The Bat, Buzzard and Bumblebee
If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at
the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.
The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run
of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even
attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the
air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is pl! aced on the floor or flat
ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully,
until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the
air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies unless
it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in
trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.
It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bee.
They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not
realizing that if they look up, they'll find the answer.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.