Are we living the caged life?

It was many years ago that several teenage boys invaded a community zoo in the Midwest one dark night and decided to release some of the animals.   I was always thankful that none of the big cats were freed as this could have resulted in their boyish prank turning into a real disaster.

The following morning we spent several hours repairing cages and recapturing several monkeys and a few other, harmless animals and restoring them to the confines of their habitats.

The animal that took the longest to recapture was a large male spider monkey that laughed at our efforts until he got hungry and came to me to be fed.

The animal that surprised me the most was a bobcat that had been born into captivity and only knew its cage. I will never forget walking to her cage expecting to find it empty but much to my surprise there she was, sitting in the open doorway, watching me, wondering, waiting, but waiting for what?

As I repaired that cage, the bobcat, unlike the spider monkey, never made an attempt at freedom, never tried to escape, just sat there watching me work.  Once the cage door was repaired and everything was restored to normal the bobcat retreated to the back of the cage and began grooming itself.

Are we like the bobcat?  So accustomed to the familiar, the customary, the cage of society, that we are afraid to step out into the unknown? 

Zoos are so sad.

Just saying.

"Dear and Holy God, please help each of us to venture into the unfamiliar, the unknown. the world that is calling to us.  Thank you, Father.  Give us wings to fly, and then give us the good sense not to fly too close to the sun.  Thank you Papa God for your great love, in Jesus’ wonderful and Holy name, Amen."

Charles Towne is first and foremost a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adopted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy-filled life.