever life may take you! You and you alone can embrace the necessary tools to use to your advantage and sing the song that your inner Sparrow sings!
Until next time…..be free…fly well, my little Sparrow! ❤
First Steps 