Wings

“The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.”  - Richard Bach, Illusions

I love it when Richard makes me think really hard about things he writes. I first read Illusions nearly 30 years ago, and have been drawn back to the magic of the story almost daily ever since. Because it makes me think.


I believe the caterpillar he talks about is us, as humans. We are fatalistic, we think that the latest bad event is the one that will push us over the edge. The end of life as we know it, the proverbial straw on the camel's back. And really, is it THAT bad? We have survived many things, why give up now? It may seem awful in this moment, but there will be other moments. There are always other moments.

Moments that carry gifts. Sometimes hidden, sometimes on gossamer wings. Wings that are delicate but powerful, taking us higher than before. Soaring above those who wallow in their pain, we catch current and climb even higher when we realize the lesson wasn't about tragedy: it was about finding the beauty and the love. 

Things may seem unjust, but we survive. Again and again. That's why we're here. To live. To love. Again and again.