Thursday, September 18, 2008
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Who Built Your Cage?
by miss goldenrod
This is Maximus, the family parakeet. In his eight years of life, he has lived with my sister, then my parents, and as of 3 months ago, me. When he was a baby, he wasn't handled much, causing him to be unfriendly; consequently, he wasn't given many opportunities to leave his cage. Now, Max won't leave even when his door is open.
It's too easy to imagine his life. You spend so many years viewing the world from behind cage bars that when a way out is offered...what? You don't realize the door is open? Your brain automatically fills in the bars because that is what it is accustomed to? You're too scared to leave the familiar?
We lock ourselves into cages, into cells that were built by bad experiences. For me, each rejection and harsh word I received added a bar to my cell. Through the taunts of classmates, degrading comments by teachers, and dismissive looks by elders, a prison began to form around me...and I let it. Finally, a few bad relationships provided the final locks.
...or perhaps I erected the bars and installed the locks.
But one good relationship broke those locks and threw open the door. A scarred hand was offered to lead me out.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to he prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of our Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort those who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3, NASBZacchaeus didn't have to climb down from the tree, and Jonah didn't have to go to Nineveh. Peter didn't have to repent for his betrayal, and Saul didn't have to become Paul. They chose to take Jesus' offered hand, unlike King Saul, Lot's wife, and the unrepentant criminal.
We have a choice to leave our old cells behind. Though we may be leaving our comfort-zone, and for some of us the only life we've ever had, we need to trust Jesus enough to take his hand and see what freedoms he has to offer.
Do you ever feel like you've been caged in by circumstance, fear or difficult situations?
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Comments (20)
When I was a kid I was caged by insecurities & self-doubt. It wasn't until college that I broke out of mine (with a vengance.)
"'I want to attempt such a thing, and at the same time I'm afraid of such trifles!' he thought with a strange smile. 'Hm...yes...man has it all in his hands, and it slips through his fingers from sheer cowardice...That is an axiom...I wonder, what are people most afraid of? A new step, their own new word, that's what they're most afraid of...'"
-Crime and Punishment
Cages are so hard to break down. It's so amazing that Jesus gives us a way to break free!!
Wonderful post.
I am still plagued with insecurities and doubts here and there.
When that happens, I pray or I say to myself that I am worthy. It works!
most common bars/cages are because of self doubt and insecurities ...because we always feel inadequate. espeically in looks, because it's the first thing people see.
we end up creating our own cages, because without them we feel as though we're missing something -- without any restrictions, we feel as though we're not behaved enough, or that we don't live up to others' standards.
what we don't realize, is it's not the fact that you're missing something, but that you have something most people dont. not that you're not behaved enough, but just that you don't govern yourself to others' standards (up to a point, of course). what we don't realize is that when we bend our bars and break our locks we breath air that never tasted so sweet.
and it is a bit scary, to be free. maybe ...because it makes you feel alone? but you're not, which is the point you were making =]. i guess God's there so you don't feel quite so scared =)
good post
I disagree with the popular cop-out philosophy based on the teachings of eastern religion that says that anything (and everything) that happens to us is somehow always directly or indirectly the result of our own fault.
That is not the teaching of the Bible and is actually doctrine of man...or of devils.
Yes, many times there may be truth in it (as with the Best lies and deceptions) but not always, sorry.
Not everything bad that happens to a person, or negative circumstance people find themselves in is a result of their own doing.
Want proof: Child abuse, which can mess a person up for life in more ways than most people realize. Want more examples: Persecution which Jesus said would follow real believers. Does this mean we should seek it or seek to exacerbate it? Of course not, on the contrary.
@duckling8912@xanga - You're worthy? That's funny, all my life I've been told the opposite. Including by Christianity.
@tunahawk@xanga - And who do you believe it is that produces these insecurities? Ourselves always, or sinful, selfish, petty, superficial, elitist people?
Please ''Christians'; quit trying to over-simplify everything and avoid guilt by comprehensively trying to blame victims for their negative situation.
@Koolou@xanga - Not trying to start anything with you, but I think you misunderstood what the poster was saying. I completely agree that no one is "worthy" of anything, but regardless, we are all worth a lot to God. (He says that He sees when the sparrow falls, and that we as humans are worth much more than sparrows.) That should be a very comforting thought. :)
Anyway, have a nice day.
@KechiNeko244@xanga - You always say you're not trying to start something even when you are. And, no offence, but I don't recall addressing my post to you.
Anyway I am aware of the verses you cite. But duckling just said she told herself she was worthy period.
Nonetheless, that is not the issue I was addressing or speaking about. But my experience has largely been to be told the opposite, both before I was saved as well as after.
God bless.
This reminds me a cartoon in my collection. There's a prisoner sitting in a cell. With him is a bird in a cage. The bird remarks, "So... you seriously don't see the irony of keeping me in here?"
There may be something profound in there, but I'll leave it to others to work out.
@Koolou@xanga - thanks for your negative feedback but i don't think we appreciate it.
I have insecurities myself, and they're caused by myself. I know that. It's not ALL me, but i am also harsh on myself as well, i know that. okay? okay.
sometimes ...instead of criticizing everything people write ...maybe you should just sit back and let them hold their own beliefs...
The bird can peek around for an escape during desperate hours, but it would look for peace instead since there is no way out. When the cage is open, the bird no longer feels the need to leave the cage since the hours have passed and the bird's endurance has grown. However, the bird can choose to come out when it sees blooming flowers and sweet melody; or else, there has to be one darn good reason to come out lol
First of all, let me comment that your Maximus looks EXACTLY like my Blueberry. :) And yes, I'm a parakeet lover.
But as the owner of a parakeet who doesn't trust the human hand, I can understand exactly the analogy that you're using. The parakeet is so scared of its outside surroundings, so when you offer your hand, it becomes scared of the hand and starts flapping around like crazy. Little does my parakeet (or yours) or any parakeet for that matter, who isn't hand tamed know that we're just trying to bond with them.
I think its the same way with us and God. I've had my share of insecurities that make me stay locked up in my little bubble, but when I pray for guidance, and really abide in him, those locks are thrown out. Sometimes, I think we're too scared and we think that our "world" outside our "cages" is too dangerous. I know that a lot of the time, I'm too scared to trust God myself. What will this faith lead me into? (Just like the parakeet; what will the human hand do to me?) In the end, I decide to take that leap of faith and step out on my master's hand because I know that his hand will guide me to the most wonderful experiences that I could imagine.
@Koolou@xanga - No need to take such offense! This is an open community and people will reply to your comments... I'm trying to stay nice here because I don't want an argument. That's all. Sheesh.
@Koolou@xanga -
**You've been THUMPED!**
"If you can't say something nice,
Don't say nothin' at all!"
@Koolou@xanga - yes we are worthy. We are worthy to enjoy the simple things in life and be happy and loved no matter what has happened in the past.
My interpretation of worthy isn't putting human beings on a pedalstool, it's simply that we need to have a little faith and appreciate the good things that have happened in our lives.
@Koolou@xanga - Ooook you need to calm down. If you read my comment, I was not at all being argumentative, accusatory, or "sneaky". I was extremely polite to you. I'm sorry, but you need to lighten up a bit! We're all (or most of us) are Christians here. No need to be so uptight!
@Koolou@xanga - i guess your reply to me got deleted?
all i saw that i was a "bandwagon jumper."
eh, i really dont feel like arguing at all, alright? i'll just be one more person that you have to disprove on this blog.