The Imaginary Cage

Source : Eugene Loh, A Slice of Life, 938LIVE, a station of MediaCorp Radio

There was once a grown bear that lived in a cage and travelled with a circus ever since he was a small cub. The bear spent everyday of his life pacing back and forth in his cage while countless spectators looked on. When the bear-keepers were not looking, some of the spectators would poke the bear with sharp sticks. Sometimes they would throw pieces of food filled with broken glass into the cage. When the great bear ate what he thought was a wonderful treat, the broken glass would cut the inside of his throat and stomach.

One day a wealthy animal-lover visited the circus and saw the harmful acts committed against the bear. Because he felt great compassion for animals he approached the circus about purchasing the bear. He explained that he would take the bear and place him in a large open area. In this area the bear would have cool pools of water to play in and verdant fields to run. The circus agreed to sell the bear to the man and set up a delivery date.

When the day arrived for the bear to be delivered, everyone was anxious to see what would happen when the door of the cage was opened for the first time. To everyone's amazement, when the cage was opened, the bear did what he spent every day of his life doing. He simply paced back and forth the length of the cage.The bear didn't even seem to care that the cage door was open. Finally, the bear-keepers got the bear outside the cage and rolled it away.

The bear looked around at his beautiful new home. He looked at the cool pools of water and the lush green pastures. Then to everyone's surprise and disappointment, the bear began his pacing. Back and forth he would go, as in an imaginary cage. Eventually he had to be put to sleep because he simply could not function in his beautiful new surroundings.

This is the powerful way we become slaves to our past, to our habits. This is how many of us, not just circus animals, learn to accept that there is nothing better for us. Even when it's staring us in the face.

To a large degree, our history and past experience determine the person we are today. Yes, we are the result of upbringing, of education, of constraining social norms. But that's no excuse for accepting a routine, meaningless lifestyle. That's no excuse for not being the person you want to be.

Many of us have responsibilities towards others - our families and loved ones. Some of us put off with less than desirable conditions because of those obligations. But how many of those obligations are really excuses for not making things better?

In a world of possibilities, are you pacing the length of your imaginary cage?

Bflygal's comments :
I... hate... this... cage...