Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Something To Think On

No bird can fly

without opening its wings,
and no one can love
without exposing their heart.

It is perhaps the oldest of inner laws, as inescapable as gravity. There is no chance of lifting into any space larger than yourself without revealing the parts you hold closest to your chest.

Any time you hesitate revealing who you are, picture yourself as a bird perched on a roof, wings tucked at your sides. To enter a relationship without opening your heart is to jump off that roof without spreading your wings.

It's true that baby birds hesitate the first time out of the nest, but once tasting the air, it is in their nature to open and rise, and close and land. This is their life. It is ours too.

The paradox, of course, is that we must trust that the power to lift and land, for us, is in revealing what we hide. Once revealed, these tender things become our wings.

-The Book of Awakening, Marc Nepo

10 comments:

Margaret said...

I love it! My girls and I always speak of our affections as our "baby birds"

JustRun said...

Somehow you post these things just as I need to read them.
Great thoughts!

sue said...

thanks, Siz... I needed to hear that today.

Poz Mikey said...

Me too Siz it's just what I needed!! XXXOOO Mikey

ps. I hope the nephew is still doing well!!

Becky said...

It seems as though nothing worth any value is without risk...or at least that's what I also try to tell myself when I'm on that perch. Good post:)

Anonymous said...

God. Yes.

B Merrick said...

So glad you took the time to type this! I totally wanted to and didn't have the time. So, yes, you guessed it, I will be stealing it from you!

xoxoxo

Amy S. Petrik said...

"Any time you hesitate revealing who you are...." I did a very ballsy (sp?) thing today. I gave a place $25 to run a background check on me in order for me to rent from them. And I have yet to sell my house. But I've been waiting for an opportunity to leap out at me and well....today it truly felt like I was flying high for once and dammit it felt great. Nice post.

Bill said...

I revealed myself once. Unfortunately, it was near a school zone and I was immediately taken downtown for questioning.

Joking! Yes, this is very true. However, it should be said that this is not the easiest thing to do, even if it is the most sensible thing to do. (Just ask those baby birds.)

Krisco said...

man, I still have to get that book