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 placed on the floor or on 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.
Often, we insist that success come to us in an exact way based on a preconceived idea held in mind. We become a prisoner of our present environment and past mistakes. There could be five open doors, but we stand at the one that is locked, waiting for it to open.
If you're like the buzzard, the bat, or the bee, and you're struggling with your problems. If you're frustrated
because you can't find answers, know the answer is right above you.
Begin with prayer. Look up to God and humbly say: What I am trying to do is not working anymore; show me a new way.
