My Dear One,

What do you see?  At first glance, perhaps a beautiful bird.  If you know anything about birds, you may identify it as a female cardinal, lacking the red brilliance of its male counterpart, but still lovely just the same.  An avian beauty, resting in a bush.  A vibernum bush, with its snow white flowers and spring green leaves.  What a placid scene.  Let’s admire it for what it is, what our eyes have told us in their observation.  Nature in all its loveliness … the peacefulness of a bird in its natural surroundings … a fortunate sight to see.

Or is it?

Let me tell you what is real.  Let me tell you how your eyes have deceived you.

That beautiful bird is dead.  It was found in the grass, motionless, with no breath of life to be found in it.  It was artificially posed in a bush, a shell of a bird, with nothing to give, no more life to live.  That bird is empty, it can’t do what birds are meant to do …

Fly.

Oh, it looks beautiful on the surface, its colors still vibrant, feathers still intact, in its natural environment.  Surrounded by pure white flowers, lending a certain credibility to the scene, making you think all is well.

But my dear one, it is nothing but an illusion.

Are you fooled by appearances, what’s on the outside, or are you looking inward for true reality?  Which is more important … what is displayed to the outer world, or what truly exists inside?  Can you see this disparity in others?  More importantly, can you see it in yourself?

Take nothing at face value.  As it pertains to others, be wise in choosing your companions and those with whom you share your life and its secrets.  Surround yourself with true beauty in character.  As it pertains to yourself, probe deeper, never settling for who you currently are, not from a sense of unworthiness, but from a true quest for self-improvement.  Choose garments of authenticity, genuineness and honesty.  Cloak your inner self with them.  Become the very best version of yourself.

Only then can you really fly.

All my love,

Your Never Sleeping Beauty

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”  ~Jonathan Swift

 

 

Photo credit:  flying female cardinal