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Come Fly With Me | Part II | Songbirds

I've always known I was a Bird. The way I Knew was this:

One day when she was ten years old she was watching a Story with her Mother called, 'The Notebook'. I suppose she must have looked rather Heartbroken, for her Mother put her hand to her heart and cried, "Oh, why can't you Remain like this forever!"

That day, I decided that I would Eventually write my own Notebook. And, that I was a Bird. 

Feeling Caged by Religion most of my life, I figured I could be a Caged Songbird; perhaps a Greenfinch, Linnet Bird, Nightingale, or Blackbird. I love to sing, but I'm not especially great at it; that is, I couldn't make a career of my dream role as Maureen ('It's a Metaphor!') in Rent on Broadway, but I can definitely rock a 3-chord Beatles Song.

I've never liked looking at Birds in Cages much, especially in pet stores. Not only are they not Free, but they are being kept there until they are Sold, and then go back into a Cage; usually this time, Alone. It breaks my heart, honestly. It feels cruel and unnatural. 

But even still, Behind their Bars, they sing their Songs. 

How? Why? 

What did our country's Ancestors have to say about it? 

Maya Angelou, Poet and Civil Rights Activist, Knew Why. She dropped Keys for those who would come after her to unlock their own Cages. She was full of Humility and Wisdom. Listen to her Words for yourself: 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

"Oh, Lord, let that Bird out." 

& Also, 

"Sometimes the Melody arrived at in the Cage is much more fetching, much more appealing, much more profound, much more poignant than the melody arrived at by the Bird who's on the loose." 

Ms. Angelou knew Agony. I don't pretend to know depth and horror of the Agony she did. But we do have this in common:

"There is no greater Agony than bearing an untold Story inside you."  

Let's pick up in James 3:13, NIV: 

"Who is Wise and Understanding among you? Let them show it by their Good life, by deeds done in the Humility that comes from Wisdom." 

Ms. Angelou, how did you do it? 

She left this Key for those Caged in their Past and Afraid to Grow Up:

"To be left Alone on the Tightrope of Youthful Unknowing is to Experience the Excruciating Beauty of Full Freedom & the Threat of Eternal Indecision. Few, if any, Survive their Teens. Most Surrender to the Vague but Murderous Pressure of Adult Conformity. It becomes Easier to Die and Avoid Conflict than to Maintain a Constant Battle with the Superior Forces of Maturity."

Maturity. There's that word again. 

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