ORnithological Theologian
The one-legged man hobbled on a lone crutch down a muddy path through the forest and found a flock of flightless flamingos lounging along a lake. He approached them, admiring the ease with which they stood on a single skinny stick-like leg, balanced as if floating on an invisible hovering pillow.
“Hello,” he said, addressing the birds. “I was hoping that you could give me some pointers for keeping my balance. I’ve had a hard time standing on one leg. I still don’t feel comfortable and would like to rid myself of this cumbersome crutch.”
The group of flightless flamingos exploded into a swirling crimson commotion; screaming, cawing and arguing with each other about what to tell him until a particularly regal looking one pushed it’s way to the front. The rest fell silent.
“I have the best balance of all,” proclaimed the bird. “The trick is to keep your eyesight focused directly on the horizon. Do that, and surely you will never lose yourself.” With that, the bird tucked his leg beneath him and glued his eyes to the distant place where the heavens met the earth. He stood poised in perfection, a living statue for an entire minute until he looked over, triumphantly, at the man’s face and promptly fell on his own.
A blur of movement erupted as each flamingo fought for the man’s attention attempting to offer up the best advice. Another shoved its way to the front and a hush fell over the flock. The bird didn’t say anything, but smugly stuck both wings out from his sides for balance and crooked a claw up beneath his body.
After a minute of stillness and silence, shouts of praise spewed from the surrounding mass of birds. “He’s done it! What a talent this one possesses,” said the flock. However when the other flamingos walked up to shake his wing in congratulations, he lost his balance and crumpled into the water.
Before the crowd could commence its crazed commotion again, a younger flamingo that had garnered a reputation as an inventor of sorts spoke up and stated, “I have fashioned another leg for the man, so that he can walk on two feet again.” He produced a slim branch that had fallen from a nearby tree.
Truly impressed with this contraption, the group ushered the man to try it on. He did so, putting his crutch to the side and although it might have fit a flamingo, it didn’t support the man. He took a single step and the termite-ridden twig crumbled beneath his weight. The man landed in a heap on the lakeshore, and stayed there lying flat on his back. Looking up from his place of rest, all he could see were the gnarled intertwined branches of the trees cast out to form a net above him.
The defeated flock dispersed along the divide between the lake and the forest. Some went and stuck their faces in the water to filter algae and plankton through their beaks, while others gathered in circles on the shore to discuss the various poses they would assume if ever asked to model for lawn ornaments. All absentmindedly did so on a single leg, balanced with impeccable ease.
The man buried his face in his hands and whispered to himself, “Alas, I haven’t the will to live. I have lost too much of myself.”
Startled by a slight movement near his head, he noticed another flamingo, older, and apart from the rest, sitting next to a large tree. It rose slowly. A sturdy leg held its body steady and grounded to the earth with a strong grip. The flamingo cocked his head in the direction of the man. In a clear and deliberate tone he stated, “Those who look to others to solve problems of their own will never truly overcome them. If you keep thinking of yourself as a two-legged man trying to balance on one leg, you will never feel comfortable. Embrace who you are, and all will fall into place. ” As it hopped away, the man noticed a stub where the flamingo’s left leg should have been. Before he could call out, the flamingo took a few quick hops, spread his wings and wove his way through the branches, rising above the trees around them.
Biography
I am a transfer student (Junior year) and this is my first semester at SSU. I grew up browsing my father's bookcase of old Science Fiction novels.
I am a transfer student (Junior year) and this is my first semester at SSU. I grew up browsing my father's bookcase of old Science Fiction novels.