I am a bird. There's nothing special about me. I’m just a regular bird. I was born with brown and white feathers and an orange beak. Regular size wings. Regular size body. At one time I couldn't fly too high or I would be scared, and I couldn't fly too far or I would get lost.
But all of that changed when the storm came.
I have always remained close to my family. I love them and respect them. Of course, they are the ones that taught me how to fly. I learned throughout my short life that all the other birds aren't as they seem. Some are selfish, some are insolent, but there are others that sing a beautiful tune. Before I left my family, I would always remain near them. I didn’t know how far I could fly on my own. One time, I flew further than usual and I encountered many troubles, but still, I stayed close to my families nest. I could always depend on them to catch me if I fell, even when things got really tough. One time, I broke my wing and they cared for me with a precious love as they always have.
My family taught me when I was young that we are all working our way towards a warmer land. It was a migration towards a paradise. In this paradise we will have no more pain, loss or fear. We can fly as high and far as we want. There we will be with the one who created our wings, our feathers, and everything about us. I learned that the closer I get to this paradise my feathers will change colors. Each one will eventually become brilliant and vibrant. My feathers had changed a little, but only on the very tips.
At one point in my life I realized that I was fascinated by the different tunes that I heard other birds sing. These tunes were intriguing. They came from foreign places. The birds looked different from me. Most of them had no idea that there was a paradise! I wanted to tell them, so I struggled to learn their tune, and to be honest I'm still learning.
I wanted to fly higher, to fly further. I joined these different birds. I wanted to see if I could fly with them and tell them about the paradise. Although my feathers were changed a little, they were still mostly brown and white, but how could I tell these other birds about the change and the paradise unless I had changed? Unless I am filled with the colors, how can I tell them that they can have colors?
I became tired of the routine, so I decided to fly higher.
Then the storm came.
This storm wasn’t normal. This storm was fierce, frightening. All around me the lightening flashed. The rain beat against my wings. I needed to give up and find shelter… or fly higher. I was sick of surrendering to the storm, so I looked up and with all my might I beat my wings. Then a strong wind took me. It took control of me. It raised me above the storm! It was as though I had a new strength. The wind took me higher where the sun shined and the air was sweet. The storm was not gone, however, it was still there, but I was above it. As the storm subsided, I noticed a difference in my feathers. A few here and there were completely changed. They were transformed into reds, yellows, purples, blues, and greens. So beautiful!
I learned that in the trials of my flight, if I worked with all my might and let the wind take control, I would reach greater heights and gain new colors. I am still here among the birds that sing different tunes and every day I love it more. My feathers are still changing, but I know that the day we reach our paradise, my creator will have completely transformed my feathers to the most beautiful colors that can ever be imagined! Until that day, I will fly high and far. I will follow the breath of the wind and give it control over my wings. One day, I will soar in paradise.
