I have always been fascinated with winged creatures. How amazing it must be to fly above it all? I've written about ducks in my collection of essays. I think it hilarious when a duck cannot drop down the six inch curb because his legs are too short when all he has to do is flap his wings a few times and he's across the street.
Recently I saw a meme posted by a friend with a duck at the top of the water. The wings are up in full force and the caption says, "Find your wings my friends." I being the ever realist, contradicting, you know what, though to myself, "Maybe I'm a penguin and I can't fly!" I don't know what came over me in that moment, but my snarky remark made me think for a few days. God created creature after creature. Bird after bird are similar and, yet, different. As God, in his infinite wisdom, created the penguin, eagle, and sparrow, he did so with a purpose. Even if only in this moment of recognition, there is purpose. A requirement for a bird is wings. It needs to be able to propel itself with those wings. However, not each set of wings is designed the same. The eagle spreads large wings that soar majestically thousands of feet in the air. Yes, thousands! The penguin will never be there. Just because he has wings, they are more related to flippers of a fish, than wings of an eagle. You and I each have a purpose. You and I may have similar interests and talents, but we are not all called to the same calling. Growing up, my brother and I were fairly competitive. I'm pretty sure if he wasn't such a good student, I would have stayed as a B-C student rather than pushing a little harder to make the A. I was hugely into sports. He dabbled in high school athletics, but moved on in other directions. By the time I reached high school I learned that I am smart, but he was smarter. He was athletic, but I a little more. If I had tried to fill my brother's shoes in academics, I would have been miserable. I hated history, and made it through Calculus. My Biology teacher hated me, and I never read for English. (Shout out to Lisa Goodman Reily for the cliffnotes version all through high school.) My point is that so often we get pushed into boxes and labels based on things that we are capable of, but not necessarily designed for. So often I felt that the only way I would make anything of myself was to get ahead in the sports world. Now, I'm about to release my second children's book! Those two things are not connected for me. If I had chosen a life devoted to athletics (outside of my training) I wouldn't be where I am in this moment. Just because I have wings, doesn't mean I have to soar. Maybe I was designed to swim. It doesn't mean that I'm not a bird, I just don't have to be like other birds. Be who you were designed to be. Do what you are called to do. Even if others think that you are supposed to be in one area or another, be cautious. Listen to sound advice, not anyone who passes you by. So soar, fly, swim, run, jump, scoot, fall, crawl, do what you are supposed to do.
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AuthorI have a lot to say about a lot of things. Archives
May 2023
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