You Came With What You Would Become: The Tale of the Dexterous Bird

03 Aug You Came With What You Would Become: The Tale of the Dexterous Bird

I would love to retell the story of the dexterous bird, a creature of remarkable abilities. She can fly and glide with ease, sing and twit with a melodious voice, walk and run with agility, and perch and hang with her sharp claws. She can suckle the juice from fruits and munch on leaves from trees.

This extraordinary bird lives her life for two, possessing both an intestine and a womb. She feeds for two, carrying a baby and a bank of seeds as she nurtures her young. She looks like a rat and a dog, but she’s neither; she appears to be a bird, yet gives birth to her children like a mammal.

One strange morning, the dexterous bird woke up under the dew, pondering the meaning of her existence. She wondered if life was worth living, having many gifts but no purpose. Three men approached her, marveling at her unique abilities.

The first asked, “What bird builds a house on the ground?” She replied, “I have learned to adapt when trees fall.”

The second inquired, “You, a bird, plant a farm of food and grains?” She smiled, saying, “I have learned that branches bring me grain, but many eat food and not seeds, so I have learned to eat and plant both.”

The third visitor, a chief of the forest, spoke, “We have always thought bats were mediocre, but you live for yourself and others. Come, be the mother of all markets and trades. You and your children shall live freely, and even the king shall not pluck a grain without your consent. Our trees grew from the seeds in your feces.”

The dexterous bird looked up, realizing, “So, my gifts are worth living for.”

The tale teaches us that the question of “what to live for” often confuses great minds. Instead of seeking gloomy and unseen things, look at your hands and the things you do naturally. Your unique abilities are the virtues the world seeks to reward. Embrace your gifts, and you will find your path out of poverty and confusion.