Sometimes I look out at the birds on the lake before me and marvel at the simplicity of their lives. Looking at it in regards to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, they never appear to transcend beyond the 3rd level. Their needs revolve around the necessities for life, food, water, shelter, safety, family and a sense of connection etc. The last two levels of Self Esteem and Self Actualization probably don’t apply. Or do they?

Over the past months we have observed an unusual happening on the lake.

My husband named it ‘the kingmaker’.

What is the kingmaker? Well, it’s just a bough that had broken off a tree and settled itself in the shallows on the edge of the lake. Just a piece of debris.

A Cormorant found it first. It was the ideal perch on which to sit in the sun, reflect on life and dry his wings. These birds fish by totally submerging under the water, so their feathers get very wet which compromises their flight. They need to dry out.

The other birds noticed the Cormorant on his perch, and came to check him out.

He appeared to sit there with great pride, cutting a dashing figure as he looked down on those around him.

“Why did only the cormorant have the privilege of standing taller than all the other birds? Why did he get to see so much further than anyone else?”

The ducks were curious.

Then came along, a young Great Egret. He was a tall bird and stood head and shoulders over the others, but he discovered you could see much further standing up on the perch. Better still, he was much higher than all those around him.

Then there came the Oyster Catchers to try out the perch.

But the Oyster Catchers didn’t have the right kind of feet to hold on, so they couldn’t ascend to the top perch, they could only stand on the bottom. Disappointed they left.

A duck had a try, but he too lacked the right kind of feet to be able to grip the perch, so he had to settle for standing on the bottom. There was no enjoyment in that.

So, it became a tussle between the Cormorant and the Egret. Who would be king and occupy the highest perch on the lake?

There came an altercation as the Cormorant posed on the top perch and the Egret stood on the lower branch. The Egret found even on the lower branch he was the king. No one was taller than him.

But he found he had no one to share his new-found fame with. No one really cared. So the Egret and the Cormorant came to the understanding they would share the perch. When it was free it was first in, first on. The ducks decided they didn’t really care, and the Oyster Pickers moved further around the lake as they were want to do.

So, I guess Self Esteem is not an issue – it was just pure curiosity.

The whole thing was nothing but a storm in a tea-cup!

Isn’t that what we find in life? We strive to be the best. To stand above the rest. To stand out. To be special. To enjoy the adoration of others. It’s called pride, another version of greed, wanting to covet things we don’t have. But in the long-term, pride lasts for such a short time and pride can bring us to a very lonely place. Ultimately we find we are really happier just being one of the crowd, being a part of the family, being accepted and valued for who we are.

I think we can learn from this little story. Jesus said: “What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?” Mark 8:37 (Message)

Jesus also said, “Be alert, and guard your heart from greed always wishing for what you don’t have. For your love can never be measured by the number of things you possess.” Luke 12:15 (The Passion Translation)

Blessings,

Marilyn

 

 

 

All photos are the work of the author.