Remember Marco, the turtle of the last picture from the previous post? Well, our visitor was set free today in a nearby forest from my Sun & Stars and a bunch of second graders. It was a marvelous experience for them to return Marco to his natural habitat, so that he can continue his voyages.
At the same time, someone indicated that a shelter was a much better solution.
Is it ?
Freedom…our longing for is so profound, it can very well exist in the code of our DNA.
But despite the fact of recognizing freedom as a natural state of being for the human specie, I feel that we fail to do so with other beings. Especially when their behavior has not been anthropomorphized …
Can one argue that a prison with a jacuzzi and a flat TV is not a prison?
Are we so conditioned in exchanging parts of our freedom for an illusion of safety, that we end up oblivious to the dissolution that means?
Let alone when we aren’t even asked whether we want that transaction or not…
Another aspect of the mater emerged as I was digging deeper.
When does one’s compassion turn into compassion? Is it possible for the overflow of compassion to blur one’s perspective?
Evidently, its very easy when someone is in need and receives our compassionate attention, to identify him/her with that current status, even subconsciously. A duality is then formed; with the one part assuming power over the other; as opposed to acting in accord with that someone’s totality.
Respect is the key element…
Mind you that this “empowering” action (as those with experience in the medical profession, among others, know) is quite addictive.
Compassion without its compass is just a passion in disguise…
So you see why I said to a dear friend that Marco is a great teacher who blessed us with his lessons.
And for that, I am deeply grateful.
Thank you Marco. Happy trails!!
PS 1 : We planted a young cypress tree in our garden today. We named it, Sappho. Another famous “animal” that lived and died free instead of “properly & secure”…
PS 2 : Angels speaking ;
one of this morning’s 7 years old students said to my Sun & Stars, when they returned to their school :
_”What can I do to sooth the emptiness you must feel from Marco’s departure ? ”
_” A hug…”